If you are driving to or from Gatwick Airport, it is important to be aware of the drop-off charge. If you’re a new PCO car driver in London or aren’t familiar with all the Parking Charge Notice procedures, you will have to fork out about £100 if you have received a drop-off ticket.

We’re going to help you with this a bit right now by telling you all about what the drop-off charge is and what you have to do to avoid it. We hope that this guide will help you understand why you might have had to pay this charge and what to do about it if you ever have to pay it again. Here’s what you need to know about the drop-off charge at Gatwick Airport:

What is a Drop-off Charge?

Just as its name suggests, a drop-off charge refers to a penalty that you may be required to pay if you park your car in a parking bay at Gatwick Airport. Like most airports, Gatwick operates on a pay-and-display system which means that you have to pay a fee for the privilege of parking your vehicle at the airport.

The drop-off charges at Gatwick are similar to those of Heathrow and other airports in the UK. Basically, if you’re dropping off a passenger at the airport by car, you have to pay this charge because you’re not paying for a space to park your car.

The reason you have to pay for this is that there simply isn’t enough space for everyone who drops off a passenger at the airport and to make sure that everyone is able to find somewhere to park their vehicles, they have to impose these fees. With the increasing demand for PCO car drivers at terminals throughout the UK, it is likely that they will also be increasing their prices accordingly. So if you already have been charged this fee at Gatwick, don’t fret. Here’s what you need to know:

How much are the Drop-Off Charges at Gatwick in 2024?

The minimum drop-off charge that you will have to pay at Gatwick is  £6 fee (for 10 minutes)every time you drop off a passenger at either terminal. However, if you decide to stay for more than 10 minutes, you will be charged £5 for every additional 10 minutes that you are parked at the airport—and after 10 minutes, you will be charged an additional £1 until 20 minutes.

The maximum amount of drop off you could be charged is £25 as the maximum time limit that you can remain at the airport is 30 minutes per arrival or departure. These charges and limitations are set by the airport and remain the same for 24 hours.

In summary, here are the charges in 2024 for Gatwick drop-off:

• £6 for 10 minutes
• £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes
• Maximum charge of £25 and the maximum length of stay 30 minutes

Which Terminals Charge This Fee?

If you’re dropping off a passenger at Gatwick, you will have to pay this fee at both the South and North terminals. The North terminal is at Sofitel and has multi-storey car parking. The South terminal is situated at the lower level.

How to Pay the Drop-off Fee at Gatwick?

Now that you know all about Gatwick Airport’s drop-off fee, you should be aware that you need to pay it right away or by midnight when dropping someone off at the airport. There are several ways you can pay the fee.

As soon as you enter the terminal, you will be asked to give your PCO car’s registration code and license plate number so that they can identify the vehicle and confirm the drop-off charge that you have to pay.

Here are two ways that you can pay your drop-off fee:

Autopay for Gatwick drop-off charge

If you’re a regular visitor to Gatwick Airport, then you can sign up for their autopay system which will allow you to set up a direct debit payment. This way, you won’t have to rush to the airport to pay your fee when you’re on your way back to your home or work after the trip.

Postpay for Gatwick drop-off charge

If you don’t want to commit to setting up an autopay, you can also pay through postpay after our visit. However, the drop-off charges must be paid before midnight.

NOTE: You cannot pay the drop-off charges at Gatwick using the airport’s ticket machine.

Penalties if You Forget to Pay

If you forget to pay for your drop-off charges at Gatwick on time, you will be charged a penalty of £100 PCN by the parking operators. You will also be charged for every day that the charges are unpaid, even if you are only there for a few minutes or are no longer parked at the airport.

TIP: In order to avoid paying a £100 PCN, make sure to pay the penalty within 14 days to reduce it to £60 PCN.

How to Avoid Drop-Off Charges for PCO Drivers

There are a few different ways to avoid the Gatwick drop-off charges for PCO car drivers. If you’re planning on dropping a passenger at the airport, you can park at long-stay car parks where you can stay for 2 hours or less for free. All you need to do is get a ticket for the barrier when you drive in and show your ticket when leaving. The parking is free if you leave within 2 hours.

However, the catch is that long-stay car parking is situated at quite a distance from the terminal building so it can be difficult to reach the check-in desks in time for your flight. It is a bit inconvenient for passengers but it can save you money if you’re on a budget. If you want to avoid paying any drop-off charges altogether, you could look for a local airport taxi.

Discounts on Drop-off Charge

In some cases, you can also get a discount on the drop-off charges if you live in postcode areas RH6 0, RH6 9, and RH11 0. This way you can save money instead of paying the standard drop-off charge. You can get a membership and get two free entries from the South terminal. Additionally, if your passenger is a Blue Badge holder and they register the car’s licence plate beforehand, you can avoid the drop-off charges altogether.

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