How to Pay Gatwick Airport Drop-Off Charges?

It is important to have complete knowledge about the PCN (Parking Charge Notice) hotspots to avoid the fines and penalties from the PCO (Public Carriage Office) at Gatwick Airport, London. An ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system is enforced at the airport’s drop-off terminals, and this system remains operational around the clock, tracking each vehicle’s stay time.

This article helps you understand drop-off charges and terminals at Gatwick Airport. It also includes details regarding Gatwick Airport drop-off charges, payment options, and the consequences of not paying the charges on time. Moreover, there are some tips that you can follow to ensure timely payment of these drop-off charges.

Understanding Drop-Off Charges

Drop-off charges refer to the penalty imposed on the driver if you park your car in Gatwick Airport’s parking bay. The airport operates on a pay-and-display system, which requires you to pay a fee if you park your car at the airport as you have not paid for a parking space. These charges aim to ensure that everyone coming to the airport finds a suitable space for parking their vehicles.

Gatwick Airport Drop-Off Terminals

These are the two drop-off terminals at the Gatwick Airport:

1. North Terminal drop-off zone is an express pick-up area on Level 4 of Car Park 6.
2. South Terminal drop-off zone is the express pick-up located on Level 0 of Car Park 3.

Gatwick Airport Drop-Off Charges

There are different drop-off charges at North and South Terminals of the Gatwick Airport based on the duration of your stay, such as:

• You need to pay £6 for a stay of 10 minutes.
• You will have to pay £1 for all the extra minutes up to 20 minutes.
• You will be required to pay £26 for a maximum length of stay, which is 30 minutes.

Moreover, there are free drop-off areas at Gatwick Airport, which are named the North Terminal Long Stay and South Terminal Long Stay zones. Here, you can park your car free of cost for two hours. Otherwise, everyone, whether a PCO driver or a private individual, has to pay the drop-off charges. However, the local residents (RH6 0, RH6 9, and RH11 0) can apply for a Local Commuter Scheme permit.

Additionally, if you have a membership, you can get two free entries from Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal. Moreover, if your passenger holds a Blue Badge and registers your car’s licence plate before you pick up or drop off at the airport, you can also avoid the drop-off charges.

Payment of Gatwick Drop-Off Charges

You are required to complete the payment for the drop-off charges by midnight of the day after your visit to Gatwick Airport. The payment cannot be made in the drop-off zones of the North and South terminals. You can pay the charges online, through Payable, Autopay, or over the phone. If you are a frequent PCO driver who visits Gatwick Airport’s drop-off zones often, then you can also create a personal AutoPay account to get yourself registered and set up auto payment of charges via direct debit payment.

Consequences of Not Paying Gatwick Airport Drop-Off Charges

If you fail to pay the drop-off charges at Gatwick Airport by midnight the next day, you should be prepared to pay £60 within 14 days and £100 PCN (Parking Charge Notice) if you pay after 14 days of receiving the notice.

Tips to Ensure Timely Payment of Gatwick Airport Drop-Off Charges

You should plan to pay the drop-off charges at Gatwick Airport by making the necessary arrangements beforehand, which will help you avoid payment delays. For this purpose, you should ensure the validity of your credit or debit card and check if there is enough balance to pay the drop-off charges before you go to the airport. You can also link your mobile payment application to any payment method to ensure timely transactions.

Remembering these things will help you avoid all the hassle and stress by preventing delays in paying drop-off charges at Gatwick Airport. It will also ensure your travel plans go on smoothly and efficiently.