Heathrow has extended its drop-off charge to the recently opened Terminal 4 to help cut down on car usage.  

Introduced from 1 November 2021 for the other terminals, the charge levies a £5 flat-fee per visit to the drop-off zones. The charge needs to be paid every time the vehicle enters the area, which is policed by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems similar to those used for the London Congestion Charge and Dart Charge.  

Drivers can pay for a single drop-off or pre-pay for multiple drop-offs online or by phone; there is no option to pay at an airport ticket machine or in the terminal drop-off zones. The charge can be paid in advance or by midnight the day after making the drop-off.  Blue Badge holders are eligible for a 100% discount.  

The drop-off charge at Terminal 4 started from 1 July 2022; drivers who used the terminal prior to this date don’t need to pay the charge.   

Speaking last year, the airport said the charge had been introduced to prevent a car-led recovery and reduce airport-related traffic whilst protecting jobs at Heathrow, which has suffered a £3bn loss due to the pandemic.  

It’s the last major UK airport to introduce such a charge, with similar drop-off charges in place at the other nine largest UK airports.  

Income generated from the scheme will contribute towards new sustainable transport initiatives at the airport while additional revenue will help to lower overall airport charges.

Passengers can avoid the charge by using travel methods such as the Heathrow Express, TfL Rail, London Underground, bus or national coach services. Drivers can also use the airport’s long stay car parks to make a free drop-off where a bus will take the passenger to the terminal building.   

Earlier this year, Heathrow also launched a Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ), which replaces the Free Travel Zone and provides a growing network of subsidised travel routes to and from the airport.