Is Heathrow drop-off free for disabled?

Being dropped off Alternatively, the first 2 hours of parking are free of charge for Blue Badge holders in our Long Stay car parks. Please use the call point on entry and state your Blue Badge number and registration to the operator. On exit please use the call point and state your registration to exit.



Yes, Heathrow Airport offers a 100% discount (free drop-off) for Blue Badge holders, but it is not automatic. As of January 2026, the standard terminal drop-off charge has increased to £7 per visit, and a new 10-minute maximum stay has been implemented. To avoid this charge, a Blue Badge holder (or someone dropping them off) must apply for the discount online either up to three months before the trip or by midnight the day after the drop-off occurs. The application requires the vehicle registration number, the Blue Badge number, and photos of the front and back of the badge. Once the application is successful, the vehicle is "whitelisted" for that specific trip, and the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras will not trigger a bill. Blue Badge holders are also exempt from the 10-minute time limit, allowing for a more relaxed transition for those with limited mobility. If you fail to register and do not pay the £7 fee, you will be issued a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) of £80, which is reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.

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Free drop-off options are available at Heathrow's Long Stay car park, where passengers can take a free bus transfer to the terminal.

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Members of the public can use the Long Stay car parks for up to 30 minutes free of charge. Upon exit, the barriers will read your ticket or registration number. For Blue Badge holders, the first 2 hours of parking are free.

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How long can you wait at Heathrow Drop Off? Unlike some airports, there isn't a time limit in place at the Heathrow Terminal Drop Off zone. Please keep in mind, however, that you cannot leave your car unattended and must pay the charge every time you re-enter the Drop Off areas.

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For anyone who books in advance, the maximum length of stay at Heathrow Short Stay Parking Terminal 2 is 99 days. If you just turn up on the day without pre-booking, you can stay as long as you like, you'll just continue to pay the roll-up daily tariff.

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In most cases, there's no need to pay anything when saying goodbye to family and friends, as almost all airports have a free area for drop-offs – as long as you're willing to take a short walk or shuttle ride to the terminal, Townsend explains.

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The nearest location to Terminal 5 for pick-ups is the Terminal 5 short stay car park. Alternatively, you can also collect passengers from the Terminal 5 Long Stay car park, where the first 30 minutes are free.

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Pickup from our forecourts (the area outside the terminal building) is not allowed. The nearest location to Terminal 2 for pick-ups is the Terminal 2 short stay car park. Alternatively, you can also collect passengers from the Terminal 2 Long Stay car park, where the first 30 minutes are free.

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Payments should be made at the car park pay-on-foot machines, not booked online.

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Everyone who boards an aircraft at Heathrow has to be security screened to UK government standards. Even if you've already been through security checks at another airport, we're obliged to screen you again before you fly from Heathrow.

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Picking-up at Heathrow If you are picking-up a passenger from Heathrow, it is prohibited to wait on the terminal forecourt. Please park in one of our Short Stay car parks, and pay at a pay-on-foot machine, or one of our Long Stay car parks for 30 minutes for free.

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