Urgent warning to drivers over airport parking change landing Brits with £100 fine

BRITS dropping off relatives and loved ones at airports this summer have been urged to act fast when paying for parking. Drop-off fees at the UK’s major airports have increased by over a third in the past year, and many do not understand the payment system. Brits have been urged to pay their drop-off fee charge before being hit with a fine Credit: Getty Motorists visiting airports have been reminded to pay for drop-off parking quickly, or risk facing a hefty fine. Major UK airports, such as Birmingham, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, and Stansted, use automatic number plate recognition to track the length of parking, and how much this costs. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Due to the lack of barriers and no physical facilities to pay the charge, Brits must remember to pay online or by phone. In Britain’s busiest airports, this is expected to be paid by midnight on the following day, and if this is missed, a parking fine of between £80 and £110 can be enforced. These fines can often be decreased if it is paid within 14 days, with some cutting charges by half. It comes as a number of Britain’s major airport drop-off fees have risen by up to a third since 2025, according to recent RAC research. Gatwick, charges £10 for a 10 minute drop off, which is up £3 when compared to the year before. Edinburgh charges £8.50 for a 10 minute stay, marking a £2.50 increase on the year before. Most read in Motors This pricey payment situation is considered unique to the UK, with none of the top 10 airports in the EU charging for drop-offs, as well as the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta. For those wanting to appeal parking charges, Which? encourages them to contact the operator that issued the charge, such as NCP and APOCA. To avoid the risk of being landed with a fine, register for an AutoPay account instead, which will automatically charge your card before a fine can even be considered. Comment now