Drop-off at Luton Airport is not free. The Express Drop-Off zone costs £7 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per minute up to a 30-minute maximum. It is often still called "the £5 charge" from its older price, but the current official rate is £7. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which gives up to 2 hours free with a shuttle to the terminal. Prices checked August 2026.
The Express Drop-Off tariff
The Express Drop-Off zone is a covered forecourt about a 5-minute walk from the terminal. It is cashless and barrier-free, using ANPR cameras to read your number plate, so there is nothing to pay on site.
| Stay | Charge |
|---|---|
| First 10 minutes | £7 |
| Each minute after | £1 per minute |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
You pay online only, at lutondropoff.apcoa.com, by midnight the day after your visit. Miss that deadline and it becomes a £95 penalty, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days. Because there are no barriers and nothing to pay at the kerb, it is easy for a one-off visitor to forget, so pay as soon as you can.
The free alternative: Long Stay car park
The money-saving option most people miss is the Long Stay car park, which gives up to 2 hours free for drop-off and pick-up (then £7 for 3 hours). A free shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, and takes about 10 minutes to the terminal (postcode LU2 9NW). This is the standard choice for meeting an arrival, particularly if a flight might be delayed, since 2 hours free removes the pressure of the 30-minute drop-off cap.
Picking someone up
For pickups, the same choice applies: the paid forecourt for a quick collection, or the free 2-hour Long Stay window if you may be waiting. Ride-hailing works differently. Uber and Bolt drivers wait in geo-fenced areas and collect passengers at a designated Priority Pick-Up Zone, so a rideshare pickup can involve a short wait. See the taxis page for how that works, and the parking page for longer stays.
Drop-off FAQs
How much is the drop-off charge at Luton Airport? £7 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per minute up to a maximum stay of 30 minutes, in the Express Drop-Off zone.
How do I avoid the drop-off fee at Luton? Use the Long Stay car park, which is free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle every 20 minutes taking about 10 minutes to the terminal.
How do I pay the Luton drop-off charge? Online only, at lutondropoff.apcoa.com, by midnight the day after your visit. The zone is cashless and barrier-free with ANPR cameras.
What happens if I do not pay the drop-off charge? It becomes a £95 penalty, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days, so pay online promptly after your visit.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Routes, FAQs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the London Luton Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London Luton Airport website before you travel.