If you're planning to drive a friend or family member to Stansted yourself, the drop-off charge just got a lot more expensive. Since 19 March 2026 it's risen from £7 to £10 for a quick stop — and it climbs fast if you linger. Here's exactly how it works.
How much is the Stansted drop-off charge now?
From 19 March 2026, the Express Set Down zone at Stansted costs £10 for up to 15 minutes, rising to £28 for up to 30 minutes. The previous £7 flat fee had been unchanged since 2012, so this is a real jump — and it puts Stansted among the most expensive drop-off zones of any UK airport.
How the charge actually works
There's no barrier to lift and no ticket to take. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras log your car when you enter and again when you leave, and the system calculates how long you were there. You don't pay on the spot — payment is due online by midnight the day after your visit. This catches a lot of people out: no barrier makes it easy to forget there's a charge at all until the penalty notice arrives.
There's also a re-entry rule worth knowing: if you come back into the Express Set Down zone within 30 minutes of your first visit — say, because you dropped someone at the wrong door or forgot a bag — you'll be charged an additional £20 on top of the standard fee.
Is there a free way to drop someone off?
Yes. The Mid-Stay car park offers 60 minutes free, with a shuttle bus running every few minutes to the terminal — the trip takes around 7 to 10 minutes. It's a genuine free option, but it means parking, walking to a shuttle stop, and a short ride rather than being dropped directly outside departures.
Book your Hawkhurst to Stansted taxi — £130 fixed
No meter, no surprises, and any terminal drop-off charge is already included. Call or WhatsApp 24/7 to confirm your price in minutes.
Why booking a taxi sidesteps the whole thing
This charge exists because Stansted wants to reduce the number of private cars doing a single "kiss and fly" trip to the terminal and back. A pre-booked taxi is a different category entirely — your driver drops you and moves on, no lingering, no ANPR fine risk on your end, and no £10, £28, or £20 re-entry charge to think about. It's already built into the fixed price we quote you, the same way it is at Heathrow and every other airport we serve.
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