Does dropping someone off count?
Yes. The ULEZ charges you for driving in the zone on a given day, however briefly, so a drop-off or pick-up counts just the same as a long stay. Heathrow’s ULEZ page says anyone parking, dropping off or picking up in a non-compliant vehicle has to pay. Only compliant vehicles (petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6, or electric) avoid it. Check yours with the ULEZ checker.
What about parking at Heathrow for a week?
The charge is for each day the vehicle is driven in the zone, not for days it sits parked. TfL says you don’t pay on a day your vehicle is parked in the zone and not driven. Driving in on day one and out on day eight means two charging days, not eight.
Is the Heathrow drop-off charge the same thing?
No. Heathrow’s Terminal Drop-Off Charge is separate from the ULEZ and is paid to the airport, not TfL. It’s £7 every time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area. A non-compliant car can owe both.
| ULEZ | Heathrow drop-off charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £12.50 a day | £7 each entry |
| Who pays | Non-compliant vehicles | Most vehicles (some are exempt or discounted) |
| When | 24 hours, every day except Christmas Day | 24 hours, 365 days a year |
| Pay by | Midnight on the third day after | Midnight the next day |
| Pay to | TfL | Heathrow, online or on 0330 008 5600 |
| If unpaid | £180 penalty charge notice | £80 Parking Charge (£40 within 14 days) |
There are no barriers: cameras read your number plate as you enter the drop-off zone. You can pay online, through Heathrow’s automated phone line or with autopay on an account, by card only. To avoid the charge, use the free drop-off at Heathrow’s Park & Ride car parks (previously Long Stay), which have a free bus to the terminals. Blue Badge holders can apply for a 100% discount, but approval can take up to 5 days, so apply before you travel.
Don’t forget to pay after your trip
Remembering a ULEZ payment is hard when you’re sitting on a plane. You have until midnight on the third day after you drove in to pay TfL; see forgot to pay the ULEZ?. The drop-off charge has a shorter deadline: midnight the next day. EveryDrive reminds you about the ULEZ before its deadline, but it doesn’t track Heathrow’s drop-off charge.