You pull into the Drop Off Zone, and an automatic number plate camera snaps your registration. It’s like a traffic camera, but instead of a ticket, you get a bill for being polite. You pay online within 24 hours, or a £100 penalty lands in your lap like an uninvited seagull.
Pro tip: don’t forget to pay. Your holiday memories will then include a sad letter from “ParkingEye” demanding £100 because you waved goodbye for too long.
If you’re thinking, “I’ll just be quick—45 seconds,” the machine doesn’t care. It’s like a bouncer who times your bathroom break. You pay for every single second over zero.
The “Free” Alternative: Long Stay Shenanigans
Here’s the sneaky hack that will make you feel like a spy. Drive to the Long Stay car park, which offers a free grace period of about 30 minutes. Yes, you read that right: 30 free minutes at Gatwick Long Stay South. You park, walk your passenger to the shuttle bus, wave tragically, and drive out. Zero pounds. Zero guilt. Just a slight sense of victory over the airport-industrial complex.
But be warned: the shuttle bus is a 10-minute ride. So you’ll need to calculate like a NASA engineer. If you’re off by 31 seconds, you’ll owe £7.50 for the day. That’s the price of a mediocre airport coffee—except you can’t drink it.
Drop off and pick up at Gatwick Airport
