What it costs to stop outside the terminal, how to pay, how to avoid the charge, and the easier way to get there.
Luton charges for dropping off in the Express drop-off zone in Terminal Car Park 2: £7 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 for every extra minute. It is meant for a quick stop — unload, say goodbye and go.
Number-plate cameras record the car as it enters and leaves. You pay online or by phone afterwards — usually by midnight the day after. Forget, and the registered keeper receives a Parking Charge Notice. Check the exact payment deadline on the London Luton Airport website before you travel, as it can change.
The free option: drop off in the Long Stay car park — free for up to 2 hours — and take the shuttle to the terminal. It saves the charge but adds time: allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes, more with heavy bags or children.
Picking someone up? See our Luton Airport arrivals guide — where to meet, where to park and how long it takes to come through arrivals.
With a pre-booked car, the drop-off charge is already in one fixed price — from £80 from central London. No cameras, no online payment to remember, no shuttle bus.
Get my fixed price ↑Charges as published for 2026 — check the London Luton Airport website before you travel, as prices and rules can change.
Luton airport transfers · Luton Airport arrivals guide · All London airport drop-off charges · Stansted drop off & pick up guide