What is the Gatwick drop-off charge — and why are so many drivers caught out?
Gatwick Airport charges drivers who use the designated drop-off forecourts at both the North Terminal and South Terminal. Charges are enforced automatically by ANPR cameras and the resulting Parking Charge Notice (PCN) is issued by a private parking operator — not Gatwick Airport itself and not the council.
A large number of drivers are caught out because the charge zone boundary at Gatwick begins further from the terminal building than most people expect. Some drivers who believe they stopped only briefly on a feeder road have still received a charge. Others receive notices where the ANPR timing suggests a longer stay than actually occurred, often due to exit queues or camera processing delays.
Because this is a private parking charge under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, drivers have clear statutory rights to appeal — both directly to the operator and, if that fails, to the independent appeals service POPLA, which is completely free to use.
How to use this appeal letter
Free Appeal Letter Template — Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport[Your Full Name]
[Your Address, Line 1]
[Town, County, Postcode]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Today's Date]
The Appeals Team
Gatwick Airport Parking Enforcement
[Address as shown on your PCN]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Re: Formal Appeal Against Parking Charge Notice
PCN Reference: [PCN Reference Number from your notice]
Vehicle Registration Mark: [Your Vehicle Registration]
Date of Alleged Contravention: [Date shown on PCN]
Location: Gatwick Airport, [North Terminal / South Terminal — delete as appropriate]
I am writing to formally appeal the Parking Charge Notice referenced above. I dispute that any charge is lawfully due for the reasons set out below.
On the date in question, I attended Gatwick Airport solely for the purpose of dropping off a passenger departing from the [North / South] Terminal. My visit consisted solely of assisting the passenger in removing luggage and ensuring their safe departure. At no point did I leave my vehicle unattended or make use of any parking facility.
[CHOOSE ONE GROUND AND DELETE THE OTHERS]
Ground A — Inadequate signage: I contend that the signage at the entrance to the drop-off charge zone at Gatwick's [North / South] Terminal did not comply with the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice. The charging terms were not clearly, prominently, or legibly communicated at a point where I could have made an informed decision to avoid the zone. In the absence of adequate contractual notice, no binding contract to pay was formed.
Ground B — ANPR timing error / overstated duration: I believe the ANPR system has overstated the duration of my presence in the drop-off zone. During my visit, I encountered [traffic congestion / a queue on the exit / a delay at the barrier — describe briefly], which extended the time recorded by the cameras beyond my actual drop-off duration. I request that you provide full ANPR photographic evidence with precise timestamps for my inspection.
Ground C — Keeper liability not properly established: As the registered keeper, I was not the driver of the vehicle on the date in question. No valid Notice to Driver was issued at the time, and no Notice to Keeper has been served within the timescales required by Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Keeper liability therefore does not arise.
I respectfully request that this Parking Charge Notice be cancelled in full. I am happy to provide any supporting documentation that may assist your review.
I reserve the right to refer this matter to POPLA should this informal appeal be unsuccessful.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Signature if sending by post]
Strongest grounds for a Gatwick drop-off appeal
1. Charge zone boundary — were you actually inside it?
Gatwick's drop-off charge zone does not begin at the terminal forecourt. ANPR cameras are positioned some distance back on the approach road. If you believe you stopped before entering the charge zone, request the ANPR images and compare the camera location against the published zone maps on Gatwick's website.
2. Exit queues inflating recorded time
The drop-off forecourts at Gatwick, particularly the South Terminal, can become congested during peak hours. If exit queues caused your recorded stay to exceed the free drop-off window, this is a legitimate technical ground. Mention the approximate time of day and any known flight times in your appeal.
3. BPA signage non-compliance
The BPA Code of Practice (paragraph 18) requires signage to be the first thing a driver encounters on entering a private parking area. If the first sign you encountered was after you had already committed to the approach road, the contract formation requirements may not have been met.
4. Keeper liability procedural failures
If you were not the driver, check the dates carefully. A Notice to Keeper must be issued within 14 days of the alleged contravention (if no Notice to Driver was given). If this window was missed, keeper liability is not established under the Protection of Freedoms Act.
Frequently asked questions — Gatwick drop-off charges
Does the charge apply to both Gatwick terminals?
Yes. Both the North Terminal and South Terminal at Gatwick have their own ANPR-enforced drop-off charge zones. The zones are separate, and the camera positions differ slightly between the two. If you are appealing on signage grounds, make sure your letter specifies the correct terminal.
I was only there for two minutes — do I still have to pay?
If you were genuinely in and out quickly, the ANPR timestamps on your PCN should reflect that. If the times shown appear longer than your actual stay, you have a strong case to appeal on the basis of a timing error. Request the ANPR photographic evidence as part of your appeal — operators are required to provide it.
Can I appeal if I didn't read the signs?
Yes — but frame this carefully. The legal point is not that you personally failed to read the signs; it is that the signage did not meet the BPA's standards for prominence and legibility. If the signs were small, poorly lit, or positioned where a driver couldn't reasonably read them before entering, this is a valid appeal ground.
What happens if Gatwick's operator rejects my appeal?
If your informal appeal is rejected, the operator must provide you with a POPLA verification code. You then have 28 days to submit your case to POPLA online at popla.co.uk. The adjudication is free and fully independent. Operators must comply with POPLA rulings. Do not pay before you have exhausted the POPLA route.
Is the Gatwick drop-off charge the same as a council parking ticket?
No. Gatwick's charge is issued by a private parking company and is a civil debt, not a statutory penalty. It can only become a problem if the operator pursues a County Court claim and wins a CCJ — a route rarely taken for a single contested charge.