Birmingham Airport drop off charges depend on where you stop. Premium Set Down, right outside the terminal, is paid. Its neighbour, the Drop Off car park about 400 metres away, is free for the first 10 minutes. Stopping on the red-route roads, even briefly, can bring a £100 charge.
This guide explains both drop-off areas and what each one costs. It also covers how to pay, how Blue Badge holders can save, and how a pre-booked taxi fits in.
Birmingham Airport drop off charges at a glance
| Option | Where it is | Walk to the terminal | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Set Down | Directly outside the terminal | Under 1 minute | £8 for the first 15 minutes on its turn-up tariff |
| Drop Off car park | About 400 metres away | 5 to 10 minutes | Free for 10 minutes |
| Red routes | Roads around the terminal | Not applicable | No stopping; £100 charge, or £50 if paid within 14 days |
Two airport pages quote different prices for Premium Set Down, £7 and £8, and we explain the difference below. Prices change, so check the airport’s pages before you travel.
Premium Set Down: the paid option
What it is
Premium Set Down is the drop-off area right outside the terminal. Birmingham Airport says it’s open 24 hours a day and is a good choice if you’re travelling with young children or lots of luggage. The postcode is B26 3QJ, on Concorde Road.
Premium Set Down prices
Birmingham Airport’s Premium Set Down page lists these turn-up prices:
| Time | Charge |
|---|---|
| 0 to 15 minutes | £8 |
| 15 to 20 minutes | £13 |
| 20 to 25 minutes | £19 |
| 25 to 30 minutes | £25 |
| 30 to 35 minutes | £31 |
| 35 to 40 minutes | £37 |
| 40 to 45 minutes | £43 |
| 45 to 50 minutes | £49 |
| 50 to 55 minutes | £55 |
| 55 to 60 minutes | £61 |
| Each extra 15 minutes after 60 minutes | £8 |
Meanwhile, the airport’s drop-off overview page says £7 for the first 15 minutes. Many guides repeat that figure. Price trackers report a £1 rise in August 2026, which would explain the mismatch, but the airport hasn’t said so. The turn-up tariff on the Premium Set Down page shows £8, so budget £8 and confirm the current price before you go. Prices include VAT and may change, according to the airport.
How payment works
There are no barriers at Premium Set Down. Cameras read your number plate when you arrive and leave, so you don’t take a ticket. You must pay within 24 hours of leaving, using your registration number.
On-site machines take cards only, and Post Pay lets you pay online. Alternatively, set up an NCP AutoPay account in advance. You register your vehicle details once, and payment is deducted automatically after each visit, so you can’t forget. Online payers should keep the confirmation until their next bank statement arrives. If you don’t pay in time, you risk a Parking Charge Notice. Each method is explained on the airport’s payment page.
The Drop Off car park: the free option
What you get
This car park is about 400 metres from the terminal, which is roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk along a covered footpath. Stays of up to 10 minutes are free, so it works well for a quick goodbye.
If you’ve got heavy bags, a free wheelchair-friendly bus runs between the car parks and the terminal. The airport says the bus picks up from Car Park 5, across the road.
Charges after 10 minutes
Anyone staying over 10 minutes pays the standard tariff. The airport’s Drop Off page lists it:
| Time | Charge |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 minutes | Free |
| 10 to 15 minutes | £7 |
| 15 to 20 minutes | £8 |
| 20 to 25 minutes | £14 |
| 25 to 30 minutes | £20 |
| 30 to 35 minutes | £26 |
| 35 to 40 minutes | £32 |
| 40 to 45 minutes | £38 |
| 45 to 50 minutes | £44 |
| 50 to 55 minutes | £50 |
| 55 minutes to 1 hour | £56 |
Each extra 15 minutes costs £8 after the first hour. Payment works the same way as at Premium Set Down.
The no-return rule
Drop Off has a no-return-within-one-hour policy. If you come back before the hour is up, you won’t get the free 10 minutes again. That matters if you leave something behind, because a second visit could cost you.
What a short stop costs in each area
Using the airport’s turn-up prices, a few typical stops show the gap clearly.
| Length of stop | Drop Off car park | Premium Set Down |
|---|---|---|
| 8 minutes | Free | £8 |
| 12 minutes | £7 | £8 |
| 20 minutes | £8 | £13 |
| 30 minutes | £20 | £25 |
A quick drop-off therefore costs nothing at Drop Off, but the saving shrinks quickly if you overstay. Meanwhile, a slow stop at Premium Set Down costs more every five minutes. As a result, the free car park suits a fast goodbye, and the paid zone suits a drop that needs help with bags.
Timing your free 10 minutes
The Drop Off car park uses cameras at the entrance, so queues at busy times can eat into your free time. Take your bags out as soon as you stop. Say your goodbyes quickly, and leave within the 10 minutes. If you’re running late for a flight, the free option can cost more than it saves.
Meanwhile, remember the no-return rule. Forgotten a passport or a charger? Going back inside the hour means paying the standard tariff.
If you forget to pay
You’ve 24 hours after leaving to pay at either drop-off area. You can use Post Pay online or an AutoPay account. If you don’t pay, the airport can issue a Parking Charge Notice. The charge is £100 if paid within 28 days. It falls to £50 if you pay within 14 days of issue, and further fees can follow if it stays unpaid. APCOA Parking handles appeals on the airport’s private roads.
Red routes and penalty charges
Signs and double red lines mark the red routes around the airport roads. You can’t stop, unload or park on them, even to drop someone off. The airport tells drivers to use the Drop Off car park instead.
Drivers who break the rules face an enforcement charge of £100. It reduces to £50 if you pay within 14 days. Parking Charge Notices can also follow if you drop off outside a designated area or stop on double red lines. APCOA Parking handles appeals and enquiries, and the airport’s drop-off page gives the details.
Blue Badge holders and assisted travel
Free time for Blue Badge holders
The airport recommends that Blue Badge holders use Premium Set Down, where the first 30 minutes are free. Go to the NCP Customer Service Cabin with your Blue Badge and vehicle registration number, and staff will validate the free time. Stays beyond 30 minutes pay the standard tariff.
Taxi drivers and Blue Badge passengers
If a taxi driver drops off a Blue Badge holder, the driver can also claim the 30 free minutes. The passenger must be present at the cabin so staff can check the badge. That’s worth knowing if you use a pre-booked taxi.
Booking assistance
If you need help in the airport, the Assisted Travel team can meet you at its help points. The airport says it can’t be held liable for missed flights if you give it less than three hours’ notice, so book assistance in advance.
Early bag drop and Twilight Check-In
Some airlines offer day-before bag drop. The airport’s notice names easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI. If you use it, you can claim a reduced tariff at Premium Set Down. The first 60 minutes are free if you booked parking directly with the airport. Otherwise, you pay £8 for 60 minutes. After that, it’s £8 for every 15 minutes.
You’ll need your luggage receipt or boarding pass, your booking confirmation if you booked directly, and your registration number. Ask at the Customer Service Cabin after you check in your bags.
Which drop-off option suits you
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Heavy luggage, young children or mobility needs | Premium Set Down |
| A quick goodbye and no luggage trouble | Drop Off car park |
| Blue Badge holder | Premium Set Down, with free time |
| Lots of time before the flight | Drop Off car park, then the free bus |
A free stop is only free if you leave within 10 minutes. Take the bags out quickly, and say your goodbyes in the car park. Otherwise, Premium Set Down’s higher price may be better value than a long walk and an overstay.
Dropping off by pre-booked taxi
How it works with NET
Our Birmingham Airport transfers page says your driver drops you right outside the terminal. It adds that the airport charges for its forecourt drop-off zone. Please ask us when you book how that’s covered in your quote. Every booking has a fixed fare, so you know the price before you travel.
Why a taxi avoids the time pressure
With a friend or relative driving, the 10-minute free window can feel tight. A pre-booked taxi avoids that. Your driver handles the stop while you go straight to check-in. Our guide to fixed-price and metered taxis explains how a pre-agreed fare works.
Taxis run all hours
Birmingham Airport says private hire and taxis are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That helps with early flights. Our guide to late-night taxis in Birmingham explains what to expect at unusual hours.
If you’d like a fixed price for your journey, you can get a quote online for your trip to Birmingham Airport.
Picking up from Birmingham Airport
If you’re meeting someone, the airport recommends Car Park 5. It’s about a 5 to 10 minute walk from the terminal, and the airport says tariffs start from £12 for up to an hour. Plan your timing around your passenger’s landing, because baggage reclaim and passport control take time.
A pre-booked pickup avoids the walk and the charge. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name board, and your flight is tracked, according to our airport transfers page. That’s useful when you’re collecting someone who’s travelled a long way.
Getting to the airport
The route to the terminal
Leave the M42 at junction 6 and join the A45, following the signs, according to the airport. Its address is Airport Way, Birmingham B26 3QJ. Then follow the signs for Premium Set Down or the Drop Off car park, depending on where you’re stopping.
Roadworks in 2026
Birmingham Airport has flagged major HS2 motorway works across the West Midlands in 2026. Check the HS2 information before you set off, and allow extra time. Our guide to the HS2 Interchange and the People Mover explains the wider picture.
Other ways to avoid the charge
Public transport
You can avoid a drop-off charge by taking public transport. Our guide to taxi vs public transport in Birmingham compares the options. A train to Birmingham International and the free people mover to the terminal works for light luggage.
Share the cost
If two or three of you are travelling, a pre-booked taxi can be easier than driving. Our Mercedes V-Class seats up to seven passengers and their luggage, which suits a family heading to the same flight.
A quick checklist before you leave home
- Decide which drop-off area you’ll use, and check its current price.
- Keep your goodbyes short if you’re using the free 10 minutes.
- Note your registration number, because you’ll need it to pay.
- Pay within 24 hours of leaving, if you’ve paid anything.
- Avoid stopping on red routes, even for a moment.
- Book assistance in advance if you need it.
Pickups across Birmingham and the Midlands
We collect from homes, hotels and offices across the region. That includes our Birmingham taxi service, as well as pickups from Solihull, Coventry and Wolverhampton. Our coverage area page lists every town we serve.
Book your Birmingham Airport taxi
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-fare taxis to and from Birmingham Airport, 24 hours a day. Tell us your flight time, pick-up address and group size, and ask how the airport’s drop-off charge is covered in your quote. Book your taxi online, or contact us with your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drop-off free at Birmingham Airport?
Yes, for 10 minutes. The Drop Off car park gives 10 free minutes, about a 5 to 10 minute walk from the terminal. Premium Set Down, outside the doors, is paid.
How much is Premium Set Down at Birmingham Airport?
Premium Set Down’s own tariff shows £8 for the first 15 minutes. The airport’s overview page says £7, so check the current price before you travel.
What happens if I stay over 10 minutes in the Drop Off car park?
You pay the standard tariff. It’s £7 for 10 to 15 minutes and £8 for 15 to 20 minutes, with higher charges after that.
How do I pay the Birmingham Airport drop-off charge?
Pay within 24 hours of leaving, at the on-site machines (cards only), online through Post Pay, or with an NCP AutoPay account.
Can I stop on the road outside the terminal?
No. Red routes don’t allow stopping, even to drop someone off. A charge of £100 applies, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Is there free drop-off for Blue Badge holders?
The first 30 minutes in Premium Set Down are free for Blue Badge holders, validated at the NCP Customer Service Cabin.
