Leaving the car at the airport for a week-long holiday is simple, but the bill depends heavily on whether you book ahead. Airports publish a price for drivers who arrive without a booking, and that price is often several times what a pre-booked space costs. Here are the published figures for Frankfurt, Gatwick and Heathrow, what the drop-off zones charge and how to work out your own trip. All prices are those on the airports' own pages in October 2026.
What it costs without a booking
Frankfurt Airport publishes a complete price list, valid from 1 July 2026, on its parking price page. The table shows the standard Terminal Parking at Terminal 1 (entrance P2/P3) and Terminal 3 (entrance P11).
| Parking time | Terminal Parking | Business Parking |
|---|---|---|
| up to 30 minutes | EUR 4 | EUR 4 |
| up to 60 minutes | EUR 7.50 | EUR 8.50 |
| first day maximum | EUR 43 | EUR 49 |
| up to 7 days | EUR 258 | EUR 294 |
| from the 8th day, each further day | EUR 13 | EUR 18 |
At Gatwick, the roll-up price page says prices are the same across the North and South Terminal and start from GBP 8 for 30 minutes in Short Stay. Long Stay includes two hours free. The airport advises booking more than 24 hours before arrival to secure the best rates and guarantee a space. We did not find a weekly roll-up price in text form on that page. The airport's parking overview describes Short Stay as a 4 minute walk, Mid Stay as a 6 minute walk and Long Stay as a 10 to 12 minute free transfer, and says bookings made through the official site can be changed without a fee up to a day before arrival.
Frankfurt's Business Parking has extra wide spaces of 2.70 m and short ways to check-in, while the standard Terminal Parking spaces are 2.30 to 2.50 m wide.
What pre-booking saves
Frankfurt's own price page lists online examples with the note that prices depend on availability: 7 days from EUR 99 for Terminal Parking, 14 days from EUR 178 for Terminal Parking, and 14 days from EUR 95 for Holiday Parking, a different car park. You can cancel without a fee up to a day before the reserved period starts. The Heathrow parking page says that you can cancel an Official Heathrow Parking booking up to two hours before your arrival time.
Frankfurt also has Short Term Parking at Terminal 1 (P31) for brief visits: up to 15 minutes costs EUR 3.50, up to 30 minutes EUR 6, up to 45 minutes EUR 8.50 and up to 60 minutes EUR 17, with a maximum of EUR 55 for the first day. It is a poor choice for a holiday stay.
Drop-off fees
If you only drive someone to the terminal, you may still pay. Heathrow's page states that GBP 7 applies each time a vehicle enters the terminal drop-off areas, and that non-payment can lead to a GBP 80 Parking Charge, reduced to GBP 40 if paid within 14 days. Gatwick's drop-off page states a minimum of GBP 10 to use the designated drop-off zones at the North and South Terminals, payable by midnight on the day after.
At Frankfurt the drop-off areas at Terminal 1 (P35, P39) and Terminal 3 (P61, P63) are free for up to 10 minutes, maximum two times a day. Up to 15 minutes costs EUR 3.50, up to 30 minutes EUR 6.
Worked example: a week at Frankfurt
You park for 7 days. Drive-up Terminal Parking costs EUR 258. The online example from the airport's price page is EUR 99 for 7 days, so you save EUR 159. For 14 days the drive-up price is the 7-day cap of EUR 258 plus 7 further days at EUR 13, which equals EUR 349. The online example is EUR 178, so the saving is EUR 171. Prices vary by date, so check your own dates.
Off-airport and hotel options
Some companies sell parking away from the airport with a shuttle, or park and ride, and some sell a hotel night with parking. Gatwick recommends that anyone using another company books only with those accredited by the British Parking Association Park Mark Award and the Trading Standards Buy With Confidence scheme, and has a page of guidance on avoiding rogue operators. Ask any provider for the transfer time and what the booking includes. On tripprice you will find parking providers with vouchers and cashback, such as Airparks, APH and Holiday Extras.
What to check before you book
- Is the shuttle included, and how long does the transfer take?
- Is there a cancellation window, and what does it cost to change?
- Where do you hand over the keys, if at all?
- Does the price include the drop-off fee for the people seeing you off?
Step by step
- Count the days from the day you drive in until the day you drive out.
- Look up the airport's drive-up price for that length of stay.
- Price a pre-booked space for the same dates.
- Add shuttle time and any hotel costs if you compare off-airport options.
- Check accreditation, cancellation terms and what is included.
- Pay drop-off charges on the day if you use a drop-off zone.