How to appeal an East Midlands Airport drop-off charge
East Midlands Airport runs a fully barrierless Rapid Drop Off lane next to the terminal, managed and enforced by APCOA - pay online or by phone by midnight the next day, or a £100 Parking Charge (£60 within 14 days) goes to the registered keeper. A forgotten payment is the classic, very appealable trigger, and the airport’s byelaws have been in force since July 2025.
- Airport
- East Midlands Airport
- Drop-off run by
- APCOA
- How it works
- Barrierless ANPR - pay online by the deadline (a missed payment becomes a charge)
- Drop-off fee
- £5 for up to 15 minutes, then £1/min up to 30 minutes - checked 27 September 2026; confirm the current fee on the airport's website
- Free alternative
- Long Stay 2 is free for up to 60 minutes, with a shuttle bus to the terminal (the shuttle does not run from 1 November to 31 March)
- Type of notice
- Private Parking Charge Notice (a contract dispute, not a statutory PCN)
- Appeal route
- Appeal to APCOA Parking within 28 days; if it is rejected you can escalate free to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), as APCOA Parking is a BPA member. How it works: POPLA appeals
Drop-off fees change frequently - always confirm the current price and terms on the airport's official website, and use the exact appeal channel and reference printed on your notice.
Forgot to pay the East Midlands drop-off charge?
The deadline. The charge has to be paid by midnight the day after your visit.
Paying late. East Midlands’ page doesn’t offer a way to pay after that: it says a £100 Parking Charge is issued if payment isn’t received by midnight the following day, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
What happens next. At a camera-enforced drop-off the notice is posted to the registered keeper. If you think you have grounds, appeal before paying - paying is usually treated as accepting the charge. Appeal to APCOA Parking within 28 days; if it is rejected you can escalate free to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), as APCOA Parking is a BPA member.
To avoid it next time, set up an account with a payment card, and the charge is taken automatically after each visit.
Forgetting to pay isn't a defence on its own, but it isn't the end of the story either - check the grounds below, especially whether the charge and its deadline were clearly signed before you stopped, and the “relevant land” point on keeper liability.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com drop-off page - checked .
The rules at East Midlands Airport
What is published about dropping off, paying and enforcement at East Midlands Airport - mostly from the airport's own pages, terms and byelaws, plus official registers such as the parking trade bodies' member lists. Each point links to its source and the date we checked it.
- Where to drop off
- The Rapid Drop Off lane is right next to the terminal, alongside the Short Stay car park. Follow the signs for the Short Stay car park and use the right-hand lane to enter.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Paying
- Rapid Drop Off has no barriers, so you cannot pay on exit. You must pay online (pay.eastmidlandsairport.com) or by phone on 0345 222 1517 by midnight the day after your visit, or set up AutoPay. Cash and cheques are not accepted, and you cannot pay in advance.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Time limit
- The maximum stay in Rapid Drop Off is 30 minutes, and paying the tariff only covers the time reasonably needed to drop off a passenger. Staying past 30 minutes can bring a Parking Charge of up to £100.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Penalty
- If you don't pay in time, the registered keeper is sent a £100 Parking Charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The terms add that a debt-recovery fee of up to £70 may be applied if it stays unpaid after 28 days.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Who enforces
- APCOA Parking (UK) Limited manages and enforces Rapid Drop Off for East Midlands International Airport Limited. APCOA is on the British Parking Association's Approved Operator list, so a rejected appeal goes to POPLA.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Trade body
- APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd is listed as a British Parking Association Approved Operator.
Source: britishparking.co.uk · checked
- Stopping and waiting
- The airport says parking or stopping in unauthorised areas is not allowed and tells drivers to use the drop-off and pick-up facilities. It does not state a charge amount for stopping elsewhere.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Blue Badge holders
- Rapid Drop Off has no Blue Badge exemption. Blue Badge holders can instead use Short Stay 1 free for up to 30 minutes, or Long Stay 2 free for up to 60 minutes, for pick-up or drop-off.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
- Byelaws
- The East Midlands International Airport Limited Byelaws 2025 came into force on 31 July 2025 after being confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport. A breach can lead to a fine through the courts or removal from the site.
Source: eastmidlandsairport.com · checked
How East Midlands compares on price
East Midlands alongside the 5 airports nearest to it in headline drop-off price, cheapest first - and the free alternative at each. Compare all 28 UK airports.
Swipe the table sideways to see who enforces each charge and what a missed payment costs →
| Airport | Drop-off from | Time included | Free alternative | Enforced by | If you don't pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrestwickBarrier | £4.50 | 60 min | there is no free drop-off option - only Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free, validated by scanning the badge at the exit barrier | Airport (byelaws) | Paid at the barrier - byelaw breaches go to court, not a PCN |
| Belfast InternationalBarrier | £5 | 10 min | the Long Stay car park has a free 15-minute grace period, so it can be used for drop-off and pick-up | Not published | Paid on exit - no PCN amount or enforcer published |
| East MidlandsCameras | £5 | 15 min | Long Stay 2 is free for up to 60 minutes, with a shuttle bus to the terminal (the shuttle does not run from 1 November to 31 March) | APCOA | £100 (£60 within 14 days) if not paid by midnight the next day |
| HumbersideBarrier | £5 | 60 min | the first 15 minutes in Car Park 1 next to the terminal are free | Vehicle Control Services | Fine from VCS for stopping on yellow or red lines or in the bus lay-by |
| ManchesterCameras | £5.50 | 5 min | JetParks 1 offers free drop-off with a 24/7 shuttle bus to the terminals | APCOA | £100 (£60 within 14 days) if not paid by midnight the next day |
| NewcastleBarrier | £6 | 10 min | the Airport Waiting Zone at Callerton Parkway (NE13 8DN) is free for up to 90 minutes, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal | Airport or its agent (not named) | Paid on exit; the council red route nearby is a £70 PCN |
Headline kerbside drop-off prices, each verified against the airport’s own published tariff or a dated published guide. The oldest figure in this table was last checked . Longer stays cost more, and several airports raised prices twice in 2026 - confirm on the airport’s site before you travel. “Cameras” means you pay online afterwards (miss it and you get a Parking Charge Notice); “Barrier” means you pay on exit.
Grounds for challenging an East Midlands drop-off charge
Pick the ground that genuinely fits - a focused, evidenced argument beats a scattergun one.
- Airport forecourts and access roads are frequently not "relevant land" under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, so the operator often cannot hold the registered keeper liable and must identify the actual driver - a strong ground where you were not driving or will not be named.
- A genuine payment was made or attempted within the deadline - keep the card statement line, the app confirmation, or a photo of the payment screen and its timestamp.
- The ANPR cameras misread your registration, or logged a missed entry/exit, producing the wrong vehicle or an impossible duration.
- You did not actually stop - a drop-off charge applies to stopping in the zone, not to driving through, and cameras can wrongly capture a vehicle that only passed.
- The signage did not clearly display the charge and its terms where you could read and accept them before entering the zone, so no contract was formed.
- The East Midlands International Airport Limited Byelaws 2025 came into force on 31 July 2025. Land under statutory airport byelaws is arguably not "relevant land" under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, so keeper liability may not apply - if you were not driving, say so and do not name anyone.
How to appeal, step by step
- 1
Check which notice you have
Confirm whether it is a drop-off Parking Charge Notice (for example a missed online payment), a no-stopping/red-route charge, or a council or byelaw matter, and note exactly which company or body issued it. The issuer's trade body decides the escalation route.
- 2
Gather your evidence
Collect the notice, your registration, the date and time, any payment proof (card statement, app confirmation, screenshot with a timestamp), and - if you can - a photo of the signage and the charge it displayed.
- 3
Pick the strongest ground
Choose the ground that fits - the Protection of Freedoms Act "relevant land" point, a payment you did make, an ANPR misread, that you did not actually stop, or unclear signage.
- 4
Appeal within the deadline
Appeal to APCOA Parking within 28 days; if it is rejected you can escalate free to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), as APCOA Parking is a BPA member. Do not pay while you intend to appeal - paying is treated as accepting the charge.
- 5
Generate your appeal letter with AppealIQ
Enter the details and your chosen ground, and AppealIQ writes a formal, persuasive appeal letter for your East Midlands charge. Your first letter each calendar month is free; after that, extra letters are £2.99 each, paid once - there is no subscription.
East Midlands drop-off charges - frequently asked questions
I forgot to pay the East Midlands drop-off charge - what happens now?
The charge has to be paid by midnight the day after your visit. East Midlands’ page doesn’t offer a way to pay after that: it says a £100 Parking Charge is issued if payment isn’t received by midnight the following day, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. At a camera-enforced drop-off the notice is posted to the registered keeper. If you think you have grounds, appeal before paying - paying is usually treated as accepting the charge. Appeal to APCOA Parking within 28 days; if it is rejected you can escalate free to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), as APCOA Parking is a BPA member. To avoid it next time, set up an account with a payment card, and the charge is taken automatically after each visit.
How much is the drop-off charge at East Midlands?
£5 for up to 15 minutes, then £1/min up to 30 minutes. Drop-off fees change frequently - that was the rate when we last checked (27 September 2026), so always confirm the current price on the airport's official website. There is a free alternative: Long Stay 2 is free for up to 60 minutes, with a shuttle bus to the terminal (the shuttle does not run from 1 November to 31 March).
Why did I get a Parking Charge Notice at East Midlands?
East Midlands’ Rapid Drop Off has no barriers, so you cannot pay on exit: you pay online or by phone by midnight the day after your visit, or set up AutoPay - you cannot pay in advance. Miss that and a £100 Parking Charge goes to the registered keeper, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days; staying past the 30-minute maximum can also bring a charge of up to £100. APCOA manages and enforces Rapid Drop Off for the airport.
Can I appeal an East Midlands drop-off Parking Charge Notice?
Yes. Appeal to APCOA Parking within 28 days; if it is rejected you can escalate free to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), as APCOA Parking is a BPA member. Never pay if you intend to appeal - paying is usually treated as accepting the charge. Strong grounds include the Protection of Freedoms Act "relevant land" point, a payment you did make, an ANPR misread, or that you did not actually stop.
Can AppealIQ write my East Midlands appeal letter?
Yes. Enter the charge details and the ground that fits, and AppealIQ drafts a formal, persuasive appeal letter to APCOA (or for the relevant appeals service). Your first letter each calendar month is free; after that, extra letters are £2.99 each, paid once - there is no subscription.
How long does an appeal against an East Midlands Airport drop-off charge take?
APCOA has 28 days to answer under the private parking Single Code, or it must tell you when it will decide. If it rejects the appeal you have 28 days to take it to POPLA, and APCOA has to pause any debt recovery while POPLA is considering it.
Does the East Midlands byelaws point apply to my charge?
Only if your visit was on or after 31 July 2025, when the airport’s Byelaws 2025 came into force - and only if you are appealing as the registered keeper. Land under airport byelaws is arguably not “relevant land” under the Protection of Freedoms Act, so if you were not driving, say so and don’t name who was.
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AppealIQ generates draft letters to assist your appeal. It is not legal advice. An airport drop-off charge is a private Parking Charge Notice - a contract dispute, not a statutory council fine - so always use the operator's appeal channel and the reference printed on your notice, and mind the deadline.