One of the main things that PCO drivers tend to forget is the various charges that they have to pay. As a private hire driver, you can maintain great profitability by avoiding fines and Parking Charge Notices (PCN). Fuel, congestion charges, and ULEZ charges are some of the major recurring costs that you need to keep in check working with a PCO car hire in London.
Since October 2021, the London Heathrow Airport terminal drop-off charge has been one of the most ticketed spots, as reported by many PCO drivers. There are numerous things about the Heathrow drop-off charge that PCO drivers might find confusing, so here’s a breakdown of everything you’d want to be aware of for your PCO car hire in Leyton. Do note that these are applicable for mainly Heathrow terminal:
What Is the Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
The Heathrow Drop-off charges were introduced back in November 2021. If you’re driving to London Heathrow to drop off passengers, you must pay the Airport terminal drop-off charges. These apply to all cars, including PCO cars. You have to pay a £5 fee for drop-offs at the London Heathrow terminal forecourts, the passenger drop-off areas in front of the terminal buildings.
As soon as you enter the drop-off zone, the charge applies to you. There aren’t any barriers to the drop-off zone that you can use to avoid these charges.
How Do You Pay The Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
The terminal drop-off charge is enforced via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The charges are applicable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can pay the charge online, using an automated telephone service or autopay. Payments aren’t accepted through the airport ticket machine or terminal drop-off zones.
When Do You Have to Pay?
You’re allowed to pay in advance, on the day you drop off or by midnight the next day. Payment is valid for only one entrance. If you enter the drop-off area again, you will have to pay the charges again. Once you’ve exited the drop-off area, you must pay again if you wish to enter with your PCO car hire in Barking.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay The Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
From the time you enter the Airport terminal drop-off area, you have until midnight on the next day to pay the charges. If you fail to do so, you receive a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) of £80. You’re provided some relief if you pay this amount within 14 days, with the fine being reduced to £40.
Signing Up for Autopay
You can set up autopay by registering your PCO car with Heathrow on the airport terminal’s website. Sign up using a personal account for autopay, and you’ll be done. Whether you’re using a PCO rental or your own, it’s your job to sign up for autopay. If you take rides heading to Heathrow regularly, it’s recommended that you sign up for autopay as it’s fairly convenient.
What If You Need A Free Drop Off?
If you want to avoid the drop-off charges, you can drop your passenger off at the Long Stay terminal car park. From here, passengers can go to the other terminals using a free bus. The long-stay car park is free if you’re using it for less than half an hour, which is more than enough for most PCO drivers dropping their passengers off. If you need all the details about the long stay car park, you can find all the details here for Heathrow PCO cars.
Do PCO Drivers Get Any Discounts?
As a PCO driver, you don’t get any incentives or discounts for the terminal drop-of charge. It’s one of the reasons why the idea of driving to Heathrow puts some people off. Luckily, most rides that you take on for Heathrow can be fairly rewarding, and you can recoup that money from the fare.
Advantages of Going to Heathrow
If you have to pay extra at Heathrow, is there any benefit to going to the airport? Yes, many PCO drivers use rides heading to Heathrow as a great time to take a break in the Authorised Vehicle Area. There are numerous amenities available there that you can use to relax and energise before heading back out to work.
Similarly, there are numerous charging spots that you can make the most of. It’s a convenient pitstop that you can make to stay fuelled and keep your mileage in check. You’re also very likely to find passengers heading to other parts of the city here as well.
Rent A PCO Car With G&M Direct Hire
G&M Direct Hire makes getting a PCO car hire in London more streamlined than ever. All you need is a PCO licence, complete the necessary documentation and get your PCO car today. They offer affordable options among their wide range of PCO cars for rent, including EV options that provide great value in the industry. Contact them today and get all the details about hiring a PCO car in London.
About the Author
The author is an expert in PCO car rentals, connecting drivers with the best options on the market in terms of value. They have immense knowledge about this industry and are now using it to produce educational content and blog posts for G&M Direct Hire. They aim to make the industry more accessible for the average person.
