How you pay for airport parking comes down to two choices: book ahead or turn up. Pre-booking is simpler and cheaper. You pay the full price online when you reserve. Your space is reserved, and you simply drive in. 

If you pre-book, you pay in full when you book online. If you turn up and park, how you pay depends on the car park. Some use number plate cameras, so you pay online afterwards, while at others you take a ticket and pay at a machine or on exit.

Turn-up parking costs more, and the method varies by airport and even by car park. Some airports now use number plate cameras with no barriers, so you pay online or at a machine after your visit. Others have the traditional barrier and ticket, where you pay at a pay station before you leave. This guide explains each method and shows how five major UK airports handle it. 

How Do You Pay for Airport Parking?

Do you pay for airport parking before or after?

It can be both. It depends on how you book. You pay for pre-booked parking before you travel. You choose your dates, pay the full amount online, and arrive with nothing left to settle. Turn-up parking is paid for after you park, either as you leave or online once you are home.

If you pre-book, payment is upfront. The price you see is the price you pay, and it is usually much lower than the turn-up rate. Your car park and your space are confirmed, so you drive straight in. You don't have to keep a ticket or use any machine on your way out. 

If you turn up without booking, you pay afterwards. At a barrier-and-ticket car park, you take a ticket on entry and pay at a pay station before you collect your car. At a barrierless car park, cameras read your number plate, and you pay online or at a machine after your visit, usually within 24 hours.

Booking ahead almost always costs less, and you avoid the hassle of paying afterwards. This is why most airports now recommend pre-booking. If you are deciding between the two, pre-booking is best for price and convenience. 

How does pre-paid airport parking work?

Pre-paid parking, also called pre-booked parking, is the route most travellers take. You reserve and pay for your space online before you travel. 

You enter your dates and times on the airport’s parking site, choose a car park, and pay the full amount by card. You then get a booking confirmation by email. That confirmation is your proof of booking. 

Getting in and out is quick. Most airports now read your number plate at the barrier, so you give your registration when you book. The barrier lifts automatically. At a few car parks you take a ticket on entry and show your confirmation. Either way, you have already paid, so there is nothing to settle when you leave.

The main reason to pre-book is price. Booking ahead can save a lot compared to the turn-up rate, often more than half. Also, it guarantees your space on a busy day. The earlier you book, the better the price tends to be. Our guide to booking early explains how to get the lowest rate.

A few practical points help. Give the correct number plate, since the cameras match it to your booking. If your plans change, you can usually amend or cancel, though each airport sets its own deadline, often 24 hours before entry.

How do you pay for turn-up parking?

Turn-up parking means driving in without a booking and paying for the time you use. There are a few ways to pay. 

The most common at larger airports is number plate recognition, or ANPR. Cameras read your registration as you enter. There are no barriers, and you pay afterwards. You can usually pay online by entering your number plate on the airport’s parking site, or at a payment machine before you leave. You normally have a window to pay, often 24 hours from exit. A charge can follow if you miss it.

The traditional method is barrier and ticket. You take a ticket on entry, keep it with you, and pay at a pay station on your return. Pay stations take cards, and some still take cash. You then use the paid ticket, or your number plate, to lift the exit barrier.

A third option is an app or an AutoPay account. You register your car and a payment card once, and the system charges you automatically after each visit. This suits people who use the same airport often. You must set it up before you enter, not afterwards.

The price is always set by how long you stay. Turn-up parking costs more than a pre-booked space for the same time. If you know your dates, booking ahead is cheaper and quicker. Our guide to turn-up parking explains what to expect if you have not booked.

How do you pay for parking at Manchester Airport?

Manchester has both pre-booked and turn-up parking. The payment method depends on what you choose and which car park you use.

The simplest way is to pre-book online. You pay the full price when you book, give your number plate, and the cameras let you in and out. Pre-booking is also the cheapest option, and the airport recommends it, since turn-up spaces are limited.

If you turn up and park, how you pay depends on the terminal. At the Terminal 2 multi-storey, the car park is barrierless with no pay station on site, so you pay online afterwards by entering your number plate. At the Terminal 3 multi-storey, you take a token at the entrance barrier, then pay at one of the ticket machines in and around the terminal, or pay as you exit.

Always give the correct number plate. The cameras match it to your booking or your payment. 

Dropping someone off is a separate thing. The drop-off zones are barrierless, and you pay that charge online by midnight the day after, which our drop-off guide explains.

So for parking at Manchester, the easy route is to book ahead and pay online, with nothing to do at the airport. If you turn up, check your terminal, since Terminal 2 is pay-online and Terminal 3 is take-a-token. To see prices and pre-book, visit Manchester Airport parking.

How do you pay for parking at Birmingham Airport?

Birmingham uses number plate recognition across its car parks, so you don’t need any ticket. Cameras read your registration on entry and raise the barrier for you.

If you pre-book, you pay online when you book and give your number plate. This is the cheapest and simplest route.

If you turn up and park, you pay after your visit. There are three ways to do it: pay online through Post Pay by entering your number plate, pay at an on-site machine before you leave, or use an AutoPay account set up in advance. You have 24 hours from leaving the car park to pay. A Parking Charge Notice can follow if you miss it.

Car Park 5 works the same way. It is Birmingham’s budget car park, a 5 to 10 minute walk from the terminal with a free shuttle bus, and it uses the same number plate system. Whether you pre-book or turn up, you pay by the same methods: online, at a machine, or by AutoPay. 

To check prices and pre-book, visit Birmingham Airport parking.

How do you pay for parking at Newcastle Airport?

Newcastle uses number plate cameras, but you still take a ticket on entry for the main car parks. The cameras add security, and the ticket is for your entry and exit.

If you pre-book, you pay online when you book, and booking ahead saves up to 60% against the turn-up rate.

If you turn up and park, you take a ticket at the barrier, keep it with you, and pay at a pay station on your return. The pay stations are in each car park and in the terminal. Payment is by card, and cash can be used at designated cash machines.

The Express pick-up and drop-off car park is different. It is ticketless, with cameras recording your entry and exit, and you pay the tariff as you leave. From March 2026, payment at the exit is card only, with cash accepted only at the designated machines.

Pre-booking through the airport’s own site gets the best rate.

How do you pay at Luton and Stansted?

Luton

Luton uses number plate cameras at the entry barriers. Turn-up parking is still by ticket. If you pre-book, you pay online when you book, and booking ahead saves up to 65%. If you turn up, you take a ticket at the barrier, keep it with you, and pay at a Pay Station when you return. The Pay Stations are in each car park and in the terminal, and they accept cash and Visa and Mastercard cards. If you lose your ticket, use the intercom at the exit, where you are charged the full daily rate. To check prices and pre-book, see Luton Airport parking.

Stansted

Stansted is pre-book first too. You pay online when you book. If you turn up and park, you pay at the car park on exit. Booking ahead is cheaper, since the turn-up price is higher. Dropping someone off is separate: the forecourt is barrierless, and you pay that charge online by midnight the day after. To compare options and pre-book, see Stansted Airport parking.

Is paying for drop-off different?

Yes, dropping someone off is a separate charge from parking, though the payment often works similarly. The drop-off zone is the area right outside the terminal, for a quick stop, not for leaving your car. At most airports, it is barrierless, so cameras read your number plate.

You pay online afterwards, usually by midnight the day after your visit. At some airports you still pay at a barrier as you leave. The price is set by a short time limit, often 10 to 15 minutes, with a higher charge or a penalty if you overstay. So the method can match turn-up parking, but the charge, time limit, and deadline are different. Our guide to airport drop-off charges explains how to pay at each airport and how to avoid the fee.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay for airport parking?

Two ways. Pre-book and you pay the full price online when you reserve, with nothing to pay when you arrive. Turn up, and you pay afterwards, either online by entering your number plate or at a pay station, depending on the car park. Pre-booking is cheaper.

Do I pay for airport parking in advance or on arrival?

It depends on the route. A pre-booked space is paid in advance, online at the time of booking. A turn-up space is paid later, as you leave or within a set window after exit. Booking in advance usually costs far less.

Do I need to pre-book parking at Manchester Airport, or can I pay on arrival?

You can do either, but pre-booking is advised because turn-up spaces are limited. If you turn up, Terminal 2 is barrierless, and you pay online afterwards. At Terminal 3, you take a token to pay at a machine or on exit.

How do I pay for Birmingham Airport parking after my visit?

Birmingham Airport uses number plate recognition, so you can pay after leaving. Use Post Pay on the website by entering your registration, or pay at an on-site machine, or set up AutoPay beforehand. You have 24 hours from exit to pay.