Drive into a Birmingham Airport terminal car park without a booking and you pay £67 for every day. A week costs £469. Book ahead and the same week costs far less, so the car park you choose, and when you book it, matters.
This guide to Birmingham Airport parking 2026 compares every official car park by price, walking distance, keys, height limits and trip length. It also covers drop off and pick up charges, Blue Badge rules, vehicle rules and fair alternatives to parking. We checked the airport’s official pages on 29 October 2026, and we say where details conflict. Prices change, so confirm your dates on the airport’s booking page.
Which Birmingham Airport Car Park Is Best for Your Trip?
The best choice depends on how long you are away, how far you will walk and what you drive. This table gives a quick answer.
| Your trip | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A few days, light luggage | Car Park 4 or 5, pre booked | Lower example prices than the multi storeys, with a short walk or free bus |
| A week or more, keeping your keys | Car Park 5 | A 5 to 10 minute walk or a free bus, and no height limit |
| A long summer stay at the lowest official price | Car Park 7 | You hand over your keys, and it is seasonal |
| 14 days or more, shortest walk | Car Parks 1, 2 or 3, pre booked | The airport advertises savings of up to 70% on these stays |
| Family with bags and young children | Car Park 1, 2 or 3 | About a minute from the terminal, with lifts |
| Business trip, quick turnaround | Car Park 3 Priority or Premium Pre-booked | The closest bookable bays, and Priority avoids lifts |
| Van, roof box or tall vehicle | Car Park 5 or Premium Pre-booked | Neither has a height limit |
| No walking at all | Valet Parking | You hand over your keys near the terminal |
| Dropping someone off for free | Drop Off car park | Free for 10 minutes |
| Dropping someone off at the door | Premium Set Down | £8 for up to 15 minutes |
| Collecting someone | Car Park 5 | The airport’s advice, with Car Park 1 for longer waits |
Birmingham Airport Parking Prices: What You Pay If You Turn Up
These are the airport’s turn up tariffs. They include VAT. Birmingham Airport and its parking partner NCP set them. The pay machines take cards only, because they are cashless.
| Car park | Up to 1 hour | Up to 4 hours | Up to 24 hours | Each extra day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Park 1 | £12 | £48 | £67 | £67 |
| Car Parks 2 and 3 | £13 | £50 | £67 | £67 |
| Car Park 4 | £12 | £48 | £67 | £67 |
| Car Park 5 | £12 | £48 | £67 | £67 |
| Car Park 7 | £2.60 (up to 90 minutes) | £30 | £51 | £44 |
A day means 24 hours or part of 24 hours. Here is what that adds up to:
- Three days: £201 at Car Parks 1 to 5, or £139 at Car Park 7.
- One week: £469 at Car Parks 1 to 5, or £315 at Car Park 7.
- 14 days: £938 at Car Parks 1 to 5, or £623 at Car Park 7.
Coach parking has its own tariff: £8 for up to 30 minutes and £16 for up to an hour.
Pre Booked Prices Are Much Lower
The airport says pre booking is the cheapest way to park, and it guarantees you a space. It does not publish fixed pre book prices, because they are set when you book and move with demand. These examples come from one comparison site, for 8 days from 7 to 14 November 2026. The lower figure includes the site’s own discount, and the higher figure is its full price.
| Car park | Example 8 day price | Turn up price for 8 days |
|---|---|---|
| Car Park 5 | About £84 to £120 | £536 |
| Car Park 4 | About £91 to £130 | £536 |
| Car Parks 2 and 3 | About £103 to £147 | £536 |
| Car Park 1 | About £118 to £168 | £536 |
| Car Park 3 Priority | About £151 to £216 | £536 |
| Valet Parking | About £98 to £140 | Not applicable |
Treat these as examples, not quotes. Even the highest car park example is well below the turn up price. Check the airport’s booking page for your own dates.
Booking Terms to Know
The airport’s booking terms are worth knowing:
- Savings: The airport advertises savings of up to 70% on pre booked stays of 14 days or more in Car Parks 1, 2 and 3 only, compared with the standard tariff. The offer depends on availability.
- Changes: Flexible bookings can be amended, cancelled or refunded up to 24 hours before arrival. You can change vehicle and contact details up to 2 hours before, at no extra charge.
- Free cancellation: The airport lists it for Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, 5 and 7, within those time limits.
- Priority and Premium bays: Car Park 3 Priority cannot be cancelled. You can amend it up to 48 hours before arrival. Premium Pre-booked lists the same 48 hour amendment window.
- Overstays: Pre booked overstays are charged at the standard turn up tariff, so allow extra time.
Birmingham Airport Car Parks Compared
The airport splits its parking by distance. This table shows the main facts, and the sections after it explain each option.
| Car park | Walk or bus | Keys | Height limit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Park 1 | About 1 minute walk | You keep them | 2.15m | The shortest standard walk |
| Car Parks 2 and 3 | About 1 minute walk | You keep them | 2.05m | Short breaks and business trips |
| Car Park 3 Priority | About 1 minute walk | You keep them | 2.05m | Ground level bays, pre book only |
| Premium Pre-booked | Under 1 minute walk | You keep them | None | The closest bookable bays |
| Car Park 4 | 3 to 5 minute walk, or a free shuttle | You keep them | Not stated | Mid priced longer trips |
| Car Park 5 | 5 to 10 minute walk, or a free bus | You keep them | None | Holidays and tall vehicles |
| Car Park 7 | Courtesy bus, about 10 to 15 minutes | You hand them in | Not stated | Budget stays in summer |
| Valet Parking | About 2 minute walk | You hand them in | Not applicable | No walking |
Car Parks 1, 2 and 3
These are undercover multi storey car parks opposite the terminal. They open 24 hours, and lifts serve every level. The walk to check in takes about a minute, which suits families with heavy luggage and business travellers.
Height and bay size matter. The airport gives these limits:
- Car Park 1: 2.15m high, with bays 2.9m wide and 4.82m long.
- Car Park 2: 2.05m high, with bays 2.8m wide and 4.62m long.
- Car Park 3: 2.05m high, with bays 2.9m wide and 4.57m long.
Your vehicle must fit inside a bay. If it is larger, the airport says you need to book two spaces.
On the turn up tariff, all three charge £67 a day. Booked ahead, the example prices above are lower in Car Parks 2 and 3 than in Car Park 1.
Car Park 3 Priority and Premium Pre-booked
Two pre book only options sit even closer.
Car Park 3 Priority has 67 bays on the surface area of Car Park 3. They are on the left after the barriers, marked with blue lines. They are at ground level, so you need no lifts or stairs. The height limit is 2.05m, and the airport says the bays are Park Mark Safer Parking accredited.
Premium Pre-booked bays sit inside Premium Set Down, near its exit, also marked with blue lines. The airport calls them the closest bookable spaces to the terminal, under a minute away. There is no height restriction, and the bays are 2.9m wide and 4.82m long. An NCP Customer Service Cabin in the zone is staffed 24 hours a day.
The airport does not publish prices for either option, so get a live quote. Give the correct number plate when you book, because both use number plate cameras and issue no tickets.
Car Parks 4 and 5
Both are surface car parks where you keep your keys.
Car Park 4 is the nearer one. Reports put the walk at 3 to 5 minutes along Trident Road and covered walkways, with a free accessible shuttle if you prefer.
Car Park 5 is the airport’s all round long stay choice. It is open 24 hours a day and has no height restriction, so vans and cars with roof boxes can use it. You can walk to the terminal in 5 to 10 minutes. A free bus runs every 15 minutes from stops 2, 6 and 7, which helps with luggage, mobility needs or a larger group. The airport also recommends Car Park 5 for collecting passengers.
Car Park 7: The Seasonal Budget Option
Car Park 7 is the cheapest car park the airport runs. You leave your keys at the office, and staff park the car on site. A free courtesy bus then takes you to the terminal in about 10 to 15 minutes, and it runs every 15 minutes.
Two rules matter. The bus and meet and greet service are for pre booked customers, unless your booking says otherwise. If you turn up without booking, you get no bus.
Car Park 7 is also seasonal. NCP’s listing for 2026 showed it open from 17 May to 3 November and closed over winter. Its postcode is B26 3QW, which differs from the main car parks. Check the opening dates for the current season before you plan around it.
Valet Parking
Valet Parking suits travellers who want no walk and no bus. You hand over your keys at the valet area, about two minutes from the terminal, and staff park the car. The airport reserves that car park for valet and meet and greet customers. It lists free cancellation within the booking rules above, and three Blue Badge bays sit beside the valet cabin. The airport publishes no price, so you need a live quote.
Off Airport Park and Ride
Off airport sites often cost less. In the same November sample, one off airport park and ride cost about £45 to £64 for 8 days. Check what the price includes, such as the shuttle, any extra fees and the opening hours, before you book.
Short Stay vs Long Stay: Which Is Right for You?
Booking sites often call Car Parks 1 to 3 “short stay” and the surface car parks “long stay”. The airport itself uses car park numbers. The more useful question is how far you will walk and how long you will stay.
For a few hours, or a night or two, the closest car park saves effort, and the first hour costs £12 or £13. For stays beyond a day or two, price matters more than a few minutes of walking. At that point, pre booked Car Parks 4, 5 and 7 are usually the sensible options to price up.
The exception is a very long trip. The airport’s 70% saving applies only to Car Parks 1, 2 and 3. So for 14 days or more, compare those car parks against Car Park 5 rather than assuming the far ones win.
Cheap Parking at Birmingham Airport: How to Pay Less
Cheap parking at Birmingham Airport comes down to timing and choice. These steps help.
- Book as early as you can. Prices rise as car parks fill, especially in school holidays and summer.
- Match the car park to the trip. Car Park 5, Car Park 7 and off airport sites usually cost least for a week or more. For a short break, compare the total, because a terminal car park can cost less overall than a far one for two nights.
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Add any shuttle, extra fees and cancellation terms.
- Check the booking rules. Cancellation closes 24 hours before arrival, and Priority bays cannot be cancelled.
- Avoid overstays. Pre booked overstays cost the full turn up tariff.
- Do not assume anything is free. The airport gives 10 free minutes in the Drop Off car park and 30 free minutes to Blue Badge holders in certain car parks. Nothing else is free.
Birmingham Airport Drop Off and Pick Up Charges
If you only need to drop someone off, you do not need to park. The airport runs two paid zones, and both are barrierless. Our guide to Birmingham Airport drop off charges covers the system in more detail.
Premium Set Down
Premium Set Down is about a minute from the terminal, and it is only for dropping off. The airport’s tariff page shows these charges:
| Time in the zone | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 minutes | £8 |
| 15 to 20 minutes | £13 |
| 20 to 25 minutes | £19 |
| 25 to 30 minutes | £25 |
| 55 to 60 minutes | £61 |
| Each extra 15 minutes after an hour | £8 |
Some older pages still quote £6 or £7. The airport’s current tariff page shows £8.
Drop Off Car Park
The Drop Off car park sits 400 metres from the terminal. A covered footpath takes 5 to 10 minutes to walk, and a free bus runs from Car Park 5 across the road. The first 10 minutes are free.
| Time in the car park | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 minutes | Free |
| 10 to 15 minutes | £7 |
| 15 to 20 minutes | £8 |
| 25 to 30 minutes | £20 |
| 55 to 60 minutes | £56 |
A no return within one hour rule applies. If you come back sooner, you lose the free 10 minutes.
How to Pay and Avoid a Parking Charge Notice
Both zones use number plate cameras, so nothing stops you driving out without paying. You must pay within 24 hours of leaving. You have three ways to pay:
- Post Pay: Pay online after your visit.
- Pay machines: Use the machines on site, by card.
- AutoPay: Set up the account before you enter, because it will not work if you register afterwards.
If the cameras fail to read your plate, you can still register the stay through Post Pay. If you miss the deadline, you risk a Parking Charge Notice, and the notice sets out the amount and how to appeal. NCP’s customer line is 0345 050 7080.
Red Routes
Do not stop on the airport’s red routes. They are marked with signs and double red lines. Stopping, unloading or parking on them is prohibited, even for a quick goodbye. The enforcement charge is £100, and APCOA enforces it for the airport.
Collecting Passengers
Collections need a different plan. The airport recommends Car Park 5, which starts at £12 for up to one hour at turn up rates. Its advice also points to Car Park 1 if you need longer, and some older pages still name Car Park 1 as the main option. Premium Set Down is not for pick ups.
Accessibility, Vehicles and Other Rules
Blue Badge Holders
The airport gives Blue Badge holders, or their driver, up to 30 minutes free in Premium Set Down. Its Car Park 2 and 3 page offers the same 30 minutes. Here is how it works:
- Take your Blue Badge and number plate to the NCP Customer Service Cabin in Premium Set Down when you leave.
- The badge holder must be present for validation, even if a taxi driver brought them.
- Stays beyond 30 minutes pay the standard tariff.
- The Drop Off car park has Blue Badge bays, though the airport advises Premium Set Down.
Every on site car park has Blue Badge bays. Car Park 2 has nine, next to the pedestrian exit. Car Park 3 has five, to the left of the entry lanes. Premium Pre-booked has four, and Valet Parking has three. The airport’s Blue Badge page names only Premium Set Down for the free period, so check your car park’s page when you book. If you would rather not leave your badge in the car, present it at the NCP desk first for a permit.
Larger Vehicles, Motorcycles and Coaches
- Larger vehicles: Book two spaces if your vehicle will not fit in one bay.
- Motorcycles: Use the sheltered area in Car Park 2, on your first left after the entry barriers. The airport says motorcycles currently pay nothing, but it removes any parked elsewhere.
- Coaches and large minibuses: The coach park is at the rear of Car Park 3. The airport asks large minibuses to park there when collecting passengers.
- Electric vehicle charging: We could not confirm charging at the car parks from the airport’s pages. Check before you travel if you need it.
Twilight Check In and Day Before Bag Drop
If you use these services, check in your bags first. Then take your bag drop receipt and number plate to the NCP cabin in Premium Set Down so staff can validate your stay.
Birmingham Airport Parking Alternatives
Parking is not the only choice. This table compares the main alternatives fairly.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Train to Birmingham International | One or two travellers, light bags, a city centre start | Early flights, late returns and rail closures |
| Bus or coach | Budget travel | Timetables and the change at each end |
| Taxi | Door to door trips | Fares vary, so ask for a quote |
| A lift from friends | Short trips | Your driver pays or walks, and makes two trips |
| Pre booked chauffeur | Groups, early starts, heavy luggage | Costs more than the train |
The train is the cheapest way in for many people. The airport says Birmingham New Street is about 10 minutes away on a direct train, and London Euston takes about 70 minutes with Avanti West Coast. A free Air-Rail Link connects Birmingham International station to the terminal in under two minutes. It runs on demand from 03:30 to 00:30 daily, so a very early or very late flight can fall outside its hours.
Rail closures can affect travel over Christmas and bank holidays, so check National Rail before you rely on the train. Our Birmingham New Street Christmas closure guide shows what to expect at that time of year.
Planning Checklist Before You Leave
- Pre book early and keep the confirmation. Cancellation closes 24 hours before arrival.
- Give the correct number plate. The car parks issue no tickets.
- Check your vehicle’s height and size against the limits above.
- Use the right postcode. Most car parks use B26 3QJ, but Car Park 7 uses B26 3QW.
- Allow time for the bus if you chose Car Park 4, 5 or 7. One comparison site suggests about 15 minutes from the barrier to check in at Car Park 5.
- Carry a card. The pay machines are cashless.
- Set up AutoPay before you enter if you plan to use a drop off zone.
- Photograph your car and note where you parked.
- Check your return time. A day means 24 hours or part of it.
- Check live roadworks before you set off.
Our guide on how early to arrive at Birmingham Airport helps you plan the rest. For booking help, call the NCP call centre on 0345 050 7080 with your booking reference.
Booking a Chauffeur Transfer to Birmingham Airport
Parking is often cheapest when you travel alone and stay for a few days. Add up the whole trip, though, and the picture can change. You pay for the car park, the fuel to reach it, and the time spent on a bus or a walk.
A chauffeur costs more than a pre booked car park for a solo traveller on a short trip. It becomes worth considering for families, groups, early flights, late returns and business travellers. It also helps anyone who wants to avoid the walk, the bus and the drop off charge.
National Executive Transfers runs its airport chauffeur service from a base at Birmingham Airport. Your driver tracks your flight and meets you in the arrivals hall. We confirm a fixed price before you travel, and every airport pickup includes 60 minutes of waiting time. Our Mercedes E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles suit different group sizes. We cannot promise prices here, because they depend on your address and booking. Airport access charges may apply according to the vehicle and drop off arrangement, so ask what your quote covers.
To compare fairly, add up parking, fuel and any drop off charges, then ask for a fixed quote. Our guide to chauffeur versus taxi for Birmingham Airport transfers explains the differences, and our page on meet and greet at Birmingham Airport shows how arrivals work. You can request a quote on our Birmingham Airport transfers page. Include your flight number, pick up point and passenger numbers.
Conclusion
The right choice for Birmingham Airport parking comes down to trip length, luggage and budget. Car Parks 1 to 3 are the closest, and Priority and Premium Pre-booked bays are closer still. You pay less at Car Parks 4 and 5, in return for a short walk or bus. For the cheapest official option in summer, consider Car Park 7, if you are happy to hand over your keys.
Whatever you choose, book ahead, check your vehicle’s height, give the correct number plate and pay any drop off charge within 24 hours. Confirm current prices on the airport’s own pages before you travel. If parking feels like more work than the trip is worth, the train or a pre booked transfer may suit you better.
Related articles
Birmingham Airport drop off charges
Birmingham Airport (BHX) complete guide
Birmingham New Street Christmas closure
Chauffeur versus taxi for Birmingham Airport transfers
Frequently Asked Questions
Premium Pre-booked bays are the closest, under a minute away. Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, and Car Park 3 Priority, are about a minute's walk. Valet Parking is about two minutes away.
On the turn up tariff, Car Park 7 is the cheapest, but it is seasonal. Booked ahead, Car Park 5, Car Park 7 and off airport sites usually cost least. Compare live quotes for your dates.
It appears not. NCP's listing shows it open from 17 May to 3 November 2026 and closed in winter. Check before you book.
Yes, from Car Parks 4, 5 and 7, and from Car Park 5 to the Drop Off car park. The Car Park 7 bus is for pre booked customers. Car Parks 1, 2 and 3 are within walking distance.
At turn up rates, a week costs £469 in Car Parks 1 to 5 and £315 in Car Park 7. Pre booking is far cheaper, but the airport publishes no fixed pre book prices.
Yes. The airport says pre booking gives the best rates. It advertises savings of up to 70% on stays of 14 days or more in Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, subject to availability.
Flexible bookings can be cancelled or refunded up to 24 hours before arrival. Car Park 3 Priority cannot be cancelled, though you can amend it up to 48 hours before.
Premium Set Down costs £8 for up to 15 minutes. The Drop Off car park is free for 10 minutes, then £7 for 10 to 15 minutes.
You must pay within 24 hours of leaving. If you do not, you risk a Parking Charge Notice, and the notice explains the amount and how to appeal.
The airport recommends Car Park 5, which starts at £12 for the first hour. Its advice also points to Car Park 1 for longer waits.
Blue Badge holders get up to 30 minutes free in Premium Set Down, and the Car Park 2 and 3 page offers the same. Validate at the NCP cabin. Stays beyond 30 minutes pay the standard tariff.
The train is often cheapest. Birmingham International station connects to the terminal by the free Air-Rail Link, which runs from 03:30 to 00:30 daily.
