Dublin Airport Drop and Go Parking

Drop & Go is Dublin Airport's own valet parking service. Instead of searching for a space or waiting for a shuttle, you drive into a dedicated zone in the terminal car park, hand your keys to DAA's team and walk straight to departures. Your car is parked in a secure car park on the airport campus and is waiting in the same zone when you return. Because it is run by the airport itself and operates inside the terminal car parks, it occupies a distinct position between short term parking and independent meet and greet. This guide explains exactly how it works, what it costs and the rules that catch travellers out.

Drop & Go is DAA's valet service, operating from Level 2 of Car Park C at Terminal 1 and Level 3 of the Short Term Car Park at Terminal 2. You pre-book, drive through a damage-scanning system, hand over your keys and receive a receipt card. On return, you scan the card at a self-service kiosk to collect your keys and locate your car in the same zone.

Pre-booked through us, Drop & Go starts from €95.99 for 3 days and €130.99 for a week. It costs more than the long-stay car parks and less than short term parking for the same stay, and suits travellers who value a fast, shuttle-free arrival, particularly families, early departures and anyone with heavy luggage.

Drop & Go at a Glance

How Does Drop & Go Parking Work?

You pre-book online, drive to the Drop & Go zone in the Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 car park, pass through a vehicle scanner, hand your keys to a team member and collect a receipt card. On your return, you scan the card at a kiosk, your keys are released and the screen shows where your car is parked.

On departure

1. Pre-book. Book Drop & Go online in the same way as any other car park. Booking guarantees your space.
2. Drive to the zone. At Terminal 2, enter the Short Term Car Park at ground level and follow the signs to Level 3. At Terminal 1, follow the signs to Level 2 of Car Park C. The barriers lift automatically when your registration matches your booking.
3. Pass through the damage scanner. As you drive in, an automated damage recognition system scans your vehicle and records its condition. Wait while the scan completes.
4. Hand over your keys. A team member checks in your vehicle, registers your keys on a track-and-trace system and gives you a personalised receipt card with a unique barcode.
5. Walk to departures. Your car is moved by trained staff to a secure car park on the airport campus.

DAA's technology partner reports that check-in takes under a minute, which is the main time saving compared with any shuttle car park.

On return

1. Walk back to the Drop & Go zone where you left your car.
2. Scan your receipt card at the self-service kiosk. Your keys are released from a secure locker.
3. The kiosk displays your parking space number. Spaces are numbered, and a map in the zone shows the layout.
4. Collect your car and drive out.

Photograph your receipt card when you receive it. If the card is lost or damaged, a photo of the barcode and booking reference will make it much easier for the reception team to help.

Where Drop & Go Is Located

Drop & Go launched on Level 3 of the Terminal 2 Short Term Car Park, in the area previously used for executive parking. DAA now also operates a Drop & Go zone on Level 2 of Car Park C at Terminal 1, so you can use the zone at the terminal you are flying from.

The Terminal 2 zone is about two minutes from Terminal 2 departures and five to seven minutes from Terminal 1 through a covered walkway. Car Park C at Terminal 1 is a short walk from Terminal 1. Both zones have a staffed reception desk. Check your booking confirmation for the zone assigned to your booking before you travel.

Because both zones sit inside the short term multi-storeys, the height restrictions that apply to those car parks also apply here: 1.85 metres at Terminal 1 Car Park C and 2.1 metres at the Terminal 2 car park. Drivers of tall vehicles should confirm suitability before booking. See our guide to Dublin Airport short term parking for the layout of each car park.

How Much Does Drop & Go Cost Compared with Other Car Parks?

Through us, Drop & Go starts from €95.99 for 3 days, €130.99 for 7 days and €194.99 for 14 days. That sits between the long-stay car parks and short term parking. In one published first-hand test over Easter 2025, a 10-day booking cost €125, a few euros more than Express Red at the time.

Like DAA's other car parks, Drop & Go uses demand-based pricing, so the cost varies by date and how early you book. In peak season, DAA prices the Terminal 2 zone higher than Terminal 1. The value case rests on what you are paying to avoid: the shuttle transfer, the walk from a remote space with luggage and the time spent finding a space at a busy terminal car park.

Our lowest year-round price for each stay length. Prices vary by date and are higher during school holidays, Christmas and summer. Search your dates for the live price.

DAA has included Drop & Go in seasonal promotions alongside Express Red and Holiday Blue, so it is worth checking for current offers. Members of the top tier of The Airport Club, DAA's annual membership scheme, receive unlimited Drop & Go access.

What Happens If Your Flight Is Delayed?

DAA monitors incoming flights, so if your return flight is delayed, the Drop & Go team will be aware and you do not need to take action. If you miss your flight or are delayed by more than two hours for a different reason, call the Drop & Go team on +353 87 230 0564.

The same number applies if you are returning earlier than planned. If it is at least 12 hours before your scheduled return, you can change your booking online through Manage My Booking. If it is within 12 hours and you cannot amend the booking, call the team as soon as possible so they can have your car ready.

This flight-monitoring arrangement is one of the practical advantages of an airport-operated valet service. Independent meet and greet operators handle delays in different ways, so check their terms carefully if you are comparing the two.

Requirements and Rules

Your car must be road legal. This is a condition of the service, because staff drive your car on the airport campus. For vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland, that means a valid motor tax disc and an NCT certificate that both cover the full length of your stay, with the discs displayed. UK and other non-Irish registered vehicles must also be road legal for the duration.

Your booking details must match the car. The barriers recognise your registration. If you change cars after booking, update the registration through Manage My Booking before you travel.

Damage and missing items. The entry scan creates a record of your car's condition at handover. If you notice damage or believe items are missing on your return, go to the Drop & Go reception desk or call +353 87 230 0564 and complete a claim form before you leave. As with any valet service, remove valuables from the car before handing over the keys.

Cancellations. DAA bookings can be cancelled through Manage My Booking, and refunds are processed within five business days. Confirm the cancellation deadline shown in your booking terms.

Drop & Go vs Meet and Greet

Drop & Go is often confused with meet and greet, but the two operate differently:

For independent operators, see our guide to Dublin Airport meet and greet.

Who Drop & Go Suits Best

• Families with young children, who avoid loading luggage and buggies onto a shuttle.
• Early-morning departures, where every minute between car and security counts.
• Business travellers who want the fastest possible arrival and return.
• Travellers with heavy or awkward luggage, such as golf bags or ski equipment.

It is less suited to tall vehicles that may not clear the multi-storey car parks, travellers whose car is not road legal for the full stay, and anyone for whom price is the deciding factor. For the lowest-cost options, see our guide to Dublin Airport long term parking.

Frequently Asked Questions

For every parking option at the airport, see our main guide to Dublin Airport parking.