Driving to France
SAVE TIME AND A WHOLE LOT OF STRESS WITH OUR TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO FRANCE FROM THE UK BY CAR
Heading off on holiday can sometimes be accompanied by a certain amount of stress, particularly if you're travelling with children and pets, so anything to make your journey that bit easier is well worth doing. When travelling with LeShuttle, there's plenty you can do, well before you even leave the house, that will save you time and make your trip as smooth as possible. Read on for our top travel tips that will ensure you arrive at your European destination feeling cool, calm and collected.
Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes
FROM
£59*
One Ticket. All your friends.
Fare includes up to 9 people when you take your car by train
Pets welcome
Take your pets in your car by train
Unlimited luggage allowance
Fast, convenient and in the comfort of your own car
Sustainable way to travel to Europe
Looking for a more sustainable way to travel, take your car to Europe by train
Learn more about driving to France
Buy an Emovis Tolling tag
Like the UK, France has its share of toll roads, and these are operated by Emovis Tag. To avoid waiting in long queues at tolling booths, we'd recommend purchasing an Emovis Tag before you leave the UK. Not only will the tag save you time, but if you buy the yearly pass it will save you money, too. It's a great thing to have if you're going to do lots of driving in France during your trip, or if you visit many times throughout the year.
Read our guide to driving in France
As you can imagine, France has quite a few driving rules and regulations that differ from those in the UK, so it's important to make sure you're in the know. For example, all drivers (including visitors) must a warning triangle and reflective jacket at all times.
Add Advance Passenger Information (API)
We now carry out exit checks on behalf of the British Government for passengers travelling from Folkestone to Calais, so you must add your Advance Passenger Information (API) before you travel.
Use the Pet Travel Scheme checklist
If you're holidaying with pets, you need to make sure they're ready to travel and you have all the right documentation, including microchips, rabies vaccinations and pet passports, or else they won't be able to travel with you. Use our Pet Travel Scheme checklist to ensure you and your pets are prepared for your holiday.
Search our FAQs
If, after following all of these steps, you still have questions about your journey, take a look at our Support Section. Here you'll find the answers to every question imaginable, including lots of great information to make your trip the best it can be. Got a question about passports or travelling in a van, for example? This is where you'll find what you need to know.
Check the latest travel information
This might be one of the last things you do before travelling, but it's probably the most important, as traffic conditions can impact your journey in more ways than one. We make regular updates to our travel information page in order to give you the most up to date information. It's a good idea to check in the days leading up to your departure, as the earlier you know about changes, the better you can plan for them.
Feel like a holiday?
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle takes just 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais – start planning your trip today.
Can you drive through the Eurotunnel?
No, you can't drive through the Eurotunnel, or Channel Tunnel. To cross the Channel using LeShuttle, cars and other vehicles are transported on our shuttles. These are car trains - you drive your vehicle onto one of the train's carriages, park up and the train travels through the Channel Tunnel. Journeys take 35 minutes. You then drive off the train at either Folkestone or Calais and resume your onward journey.
Stay connected at every step
We know how important it is to stay connected, that’s why our lounges offer complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. You can also download our app for live updates on your journey .
Travel updates and alerts direct to your phone
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Access your ticket and booking in one place
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