Taking your car to France from Dover? You have two options: the ferry to Calais, 90 to 100 minutes depending on the operator, or Le Shuttle from Folkestone, 35 minutes and from £124 with a Standard ticket. Both are built for cars: you drive from the motorway into check-in and only get out once you are on board, or not at all on Le Shuttle.
Ferry or Le Shuttle with your car?
| Ferry Dover to Calais | Le Shuttle Folkestone to Calais | |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing time | 90 to 100 minutes | 35 minutes |
| Car fares from (one way) | £63 (P&O), £114 (DFDS); Irish Ferries same-day returns from £55 | £59 Day Trip, £98 Short Stay Saver, £124 Standard |
| Check-in closes | 60 minutes before departure | Arrive at least 1 hour before |
| During the crossing | Car deck closes; you go up to the passenger decks | You stay with your car |
| Cars on LPG | Ask your operator when booking | Not allowed |
| Best for | Lower fares, a break with food and sea views | Speed, and travellers who get seasick |
Fares are per car, so everyone in it travels for the same price. The Dover to Calais car ferry is usually the cheaper choice for a holiday, and for a day out too: an Irish Ferries same-day return (from £55) beats the Le Shuttle Day Trip fare of £59 each way. Our Le Shuttle guide has a calculator that compares the two for your trip, and all fares are on our prices page.
Driving to Dover
Dover is about 80 miles from London: take the M20 and A20, or the M2 and A2, both of which end at the port. Count on around two hours, more on a Friday or in the holidays. Set your satnav to CT16 1JA; our guide to Dover ferry port explains check-in and the French border control step by step. Le Shuttle leaves from its own terminal near Folkestone, at junction 11A of the M20.
At busy times the authorities hold lorries on the M20 (Operation Brock) and on the A20, which can slow down cars too. Check the sailing updates before you leave home.
With your car on the ferry
Staff direct you onto the car deck and into a row. Once the engine is off, everyone goes up to the passenger decks: you cannot stay in the car, and the car deck is closed during the crossing. So before you lock up:
- Take what you need for 90 minutes: passports, phone, medicines, a jacket.
- Switch the car alarm to transport mode, or the motion sensor will go off at sea.
- Note the deck number and the colour of the stairwell, so you find your car quickly.
We sailed and photographed the crossing with every operator: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. Our ferry comparison shows how they differ, for example if your dog travels with you.
With your car on Le Shuttle
On Le Shuttle you drive into a carriage and stay with your car for the 35 minutes through the tunnel. Cars up to 1.85 metres high that are not lowered travel on the double-deck carriages; taller vehicles, cars with a roof box that takes them over that height, and vans or motorhomes use the single-deck carriages. Cars that run on LPG are not allowed, so those have to take the ferry.
Towing a caravan or driving a motorhome? Gas bottles have their own rules on Le Shuttle; see our page on caravans and motorhomes to France.
Before you drive off in France
From the first roundabout in Calais you drive on the right, with speed limits in km/h. A few things to sort at home:
- Book the right size. Give your real length and height, including a roof box, bike rack or trailer. A vehicle that is bigger than booked can cost extra at check-in.
- Headlights. Fit beam deflectors or switch the lights to right-hand traffic in the car settings.
- Kit and papers. A warning triangle, a reflective jacket for everyone, the UK identifier, your licence and the V5C.
Our guide to driving in France covers speed limits, tolls and Crit’Air stickers, and the ferry checklist lets you tick everything off.
Questions about taking your car
Can I stay in my car on the ferry?
No. On the ferry everyone leaves the car and goes to the passenger decks, and the car deck stays closed until arrival. On Le Shuttle you do stay with your car.
Is the ferry or Le Shuttle cheaper with a car?
Usually the ferry. For a holiday, P&O starts at £63 one way against £124 for a Le Shuttle Standard ticket. For a day trip, an Irish Ferries same-day return from £55 for the car beats the Le Shuttle Day Trip fare of £59 each way. Le Shuttle is faster, though.
Do I need to book a roof box or bike rack?
Yes: book your total length and height, including anything on the roof or the back. On Le Shuttle a roof box can take you over 1.85 metres, which means a different carriage.
How long before departure must I be at Dover with my car?
Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure. In the school holidays operators sometimes ask you to arrive two hours early because of the queues at the French border control.
Book your crossing with the car
Compare the car fares of P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries in one search, or check what Le Shuttle costs for your date.