Whether it’s visiting the big cities on holiday, taking advantage of convenient transportation, or just enjoying a fun road trip throughout the country, there are many reasons to take a car from the United Kingdom to France.
In fact, United Kingdom citizens are the second-most popular visitors to France — more than 13 million British visited in 2018 — and importing a car is one of the most commonly asked questions.
In this article, we’ll go over the necessary documentation and paperwork (don’t forget about applying for the ETIAS when it comes out), how to travel from the UK to France by car, and many more practical tips.
How to Travel from the UK to France by Car
Although the United Kingdom is only 20 miles (32 kilometers) from France, travelers can only cross the Strait of Dover via two options: train or ferry.
The quickest and most convenient method of going from the UK to France is by train, which is officially known as the Channel Tunnel or Le Shuttle (for cars). The process is very simple: travelers drive their vehicle into an emptied-out train, park, and make the 35-minute journey in the comfort of their car. Better yet, taking the tunnel to France is pet-friendly, as dogs and cats can stay with their owner the entire time.
The tunnel begins boarding in the city of Folkestone in Kent, England and arrives in Coquelles, France.
The second option is to take the ferry between the United Kingdom and France. While slightly slower than the Eurotunnel train, the two main advantages of taking a ferry is that there are more departures and that it is cheaper.
Compared to taking the train, which only has one route (Folkestone to Calais), the ferry offers many more departure and arrival points. Travelers can choose to depart from Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Folkestone, Dover, or Harwich in the United Kingdom, and arrive in Roscoff, St. Malo, Cherbourg, Carn, Dunkirk, or Calais in France. Similarly, the ferry offers connections to other countries, like Belgium and the Netherlands.
Finally, you can ship your car with a company such as Roadrunner car shipping calculator no personal information and you can use their calculator to work out the cost.
Documents Required to Take a Car into France
Travelers who are planning to drive around France in their car will need to have a few documents on hand before their holiday.
It is important to note that vehicles from the United Kingdom may be imported into France for up to six months (within a 12-month period). Otherwise, owners who exceed this limit will need to register their cars in France.
The most important document that you’ll need is, of course, your driver’s license. Likewise, be sure to bring proof of identification (i.e., a passport), a certificate of insurance for the vehicle, and a V5 registration document.
Now that you’ve compiled all of the necessary documents for your vehicle, it’s time to move on to you. Indeed, travelers should keep in mind that they also need to have the proper paperwork to travel to France!
After Brexit, there have been a few changes for British citizens entering EU countries. Passports need to be less than 10 years old from the date of entry and valid for at least three months from the traveler’s planned departure date.
Starting in 2023, British travelers will need to apply for the ETIAS, which is also known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This travel authorization will be required for travelers from more than 60+ countries in order to enter Schengen Zone nations.
Applying for the ETIAS is quick and simple and should only take about 15 minutes. The entire process is 100% online and only requires applicants to answer questions regarding themselves (first and last name, date of birth, contact information) and their passport (serial number, date of issue/expiry, nationality).
The approved ETIAS will be sent to the applicant’s email address, and the process is typically instantaneous.
Best of all, the ETIAS is valid for three years from the date of issue and may be used to spend up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen Zone.
Driving in France
Once you have successfully arrived in France, be sure to follow these practical driving tips to have a fun and safe holiday.
Firstly, France requires all drivers to have emergency equipment, including a warning triangle, reflective jackets, and spare light bulbs. During the winter, be sure to fit snow chains to your car’s tires to be prepared for the inclement weather.
Across the channel, you’ll need to switch to right-hand side driving. If this is your first time doing so, be sure to practice beforehand to get the hang of it. Similarly, France and other European countries use kilometers per hour when denoting speed limits.
Last but not least, travelers who plan to drive in or through major French cities should pre-order a clean air sticker (also known as Crit’Air) to affix to their car. More and more cities now have ‘clean air zones,’ which only allow vehicles that are compliant with specific requirements.
