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Eurotunnel to Germany by car: routes, cost and times
Driving from the UK to Germany via the Eurotunnel is straightforward. The LeShuttle train takes your car to Calais in 35 minutes, then you drive east through Belgium to Cologne in about 5.5 hours, roughly 8 hours door to door.
The tunnel gets your car across the Channel fast, and from Calais it is a clear motorway run east into Germany. There are no motorway tolls for cars in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany, only in France, so the drive itself is cheap once you are across.
Book your Channel Tunnel crossing
Your first leg is the LeShuttle crossing from Folkestone to Calais. Use the price checker below to compare live Eurotunnel and ferry fares for your dates and book your crossing.
How do you get to Germany with the Eurotunnel?
The Eurotunnel car train does not go to Germany. LeShuttle carries your car under the Channel from Folkestone to Calais only, a 35-minute crossing. From Calais you drive east, usually through Belgium via Brussels and Liège, reaching Cologne in about 5.5 hours. From there the German Autobahn network takes you on to the rest of the country.
The UK to Germany route, stage by stage
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| London → Folkestone | about 1h 30m via the M20 |
| Check-in & border control | about 60 minutes at the terminal |
| Folkestone → Calais (tunnel) | 35 minutes on LeShuttle |
| Calais → Cologne | about 5.5 hours via Belgium |
| Total to Cologne, door to door | about 8 hours |
Routes from Calais to Germany
There are three main ways east, depending on which part of Germany you are heading for.
| Route | Via | Best for | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Belgium | Brussels, Liège, Aachen | Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt | 5–7 hours |
| Through the Netherlands | Ghent, Antwerp, Eindhoven | Dortmund, Essen, Hanover | 6–8 hours |
| Through Luxembourg | Namur, Trier | Frankfurt, Stuttgart, southern Germany | 7–9 hours |
Driving times to the major German cities
Approximate driving times from Calais in normal traffic.
| City | From Calais |
|---|---|
| Cologne | about 5.5 hours |
| Düsseldorf | about 6 hours |
| Frankfurt | about 7.5 hours |
| Berlin | about 9 to 10 hours |
| Munich | about 10 hours |
How much does it cost?
France is the only country on the route that charges motorway tolls for cars, so the drive is inexpensive once you leave France.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| LeShuttle crossing (car) | from £69 |
| French motorway tolls | £13–£17 |
| Tolls in Belgium, Netherlands & Germany (cars) | none |
Add fuel for the drive. For the tunnel fare in detail, see our tickets and prices and cheap tickets pages.
Things to know before you drive
- Drive on the right from Calais all the way, and take care at the first junctions after the terminal.
- Speed limits vary: France 130 km/h, Belgium 120 km/h, the Netherlands 100 to 130 km/h, and Germany's Autobahn has both unrestricted and controlled sections.
- Cheaper fuel in Luxembourg: if your route allows, fuel is noticeably cheaper there, so it is worth filling up.
- Carry the required documents and safety equipment for each country you drive through.
Is the ferry or Eurotunnel better for Germany?
The tunnel is the fastest way onto the mainland and straight onto the motorway east. A ferry can be cheaper on some dates but is slower and more weather-dependent, and you still have the same drive through Belgium afterwards. Compare both in our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
Other route guides
Heading somewhere else on the continent? See our guides to London to Paris, Amsterdam and Disneyland Paris.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive to Germany from the UK?
To Cologne, about 5.5 hours from Calais, or roughly 8 hours door to door from London including the drive to Folkestone, terminal time and the 35-minute crossing.
Can you take the Eurotunnel to Germany?
Only as far as Calais. From there you drive east through Belgium to Cologne in about 5.5 hours, and on to the rest of Germany via the Autobahn.
How far is Calais to Cologne by car?
About 5.5 hours via Belgium, through Brussels, Liège and Aachen.
Do I need a sticker to drive in German cities?
Yes. Many German city centres, such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt, require the green Umweltplakette emissions sticker. Order one before you travel.
Are there tolls on the way to Germany?
Only in France, around £13 to £17. There are no motorway tolls for cars in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.
Where is the cheapest place to refuel?
Luxembourg has noticeably cheaper fuel, so if your route passes through or near it, it is worth filling up there.
Driving to Germany through the Channel Tunnel is quick to start and cheap once you are across: cross to Calais in 35 minutes on LeShuttle, then head east through Belgium to Cologne in about 5.5 hours, roughly 8 hours door to door. France is the only country that charges car tolls, so budget for those plus fuel, order a German Umweltplakette before you go, and use the price checker above to compare fares and book your crossing.