Eurotunnel freight and vans: moving to the UK and lorry crossings

There are two very different ways to cross the Channel Tunnel with a large vehicle. If you are moving house or shifting belongings in a van or transporter, you book on the normal LeShuttle service, just like a car, as long as your van fits within the size limits. If you are a haulier or driver with a lorry or HGV, you use LeShuttle Freight, a separate commercial service. This guide covers both, starting with vans and moving, then commercial freight for truckers.

Book your van crossing

Moving in a van within the passenger size limits? You book it just like a car. Use the price checker below to compare live Eurotunnel fares from Folkestone to Calais, and enter your van's height and length to get the right category and price.

Moving to the UK or France in a van

Moving home across the Channel, or bringing furniture and belongings over, is one of the most common reasons people take a van through the tunnel. The good news: if you are driving a normal van, campervan-sized vehicle or small transporter, you do not need the commercial freight service. You book on the standard LeShuttle service, the same one used by cars, and cross from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes.

The key is size. As long as your van is within the height, length and weight limits for the passenger service, you book it just like a car, choosing the right vehicle category. Larger vans and Luton-style vehicles may push into a higher category, so measure before you book.

Van size limits on the standard service

The normal LeShuttle service takes vehicles up to certain limits. Beyond these, you need the freight service instead.

• Height: vehicles over 1.85m are fine but are booked in a higher category, so measure to the very top.
• Length: longer vans and those with trailers cost more and must be declared.
• Maximum weight: the passenger service has a loaded weight limit (around 3.5 tonnes). Heavier vehicles use freight.
• Contents: personal belongings for a house move are fine. Commercial goods for sale may count as freight, so check if unsure.

How to book a van for moving

1. Use the booking module above and select your vehicle type and size.
2. Enter the height and length of your van, including anything on the roof.
3. Choose your date and time. Off-peak and midweek crossings are cheaper.
4. Book a return together if you need to bring the van back, to get the better rate.
5. At check-in, keep your booking and documents ready, and follow the lane signs for taller vehicles.

Eurotunnel freight for lorries and HGVs

For commercial road haulage, LeShuttle runs a dedicated Eurotunnel Freight service (also branded LeShuttle Freight). This is a completely separate operation from the passenger shuttle, designed for lorries, HGVs and professional hauliers, with its own terminals, loading and account system. Freight shuttles carry trucks through the tunnel in around 35 minutes, running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which is why the tunnel is a backbone of UK to Europe logistics.

Freight is not booked through the standard online booking used for cars and vans. Hauliers and transport companies set up a freight account with LeShuttle, which handles pricing, timetables and crossings for commercial loads. Rates are commercial and based on volume, contracts and vehicle type rather than the per-crossing fares that private drivers pay.

How the freight crossing works

1. Check in at the freight terminal using the self-service touchscreens.
2. Registration and paperwork are scanned at the Pit Stop.
3. UK Border Force and French Customs carry out their checks, which can include document verification and X-ray or heartbeat scans for restricted items.
4. Your lorry is assigned to the next available shuttle and boards the wide, open freight wagons with staff assistance.
5. Drivers travel in the comfortable Club Car during the 35-minute crossing.
6. On arrival you roll straight off onto the motorway network, the M20 in the UK and the A16/A26 in France.

Eurotunnel Freight: key facts

• Crossing time about 35 minutes; allow around 90 minutes terminal to terminal.
• Up to 8 departures an hour at peak times, day and night.
• Maximum vehicle height 4.20m.
• Up to 3 people per lorry including the driver; no children under 12 on freight shuttles.
• Livestock and pets are not allowed on freight shuttles.
• Frequent hauliers can join the LeShuttle Freight Drivers Club and collect points towards rewards.

Freight or ferry for commercial loads?

The tunnel is the fastest freight link at around 35 minutes, with frequent departures, which suits time-sensitive loads and just-in-time logistics. Ferries from Dover and other ports also carry freight and can suit different routes, load types or budgets, especially for longer hauls where drivers rest during the sailing. Many hauliers use a mix of both. For a general comparison of the crossing options, see Channel Tunnel or ferry.

Frequently asked questions

The Channel Tunnel handles everything from a hire van full of furniture to a fully loaded HGV. If you are moving home or bringing belongings across, book your van on the standard LeShuttle service using the module above, just measure the size and pick the right category. If you are a professional haulier, commercial lorry and HGV crossings run through the separate LeShuttle Freight service. Either way, the crossing takes just 35 minutes.