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Eurotunnel freight and vans: moving to the UK and lorry crossings
Whether you are moving home in a hire van or running a lorry across the Channel, the tunnel is the fast way to cross. Vans travel on the normal LeShuttle service, while lorries use the dedicated LeShuttle Freight service.
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.
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, 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, check if unsure.
How to book a van for moving
- Use the booking module above and select your vehicle type and size.
- Enter the height and length of your van, including anything on the roof.
- Choose your date and time. Off-peak and midweek crossings are cheaper.
- Book a return together if you need to bring the van back, to get the better rate.
- 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. 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, 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 Eurotunnel freight works for truckers
- Freight uses dedicated freight terminals at Folkestone and Coquelles, separate from the passenger terminals.
- Lorries load onto specially designed freight shuttle wagons, and drivers travel in a separate club car.
- The crossing takes about 35 minutes, with frequent departures day and night.
- Pricing and booking are handled through a LeShuttle Freight account, not the consumer website.
- There is a freight timetable for commercial crossings, arranged through the freight service.
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
Can I take a van through the Channel Tunnel to move house?
Yes. A normal van or small transporter carrying personal belongings books on the standard LeShuttle service, just like a car, as long as it is within the height, length and weight limits. Measure your van and book the right category in the module above.
What is the difference between the van service and freight?
Private vans with personal belongings use the standard passenger service and online booking. Commercial lorries, HGVs and goods for sale use the separate LeShuttle Freight service, with its own terminals and account-based booking.
How big a van can go on the normal LeShuttle service?
Vans within the passenger service limits (height booked by category, and a loaded weight limit of around 3.5 tonnes) go on the standard service. Larger or heavier vehicles need the freight service. Measure before booking.
How do hauliers book Eurotunnel freight?
Through a LeShuttle Freight account, not the consumer website. The freight service handles commercial rates, timetables and crossings for lorries and HGVs at dedicated freight terminals.
How long does the freight crossing take?
About 35 minutes through the tunnel, the same as the passenger shuttle, with frequent departures day and night.
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.