First-Timer's Guide • April 2026
How the Eurotunnel Works: A First-Timer's Guide
Drive onto the train at Folkestone, stay in your car for 35 minutes, drive off in Calais. Here is exactly what to expect.
Your Journey in 5 Steps
Book
Book online at leshuttle.com
Drive
Drive to Folkestone Terminal
Check In
ANPR reads your number plate
Board
Drive onto the train carriage
Arrive
Drive off in Calais, France
Before You Go: What to Bring
Essential Documents
- Valid passport for all passengers (including children)
- Vehicle registration document (V5C) or VE103 for hire cars
- Driving licence (full, valid UK or EU licence)
- Motor insurance certificate or green card
- Booking confirmation (email on phone is fine)
- Animal Health Certificate if travelling with pets
What You Can Take
- Food and drink (no restrictions for personal consumption)
- Luggage (stays in your car, no weight limit)
- Personal electronics, entertainment for children
Not Permitted
- ×Gas canisters or LPG cylinders (must be declared and turned off)
- ×Fireworks, explosives, or flammable materials
- ×Unaccompanied trailers or vehicles over the size limit
Getting to the Folkestone Terminal
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Terminal, Folkestone
Sat nav postcode: CT18 8XX
Junction 11a of the M20 motorway
The Folkestone Terminal is located just off Junction 11a of the M20 motorway in Kent, making it easily accessible from London (approximately 80 minutes), the M25 (60 minutes from the Dartford Crossing), and the south-east of England. The terminal is well signposted from the motorway — follow signs for “Channel Tunnel” or “Eurotunnel.”
If you are coming from London or the north, you will likely use the M25 and then the M20. If you are driving from London, factor in the Dartford Crossing toll (£2.50 for cars during daytime). From the Midlands, the M1/M25/M20 route is most common, though some travellers from the West Midlands prefer the M6 Toll to bypass Birmingham traffic.
There is no long-stay parking at the terminal itself, but nearby options include the Holiday Extras parking service or Eurotunnel's own overnight parking facility for those catching very early departures. The terminal has fuel stations, toilets, cafes, and a small shopping area.
The Check-In Process
Le Shuttle uses an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system that makes check-in remarkably quick and efficient. Here is how it works:
Approach the Check-In Lanes
Follow signs to the check-in booths. ANPR cameras automatically read your number plate as you approach. Your booking is linked to your registration number from when you booked online.
Confirm Your Details
A screen displays your booking details. Confirm the number of passengers and any pets. If you have a Standard ticket, you will be allocated a specific departure time, usually the next available. FlexiPlus passengers proceed straight through.
Receive Your Hanger Tag
You receive a colour-coded hanger tag to hang from your rear-view mirror. This shows your departure time, carriage allocation, and boarding lane. Keep this visible at all times.
Passport Control
After check-in, you proceed to UK exit border control and French entry border control. Both are located at the Folkestone terminal (juxtaposed controls). You show passports for all passengers without leaving your car. This usually takes 5–10 minutes but can be longer during peak times.
Boarding the Train
After border control, you enter the departure area and wait in a holding lane. Electronic signs direct you to your boarding lane when your departure is ready. Follow the marshals' instructions — they guide vehicles onto the correct carriage.
You drive directly onto the train carriage. For double-deck carriages, some vehicles are directed to the upper level via a ramp, others to the lower level. Single-deck carriages are drive-on, drive-off at the same level. The process is straightforward and marshals are stationed throughout to direct you.
Once on the carriage, park in your allocated space and switch off your engine. You will be close to the vehicles in front and behind — the spacing is tight but there is enough room to open your car door and step out. The carriage is enclosed, well-lit, and air-conditioned. You can stay in your car or step out and walk to the toilet at the end of the carriage.
Double-Deck vs Single-Deck Carriages
Double-Deck
Used for standard cars under 1.85m. Two levels of vehicles per carriage. You drive up a ramp to the upper level or straight in on the lower level. Toilets available on each level. You cannot walk between the upper and lower decks. Most passengers stay in their cars.
Single-Deck
Used for tall vehicles, motorhomes, caravans, and motorcycles. One level only. More headroom. You can walk through the carriage between vehicles. Toilets at the end of the carriage. Generally a more spacious experience but fewer carriages per train.
During the 35-Minute Crossing
The crossing through the Channel Tunnel takes approximately 35 minutes. Here is what to expect:
Stay in Your Car
Most passengers remain in their vehicles for the short crossing. Read, listen to music (bring your own — radio does not work in the tunnel), watch downloaded content on tablets, or simply rest.
Walk Between Carriages
On single-deck carriages, you can walk through to adjacent carriages. On double-deck, movement is limited to your level of the carriage. Either way, toilet facilities are accessible.
No Mobile Signal
There is no reliable mobile phone signal for most of the tunnel crossing. Download any maps, entertainment, or messages before entering. Signal returns as you approach the exit.
No Catering on Board
Unlike ferries, there are no shops, restaurants, or vending machines on the train. Bring your own food, drinks, and snacks if you want to eat during the crossing.
Arriving in Calais
As the train emerges from the tunnel on the French side, you will feel the natural light return and your phone will start picking up French mobile networks. The train slows and stops at the Calais terminal near Coquelles. You start your engine and drive off the carriage, following the vehicle in front.
French customs are located at the Calais terminal but you have already passed through French border control at Folkestone (under the juxtaposed controls agreement). Most vehicles are waved through without stopping. Occasionally there are random checks for customs declarations.
From the terminal exit, you join the A16 motorway. Signs direct you towards Calais town centre, Boulogne, Dunkirk, or Paris/south via the A26 motorway. The nearby Cite Europe shopping centre is just minutes away and is a popular first stop for travellers stocking up on French goods. Calais itself is a 10-minute drive.
Returning to the UK
The return journey from Calais follows the same process in reverse. Drive to the Calais terminal (sat nav: Terminal Eurotunnel, Coquelles, 62231), check in using ANPR, pass through French exit and UK entry border controls at the Calais terminal, and board the train. UK passport control at Calais can be slower than the outward journey, particularly during busy periods, as there are typically more thorough checks on goods being brought into the UK.
If you are travelling with pets, remember to have your tapeworm treatment certificate ready for the pet reception desk at Calais. The 35-minute return crossing brings you back to the Folkestone terminal, from where you join the M20 towards London and the rest of the UK motorway network.
Tips from Experienced Travellers
Bring snacks and drinks — there is nothing to buy on the train
Use the toilet at the terminal before boarding, not on the train
Download entertainment for the kids — no Wi-Fi or signal in the tunnel
Arrive early but not too early — 30–45 minutes is ideal
Keep passports accessible for all passengers, not buried in luggage
Fill up with fuel at the terminal — it is competitively priced
Set your clocks forward 1 hour when you arrive in France (CET)
Have French motorway toll money or a card ready for after the tunnel
Switch driving lights to the right-hand-drive dip setting for France
Bring a GB sticker or ensure your car has a GB number plate identifier