Update: We've updated our tests and prices in August 2024
It's not easy to find the best and cheapest option to cross the channel from England to France. We excluded flying because you can't take your Jeep with you if you want to cross the channel with your car. We also excluded crossings without a car. If you want to cross as cheap as possible without a car, we would advise you to read the foot passenger page on the official website of Calais-Dover.com.
Curious about how the different crossings between Dover and Calais compare? Check out our travel report where we tested all the ways to cross the Channel.
Cheapest crossing with a car
To be able to answer the question, we have made some test bookings ourselves.
We have included and tested the following options:
- Le Shuttle through the Eurotunnel (Train with Car)
- Ferry Dover-Calais (three operators)
- Ferry Dover-Dunkirk
- Ferry Dieppe-Newhaven
Crossing the Channel in the cheapest way possible
It's important to mention that we've taken samples to end up with the pricing below. We are aware that these prices can change due to availability, full ships, and ticket upgrades. If you want to compare prices yourself, try out the booking module below. First select ‘UK' to find the various crossings to France. After choosing you get the screenshot we provided below.
The budget option for France
In order to make the best possible comparison, we made our bookings on the same date in peak season and used a Volkswagen Golf.
Here are the cheapest ferries to reach France from the UK:
- Chunnel: ~ £ 183 (In general, the Chunnel is quite expensive.)
- P&O Ferries – Dover-Calais: ~ £ 82
- Irish Ferries – Dover-Calais: ~ £ 82
- DFDS – Dover-Calais: ~ £ 101
- DFDS – Dover-Dunkirk: ~ £ 83
- DFDS – Newhaven – Dieppe: ~ £100
It seems that in our test bookings, Irish Ferries and P&O are the cheapest way to cross the channel with a car. It might be different per day, though, so we advise using our booking engine to see it on the day you want for the car you have.
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Good afternoon, we would like to cross the channel on the ferry and take our car with us on the ferry We are coming from Calais to Dover Can you give us an idea is it possible and how much does it cost Approximately Coming to Dover on April 20, 2023
Thank you!
A single trip with car will be around € 80 – € 100 if you book in advance. You can see a test booking here for that particular day: https://prnt.sc/-oedt1HpzEq-