Car, motorhome, caravan, motorbike or bicycle to Dunkirk
Every vehicle goes on Dover to Dunkirk, from a bicycle to a twelve-metre motorhome. The fare depends on length and height, not on the number of people up to five. Below are the categories, the rules for gas and trailers, and what your car needs in France.
Vehicle categories and what they mean for the fare
| Vehicle | DFDS dimensions | Fare | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Up to 6 m long, up to 1.85 m high | From £99 with 5 people | A roof box counts in the height: over 1.85 m you become a “high vehicle”. |
| High car, van, minibus up to 9 seats | Up to 6 m long, 1.85 to 2.50 m high | Higher fare | Vans for private use are welcome; commercial loads go as freight. |
| Car with caravan or trailer | Total length, usually 10 to 14 m | By length | Measure the outfit including the A-frame and a bike rack. |
| Motorhome | Give length and height, up to about 12 m | By length | EU ETS charge about £4 (2025). Own deck with more headroom. |
| Motorbike | With or without sidecar or trailer | Lowest vehicle fare | EU ETS charge about £1. You strap the bike down yourself with the DFDS straps. |
| Bicycle | Book as a vehicle | Small charge | You ride aboard with the cars. Without a bike or vehicle you cannot travel: see foot passengers. |
When you book you give the type, length and height. If it does not match what is at the booth, you pay the difference on the spot. Measure generously rather than tightly.
Motorhome and caravan
- Gas. At most three cylinders of up to 47 kg each, valves closed and cylinders secured. Loose jerrycans of fuel are not allowed.
- On board. You park on the high-vehicle deck, often on the ramp level with the lorries. The deck crew position you; reversing with a caravan is rarely needed.
- In France. Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes have lower speed limits (110 km/h on autoroutes instead of 130, 100 on dual carriageways). Width up to 2.55 m as in the UK; heights are signed in metres.
- At the terminals. Neither Eastern Docks nor Loon-Plage has a motorhome service point, waste disposal or fuel. Empty and fill up before the port; the last French supermarket fuel on the way home is at Grande-Synthe, junction 55.
Motorbike and bicycle
Motorcyclists check in at the same booths as cars and board first or last, depending on the ship. Straps are ready on board; you put the bike on its stand and strap it down yourself. Cyclists ride on behind the motorbikes and lean the bike against the side wall as the deck crew show you. Bring a lock; the car deck is closed at sea, but your bike is out of your sight.
What your car needs in France
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Headlamps | Adjust for driving on the right: beam deflector stickers or the car’s own switch. On sale in the shop on board. |
| UK sticker | Required on the rear unless your number plate shows UK with the Union flag. GB stickers and plates with the EU flag or GB are no longer valid. |
| Insurance | Your UK policy gives the legal minimum in the EU; check the level of cover and the breakdown cover for Europe. A green card is not required for France. |
| Compulsory kit | Warning triangle and a hi-vis vest within reach of the driver. Breathalysers are no longer enforced. |
| Speed | 130 km/h on autoroutes (110 in rain), 80 on single carriageways, 50 in towns. Radar-detecting sat nav functions must be switched off. |
| Crit’Air | Dunkirk and the A16 have no low-emission zone. Lille, Paris, Lyon and other cities do; order the Crit’Air sticker online at least ten days before you travel if you drive into one. |
| Tolls | None on the A16 between Dunkirk and the Belgian border, nor into Belgium. The A25 to Lille is free; tolls start south of Lille on the A1 to Paris, about €20. |
EU ETS charge per vehicle
Since 2024 DFDS adds a charge per vehicle for the EU emissions trading scheme, separate from the ticket price: in 2025 roughly £1 for a motorbike, £2 for a car with or without a caravan or trailer, and £4 for a motorhome, van or minibus, per single crossing. DFDS sets the amount each year. See prices.
Questions about vehicles
Does a roof box or bike rack count?
Yes. Height with the roof box, length with the bike rack. Give the dimensions including them, or you pay the difference at the booth.
Can I take an electric car?
Yes, with no extra conditions. There is no charging on board; the nearest chargers are along the A16 and A25 in France and the A20 and A2 in Kent.
Can I take a trailer or horsebox?
Trailers yes, at the length fare. Live animals in a trailer fall under separate transport rules; contact DFDS beforehand.
Is there a height limit?
Not for ordinary motorhomes and vans; above 4 m or 12 m in length you book through the DFDS freight desk.