Cars, a lorry and a motorhome driving up the ramp onto the Delft Seaways

Book the Dover to Dunkirk Ferry

Pick your date, direction and vehicle and compare every DFDS sailing that day. You book through our partner DirectFerries, which sells DFDS tickets; the ticket arrives by email with a booking reference for check-in.

Updated 28 September 2026

Compare sailings and book

You book with our partner DirectFerries.

How the booking works

Fill in the moduleReturn or single, departure port Dover and route Dover to Dunkirk, your dates, number of passengers and vehicle type with length and height.
Choose a sailing and a ticket typeEvery sailing on your date with its Economy and Flexi fare. Economy is cheapest and fixed; Flexi can be changed or cancelled.
Enter the passengers and the registrationNames as in the passports, and the registration of the vehicle you travel in. DFDS checks it at the booth.
Pay and keep the confirmationCard or PayPal. Your booking reference is enough at check-in; you do not need to print anything.

Enter your vehicle’s real height including roof box and length including bike rack. Understating it means paying the difference at the port, and on a busy sailing there may be no space for the taller category.

Before you book: four things that change the price

Sailing time	The 06:00 and the late evening sailings are often cheaper than midday on the same date; the module shows each fare.
Return in one booking	Out and back in one booking gives one reference for both legs; compare it with two singles for your dates.
Ticket type	Economy if the date is fixed; Flexi if you might be late at the port or want to come back early. If you miss an Economy sailing you move to the next one with space; an amendment fee and any fare difference may apply.
Different return route	Out via Dunkirk, back via Calais, or the other way round, in one booking. Tick “Different return route” in the module. Compare Dover to Calais fares; see also Calais or Dunkirk.

The full picture, with a worked family example and the EU ETS charge, is on prices.

After booking

Changes and cancellations go through DirectFerries customer service with your booking reference, not through us. Flexi tickets can be amended online.
Sailing changes: DFDS emails or texts the contact details in the booking if a sailing is retimed. Make sure they are your own, not the agent’s.
At the port: booking reference, passports for everyone, V5C for the car, and for a dog the animal health certificate. Step by step on check-in.

The DFDS hanger with lane and sailing time, from inside the car — What the booking becomes at the port: a hanger with your lane and sailing.

Cars parked closely on the car deck by the Welcome on board sign — On the car deck: mirrors in, handbrake on, everything you need taken upstairs.

Questions about booking

Is it cheaper to book with DFDS directly?

DirectFerries sells DFDS tickets and shows the Calais operators alongside, so you compare in one place. We receive a commission from DirectFerries. Compare the fare for your sailing with dfds.com if you want to be sure.

Can I book on the day?

Yes, online up to a few hours before departure, or at the booth in Dover at the day fare if there is space. Online in advance is almost always cheaper.

Do I need to print the ticket?

No. The booking reference on your phone is enough. A printout is a useful backup if your phone has no battery or signal at the booth.

Can I add a dog or a trailer later?

A dog yes, through DirectFerries customer service. A trailer or a different vehicle changes the fare category, so amend it as early as possible.