How much does it cost to take a motorhome on Eurotunnel? | The Motorhome Insurer

Taking a motorhome on the Eurotunnel can cost as little as £90 or as much as £421 per crossing (note: this is subject to change, but correct at the time of writing). Your ticket price depends on your travel date, how far ahead you purchased it, what time you intend to take the shuttle, and how long you plan to travel. Buying a single or return ticket, along with other pre-boarding amenities and lounge access, can also affect the price.

In this article, we’ll discuss all the different tickets you could purchase to take your motorhome on the Eurotunnel. We’ll also look into what each ticket gets you and any restrictions you need to remember before boarding the shuttle.

Before we talk about ticket prices, let’s quickly discuss who will take you and your motorhome across the Channel Tunnel.

LeShuttle, formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, is the railway shuttle service that carries road vehicles and passengers (including pets) through the Eurotunnel. Channel Tunnel owner Getlink, formerly known as Groupe Eurotunnel, owns and operates LeShuttle.

Anyone can purchase a ticket online through the LeShuttle website, although third- party organisations such as caravan clubs may also sell them.

LeShuttle has different ticket options for motorhomes, depending on your travel plans. Tickets are priced per vehicle, and it covers up to nine passengers. LeShuttle also charges tickets per journey leg, so the price you see during checkout is the total for your outbound and return crossings.

The best way to find out how much your ticket will be is to use LeShuttle’s fare finder. The page will ask you about your desired route, travel dates, number of passengers, and vehicle details to determine your fare.

Short-stay fares

LeShuttle’s short-stay fares are perfect if you’re only travelling for five days or less. You can only buy a return ticket because these tickets are for shorter travel.

Extended stay fares

Extended stay fares are great for those travelling over five days. Unlike short-stay fares, these tickets are available as singles and returns.

Purchasing your LeShuttle ticket ahead of time is always better than buying it on the day of travel. That’s because ticket prices on the day of travel may differ from what you see online. If budget is a concern, booking tickets as far in advance as possible usually guarantees the best prices.

Spots on the shuttle can also sell out during peak times, which could delay your travel plans if you didn’t buy a ticket beforehand. Larger vehicles higher than 1.85 metres (such as motorhomes) are loaded into single-deck carriages, which have less capacity than the double-deck carriages used for cars.

When travelling during a particularly busy period (also known as “Peak Days”), it’s best to buy a ticket ahead of time so you’re not stuck waiting to board the next available train.

You can bring up to five pets in your vehicle when using LeShuttle. If you have more than five pets, you can contact LeShuttle directly for assistance.

If you have a pet dog, cat, or ferret, you must declare them when booking your ticket. There’s an additional charge of £22 per pet, and you must bring them at the pet check-in and reception at the terminal on the day of travel. You also need to make sure your pet meets the following travel requirements, which include:

• Microchip
• Animal Health Certificate or EU Pet Passport
• Veterinary certificates (for pets other than dogs, cats, or ferrets)
• Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
• Blood test
• Rabies vaccination

LeShuttle has a page dedicated to pet travel requirements, which lists the details of which documents you need and when to get them. If you’re travelling with a horse or are bringing your pet for a competition, LeShuttle’s animal travel checklist section has the information you need.

• LeShuttle runs their shuttle service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The frequency of their service depends on the time of day and the direction of travel:

• From Folkestone to Calais

• • One train every two hours from 00:16 to 04:16
• • One train every hour from 04:16 to 06:16
• • One train every 30 minutes from 06:16 to 22:46
• • • Note: The last service of the day towards Calais is at 22:46

• From Calais to Folkestone

• • One train every two hours from 01:18 to 05:18
• • One train every hour from 05:18 to 06:18
• • One train every 12 or 18 minutes from 06:18 to 23:48
• • • Note: The last service of the day towards Folkestone is at 23:48

Are there any restrictions for motorhomes on the Eurotunnel?

Before you travel on the Eurotunnel, make sure your motorhome meets the following requirements:

• Maximum dimensions allowed

• • Length: 18 metres
• • Height: 4.2 metres
• • Width: 2.55 metres, including the mirrors
• • Weight: 3.5 tonnes

• You can carry an LPG tank of up to 47 kg, but it must be less than 80% full. LeShuttle staff will ask you to prove this before boarding.

• Any appliance in your motorhome that uses LPG must be switched off before boarding and during the crossing.

• For safety reasons, motorhomes that use LPG as their primary or secondary fuel source will NOT be allowed in the Eurotunnel.

• If you’re travelling on a Flexiplus ticket, you must pay a “Peak Day Charge” for travelling on designated peak days. The charge depends on your ticket type, your travel date, and the size of your vehicle. LeShuttle maintains a list of peak dates for Flexiplus ticket holders.

• You cannot use your motorhome’s toilet during the entire crossing. You must use the toilet facilities onboard the shuttle carriage instead.

• If you have more questions before travelling, LeShuttle has a dedicated support page full of information. You can also reach them directly via a live chat, over the phone, or through email.

Taking your motorhome with LeShuttle, formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, will cost you anywhere between £90 to £421. Several factors affect your ticket price:

• Travel dates
• Duration of travel
• Vehicle size
• Type of ticket
• Pets, if any
• Optional extras, such as priority boarding or lounge access

The ticket price you pay online or onsite on the day of travel is per vehicle, including carriage for up to nine passengers. It is also per journey, which means a return ticket can cost at least £180.

LeShuttle can accommodate most motorhomes if they’re not longer than 18 metres, taller than 4.2 metres, or wider than 2.55 metres. Vehicles can also only weigh up to 3.5 tonnes. LPG-powered motorhomes are also not allowed to board any LeShuttle carriages. Meanwhile, any LPG tanks used to power appliances can only be up to 47 kg and must be less than 80% full before boarding.

Before you embark on your next journey, make sure you’re paying a fair price for great motorhome insurance. Get a list of insurance quotes in minutes from The Motorhome Insurer today.