Book six to eight weeks ahead, not three
10–25% lower fare
Le Shuttle uses dynamic pricing. Two to three weeks out, the cheapest tickets are usually gone, especially on Friday and Sunday departures in the school holidays.
The short answer
Where and how to book the Channel Tunnel car crossing
Book direct at leshuttle.com, the official site for the car-carrying Le Shuttle service (Eurotunnel is the older brand name for the same crossing). You book your vehicle on, not a seat: the fare covers the car and up to nine passengers, from £69 return on the restricted Day Trip fare or around £127 each way on a flexible Standard ticket. Prices are dynamic, so the cheapest way to book is six to eight weeks ahead for a mid-week, off-peak departure. You will need your vehicle registration plate to complete the booking, because check-in at Folkestone reads your number plate automatically.
Six steps
How to book a Le Shuttle crossing, step by step
- 01
Go to leshuttle.com
Use the official operator site or the Le Shuttle app. Booking direct avoids the fees third-party resellers add, and the operator sets its own prices so resellers rarely undercut it.
- 02
Pick your route, date and time
Folkestone to Coquelles (near Calais). Choose a mid-week, off-peak departure for the lowest fare. The booking screen shows a price grid, so you can slide a day either side to find a cheaper slot.
- 03
Enter your vehicle
Select vehicle type (standard car, tall car or roof box, car with trailer or caravan, motorhome, motorcycle or van) and enter its registration plate. Declare the correct height and length: over-height and towing vehicles are priced and routed differently. LPG vehicles must be declared.
- 04
Choose your fare
Day Trip and Short Stay Saver are the cheapest but restricted; Standard is the flexible everyday fare; FlexiPlus lets you board any train on your travel day. Pick the cheapest fare whose rules you can actually meet.
- 05
Add pets and extras
Add any dogs, cats or ferrets to the booking (from £22 per pet each way) so you are routed through Pet Reception. Add priority boarding or a specific carriage if offered for your fare.
- 06
Pay and save the confirmation
Pay online and save the confirmation email. There is no need to print a ticket: check-in at Folkestone reads your number plate, so the plate you booked must match the car you arrive in.
Prefer to book by phone? Le Shuttle Customer Services take bookings on 03330 098 099 (UK).
Which fare to book
The four fares, cheapest first
Every fare carries the same car and up to nine passengers. The difference is flexibility, not comfort. Indicative 2026 prices for a standard car; check leshuttle.com for live fares on your dates.
| Fare | From (GBP) | Basis | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Trip & Overnight | £69 | per vehicle, return included | Booze cruise, solo wine runs, flexible day-trippers |
| Short Stay Saver | £104 | per vehicle, each way | Long weekends, short city breaks in northern France |
| Standard | £127 | per vehicle, each way | Holiday makers, week-plus stays, summer trips with set dates |
| FlexiPlus | £284 | per vehicle, each way | Business travel, families with young children, ski trips with weather risk |
Full tier rules and restrictions are on the FlexiPlus vs Standard page, and the cost calculator estimates your fare including any peak surcharge before you book.
Cheapest time to book
Book at the right time, not just the right price
Travel Tuesday to Thursday
30–50% lower fare
Mid-week crossings can cost half what a Saturday return goes for. Especially true in school holidays.
Book a return, not two singles
Returns are typically 10–20% cheaper
The Short Stay Saver and Day Trip fares only exist as returns. Two one-ways are almost always more expensive.
Take the early or late train
Off-peak time of day means off-peak price
Departures before 06:00 and after 19:00 carry the cheapest base fares. Get up early, beat the queue, beat the price.
The full set of tactics, including how to dodge the peak-day surcharge, is on the cheapest crossings guide.
Before you book
What you need to complete a booking
- Vehicle registration plate — check-in reads it automatically, so the car you book must be the car you arrive in.
- Accurate height and length — a roof box, trailer or high roof changes the price and the carriage you are routed to.
- Passenger count — up to nine travel on the standard car fare at no extra charge.
- Pet details and paperwork — add dogs, cats or ferrets at booking; each needs a valid Animal Health Certificate.
- LPG declaration — vehicles running on LPG must declare the gas at the time of booking.
- A payment card — you pay in full at booking; the fare is locked once confirmed.
You do not need your passport to book, but every passenger needs one to travel. See post-Brexit passport, EES and ETIAS rules for what changed after 2021.
After you book
Changing or cancelling a booking
How much flexibility you have depends on the fare you booked. FlexiPlus allows free, unlimited amendments and a 365-day refund; Standard and Short Stay Saver can be amended for a fee plus any fare difference; the Day Trip fare is not amendable. Amending is almost always cheaper than rebooking from scratch. The full policy, including your rights when Le Shuttle cancels, is on the delays and refunds page.
Common questions
Booking Eurotunnel FAQ
Book direct on leshuttle.com, the official site for the Le Shuttle car service (Eurotunnel is the old brand name for the same crossing). Booking direct is almost always the cheapest route: the operator runs its own dynamic pricing and third-party resellers rarely beat it once their booking fee is added. You can also book by phone with Le Shuttle Customer Services on 03330 098 099 (UK). The application is confirmed against your vehicle registration plate, so have that ready.
More from the guide
Save money
Cheapest Channel Tunnel crossings
Nine tactics to land the lowest fare, and how to dodge the peak-day surcharge.
Read →
Pricing overview
All Le Shuttle fares
Day Trip, Short Stay Saver, Standard and FlexiPlus side by side.
Read →
Estimator
Cost calculator
Estimate your fare, including peak surcharges, before you book.
Read →
Premium fares
Is FlexiPlus worth it?
When the flexible fare pays for itself, and when to skip it.
Read →
First-timer
How the crossing works
ANPR check-in, boarding, the 35 minutes onboard and drive-off.
Read →
Cars vs Eurostar
Can you take a car on Eurostar?
No, that is Le Shuttle. Which service carries cars and what it costs.
Read →