Travelling by Van to France

Vanaways
Vanaways
6th Apr 2023
Travelling by Van to France

Whether you’re off on holiday or for work-related reasons, travelling by van to France can be incredibly exciting. The worries of a plane can be left far behind, with no concerns about vehicle hire on the other side awaiting you. You can simply sail through the UK and into France with barely any interruption, just a quick ferry ride.

Read on to find out more about travelling by van to France.

Travel Methods: UK To France

There are a few different ways to travel between the UK and France. First up is by air. France and the UK are fairly short and popular travel routes, so you will find that many airports in both countries will offer scheduled flights throughout the year.

The second option is the Eurostar, a high-speed rail service connecting the UK with France and further destinations. The trains travel through the Channel Tunnel underwater and can run at up to 200 miles per hour.

Dover Ferry To Calais

If you’re travelling by van to France, the best option to go for is the Dover Ferry to Calais. There are nearly 300 weekly ferry sailings from Dover to Calais, with a departure on average of about every 30 minutes. This ferry ride will take you from Dover to Calais in about an hour and a half, travelling approximately 50 km across the English Channel.

French Driving Laws & Requirements

Whenever you go to a different country than your original one, you need to carefully research to see how driving laws and requirements differ. One of the biggest is fairly well known, but in France, they drive on the right-hand side of the road instead of the left.

To drive in France you need to bring with you your full, valid UK driving licence, proof of ID like a passport, motor insurance certificate and a V5 registration document. Vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters UK when driven in France. This can be either on the number plate or using a sticker.

You are also required by law to have the following items:

  • Warning triangle
  • Spare bulbs (recommended but not mandatory)
  • Reflective jackets (one for each occupant)
  • Headlamp beam deflectors
  • Snow chains (snow chains are needed in the winter period in ‘snow zones’)
  • Safety helmets (for motorcyclists and their passengers)

Quality Vans From Van Sales UK

Planning a trip to France soon and need a great van for the occasion. Work with Van Sales UK to get your hands on hundreds of quality vans from top brands. We sell both diesel and electric vans in a variety of body types, so you can get a van that exactly meets your demands.

With free nationwide delivery in the UK and competitive prices, Van Sales UK is one of the nation’s leading van buying and leasing companies. Get in touch today to find out more.

Vanaways Reviews

   
Lynne S

Lynne S

04 March 2026

"First time using Vansaway! I was in a bit of a panic as my van broke down and I was unable to fix it. My van is my livihood, so I looked into leasing and contract. I wish I done it sooner. I spoke to Jonathan as my first point of contact. I couldn't have got any luckier having him as my support. He was absolutely fantastic, he went above and beyond to help me. He was easy to contact and would always reply when I had any concerns or questions. His knowledge on all vehicles was impeccable, which made things easier. He listened to what I wanted and needed and explained everything thoroughly help me making the right choice in plan and kept in touch throughout the entire process! He knew I was in desperate need of a van and he did not disappoint and kept his word and I was able to get my new van delivered as soon as possible. Enjoying the drive. Its great about the perks involved in having a contract hire as well! Thank you so much for everything! Highly recommend, vans are just not how they use to be, so its great to have a brand new van along with the support of any engine faults things like that. A huge stress off my shoulders being sole trader."

Fiona

Fiona

30 May 2026

"First time leasing with Vanaways, but have leased before. Initial contact was with Justin, who found the van I need very quickly at a competitive price. No hard sell, and seamless. Yasmine completed the admin and arranged delivery. Great service from both. Follow up calls to see if I was satisfied with van. Professional and efficient, would highly recommend."

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18 February 2026

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John Owens

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14 April 2026

"Fantastic service from start to finish. This is the second vehicle we have had from Liam.Liam took the time to listen to the vehicle that I wanted, sourced exactly what I wanted. Within 2 weeks the right vehicle was sourced and delivered Joe was amazing kept me up to date with the progress, the van was delivered this morning early. highly recommend these guys for vehicles Thank you both"

phoebe palmer

phoebe palmer

11 March 2026

"I recently bought a new car from this company and had a fantastic experience from start to finish. Tyler and Steve C were both brilliant to deal with – friendly, professional and incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. They took the time to answer all my questions and made everything straightforward and stress-free. The customer service was excellent and I never felt pressured at any point. Both Tyler and Steve C really went above and beyond to make sure everything was sorted and that I was happy with the car. I couldn’t recommend them enough and would definitely buy from them again in the future. Thanks again for such a great experience!"

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