Taking a Campervan to Europe by Ferry: A Practical Guide

Taking your campervan to Europe on the ferry is the cheapest way to turn a British van into a continental touring machine. The choice of route, operator and crossing time affects your whole trip — get it right and the journey is relaxing; get it wrong and you are queueing for hours with a full tank and nowhere to be.

The routes and prices

• Dover to Calais or Dunkirk is the cheapest and fastest: from about £50 to £100 return for a van, with frequent daily sailings.
• Newhaven to Dieppe is a good budget option from the South East, from around £90 return.
• Portsmouth to Caen, St Malo or Le Havre suits Normandy and Brittany, from roughly £150 to £300 return, with night sailings that save you a hotel.
• Hull to Rotterdam opens up the Netherlands and Germany for northern travellers, from around £200 return.
• Plymouth to Roscoff and Poole to Cherbourg are handy for the South West.

Booking the right crossing

• Book as far ahead as you can — summer sailings on popular routes sell out.
• Night crossings cost more but save a night's accommodation and a day of driving.
• Check your van's height and length — you are charged by size, and low-air clearances cannot take tall vans.
• Add a cabin on long crossings; dozing in the recliners is fine for short hops but rough for ten hours.

What you need to carry

A valid driving licence, vehicle registration document, passport and a GB badge on the van for many destinations. A European breakdown policy is worth considering — motorhome cover typically costs £60 to £120 a year. Gas, pets and insurance each have their own rules, so declare everything at check-in to avoid delays.

Drive on and off using the lower vehicle decks and set the handbrake with the gear engaged — the pitch of the ramps can catch out an unsecured van.

Making the most of it

Most people regret booking too little time abroad. Give yourself at least a week, plan a loose route, and leave a spare day before the return crossing so you are not racing to the port. For cheap stays once you are over, our aire de service guide covers the network, and you can find the van for the trip on our search.