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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

   
Zoe Batchelor

Zoe Batchelor

17 January 2025

"Love the van, Perfect as the spec I ordered, Saving up for the next one, thank you Adrian and Team, Boyd Batchelor, Tillage Nurseries"

Lisa Russell

Lisa Russell

05 August 2024

"Found these guys online and was a little bit wary to buy a new van from someone I hadn't heard of. From the off, the first phone call was professional and gave me all the information that I needed, Theo was great, helpful and I proceeded to order my new van, Paige sorted the paperwork quickly and efficiently and within 10 days I had my new van delivered! The price was very competitive and all parts of the transaction were easy and hassle free, wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys, Thank you so much for a really good experience."

Yusuf U. Gadzama

Yusuf U. Gadzama

20 August 2024

"I was looking for a good deal on a van online and then came across Van away, at first I was a bit sceptical but later went ahead and bought a Peugeot boxer on an unbeatable price online. The sell team were fantastic all the way and very helpful to say the least. I will highly recommend Van away to anybody that's looking for a van of any kind. Thanks Van Away for your first class service and I will be looking forward to a future deal."

Clare Wood

Clare Wood

19 November 2024

"Just purchased a 2nd van through Vanaways to add to our company fleet. Steve Catley was helpful, communicative and informative all the way through the process. We would definitely use Vanaways again, and would not hesitate to recommend them."

Jay Pee Ay

Jay Pee Ay

05 December 2024

"Paige was outstanding in her responsiveness to what presented as a serious problem for our company. The finance company used by her company caused unnecessary and significant delays in the delivery of our van - the pain of which was mitigated somewhat by Paige's proactive communication, informative and realistic communication and very professional demeanour. I'd recommend her and she meant our view of Vanaways was overall positive."

4.9 out of 5 from 441 reviews
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