can u take your car on the eurostar

[SanAddyson]

No, you cannot take your car on the Eurostar passenger train. The Eurostar service, which connects the UK to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, is designed exclusively for foot passengers. The trains do not have the capacity to transport vehicles.

To get your car across the Channel, you must use a separate service specifically designed for vehicle transport. The primary alternative is the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which runs car-carrying trains through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone (UK) and Calais (France). This is the most direct and often the fastest method, with the crossing taking approximately 35 minutes. You drive your car onto a specialized train carriage and remain with your vehicle for the duration of the journey.

Other options include traditional car ferries operated by companies like P&O Ferries and DFDS, which sail from various English ports to French and Belgian ones. Booking any of these services requires advance planning, especially during peak travel seasons.

Here is a comparison of the main vehicle-crossing options:

Service	Route (Example)	Typical Crossing Time	Key Feature
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle	Folkestone to Calais	~35 minutes	Drive on, drive off; remain with your vehicle
P&O Ferries	Dover to Calais	~90 minutes	On-board amenities (restaurants, shops)
DFDS Ferries	Dover to Calais/Dunkirk	~90-120 minutes	Multiple route options
Irish Ferries	Dover to Calais	~100 minutes	Premium club class lounge available
Brittany Ferries	Portsmouth to Caen	~6-7 hours	Longer, cruise-style crossings to western France

When planning your trip, remember to account for lead times. Check-in for Le Shuttle typically closes 30 minutes before the departure time, while ferry check-ins can close up to 60 minutes prior. You must also have all necessary documentation for your vehicle, including a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration (V5C logbook). For travel from the UK to the EU, you will need a UK sticker on your car instead of the old GB sticker.

[DiBriella]

Absolutely not. The Eurostar is like a high-speed subway for people, not a freight train for cars. If you're driving to the continent, you take the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. You drive your car right onto the train in Folkestone, sit inside it for about half an hour, and drive off in France. It's incredibly straightforward. Just book it well ahead of time, especially for summer trips.

[Sauron]

We learned this the hard way on a family trip! We showed up at St Pancras thinking we could just load the SUV. Big mistake. The Eurostar is for passengers only. The correct way is the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. You book a specific time slot, drive onto the train carriage, and you're in France before the kids get too restless. My advice: double-check your booking confirmation to make sure it's for the car train, not the passenger train.

[PresleyAnn]

As a frequent traveler, I always use the Eurotunnel for my car. The Eurostar is a separate entity for foot passengers. The process for Le Shuttle is efficient: you check in, go through passport control, and then board the next available departure within your booked window. The frequency is great, with services running every few minutes during peak times. The key is to book online in advance for the best fares and to ensure a smooth, predictable journey.