Driving to France Cost: The Complete Breakdown

Everything you need to budget for when driving from the UK to France — fuel and tolls in France, Channel crossing fares, accommodation, and practical tips to reduce the total cost of your trip.

Driving to France from the UK is one of the most popular ways to holiday on the continent. You get the freedom of your own car, no luggage restrictions, and the flexibility to explore at your own pace. But the total cost of driving to France goes well beyond filling up the tank — you need to account for the Channel crossing, fuel on both sides, French motorway tolls, and possibly overnight accommodation.

This guide breaks down every cost category so you can build an accurate budget before you set off. Whether you're heading to Paris for a long weekend or driving down to the Cote d'Azur for a fortnight, you'll find the numbers you need below.

All costs are estimates based on typical 2025/2026 pricing and assume a standard family car averaging around 40 to 45 mpg (6 to 7 litres per 100 km). Your actual costs will vary depending on your vehicle, driving style, and time of year.

Fuel Costs: UK and France

Fuel is often the largest single cost when driving to France, particularly on longer routes to southern France. Prices differ between the UK and France, and where you fill up within each country matters too.

UK Fuel Prices

Unleaded petrol in the UK typically costs between £1.35 and £1.50 per litre, with diesel slightly higher at £1.40 to £1.55 per litre. Supermarket forecourts (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are generally 3p to 6p cheaper per litre than branded stations. Motorway services are the most expensive — fill up before joining the motorway to save money.

French Fuel Prices

Fuel in France is generally more expensive than in the UK. Unleaded petrol (Sans Plomb 95 or 98) costs between €1.70 and €1.95 per litre. Diesel (Gazole) is slightly cheaper at €1.65 to €1.85 per litre. As in the UK, supermarket stations are the cheapest option — Leclerc, Carrefour, and Intermarché stations can be 5 to 10 centimes per litre cheaper than autoroute services. The website prix-carburants.gouv.fr shows real-time fuel prices at every station in France.

Fuel Type	UK (per litre)	France (per litre)
Unleaded Petrol	£1.35 – £1.50	€1.70 – €1.95
Diesel	£1.40 – £1.55	€1.65 – €1.85
Motorway Premium	+5p to +10p	+10c to +20c

Tip: fill your tank in the UK before boarding the crossing and top up at a supermarket station shortly after arriving in France rather than at the first autoroute services.

French Motorway Tolls

French autoroutes (motorways beginning with "A") charge tolls on most sections. These are collected at péage stations, either as you enter or exit a toll section. You can pay by card, cash, or with a Liber-t electronic tag (the French equivalent of a toll transponder) which lets you use the express lanes without stopping.

Tolls vary by distance and vehicle class. A standard car (Class 1) pays the lowest rate. Vehicles towing caravans or trailers are reclassified as Class 2 or 3 and pay significantly more — often 50 to 100 percent more than the standard rate.

Route	Distance	Toll (Car)	Toll (Car + Caravan)
Calais to Paris	290 km	~£22	~£35
Calais to Lyon	690 km	~£55	~£90
Calais to Nice	1,100 km	~£90	~£145
Calais to Bordeaux	830 km	~£65	~£105
Caen to Bordeaux	580 km	~£45	~£75

Toll estimates are for Class 1 vehicles (standard car) and Class 2/3 (car with trailer/caravan). Prices are converted at approximately €1 = £0.86.

Channel Crossing Costs

The Channel crossing is a fixed cost that every driver must pay. You have two main options: the Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle) from Folkestone to Calais, or a ferry from various UK ports. The right choice depends on where you live, your budget, and how much time you have.

Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)

The Eurotunnel takes just 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais. You drive onto the train and stay in your car for the crossing. Prices start from around £89 each way for off-peak midweek crossings, rising to £180 to £249 during peak summer weekends. A return journey typically costs between £180 and £450 depending on timing. The service runs up to 4 departures per hour, giving good flexibility on travel times.

Ferry Crossings

Ferries offer more route variety and are often cheaper than the tunnel, especially off-peak. The trade-off is longer crossing times and less frequent departures.

Route	Crossing Time	Off-Peak (each way)	Peak (each way)
Dover – Calais	90 min	£55 – £80	£110 – £160
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hrs	£50 – £75	£100 – £140
Portsmouth – Caen	6 hrs	£100 – £160	£200 – £350
Portsmouth – St Malo	11 hrs	£150 – £220	£280 – £450
Plymouth – Roscoff	6 hrs	£110 – £170	£220 – £380

Ferry prices are for a standard car with up to 4 passengers. Longer routes like Portsmouth to St Malo include a cabin for overnight sailings.

For a detailed side-by-side comparison, see our Eurotunnel vs ferry cost comparison or the full ferry vs tunnel vs flying guide.

Overnight Accommodation

If you're driving further south than Paris or the Loire Valley, an overnight stop is strongly recommended. Driving fatigue is a serious safety issue, especially after a Channel crossing and several hours on unfamiliar roads.

France has an excellent network of budget hotels along the autoroute corridors. Chains like Ibis Budget, Première Classe, B&B Hotels, and Campanile offer clean, simple rooms from £40 to £70 per night. Most are located just off motorway junctions, making them easy to find without navigating through town centres.

Popular overnight stop areas include Rouen (3 hours from Calais), the Loire Valley (4 to 5 hours), and Lyon (7 hours). If you're heading to the southwest, Poitiers or Limoges make good break points. For campervan and caravan travellers, Aires de service along the autoroutes offer free or low-cost overnight parking with basic facilities.

Total Cost Examples by Route

The following estimates show the total driving to France cost for popular routes, assuming a standard petrol car averaging 42 mpg, off-peak crossing, and return journey. Fuel and toll costs cover both directions.

London to Paris (via Eurotunnel)

Cost Item	Estimate (Return)
Eurotunnel return	£180 – £250
UK fuel (London to Folkestone, return)	£25 – £35
French fuel (Calais to Paris, return)	£50 – £65
French tolls (return)	£40 – £50
Total	£295 – £400

London to Nice (via Eurotunnel)

Cost Item	Estimate (Return)
Eurotunnel return	£180 – £250
UK fuel (London to Folkestone, return)	£25 – £35
French fuel (Calais to Nice, return)	£200 – £260
French tolls (return)	£160 – £200
Overnight accommodation (1–2 nights)	£40 – £140
Total	£605 – £885

Manchester to Bordeaux (via Eurotunnel)

Cost Item	Estimate (Return)
Eurotunnel return	£180 – £250
UK fuel (Manchester to Folkestone, return)	£65 – £85
French fuel (Calais to Bordeaux, return)	£150 – £195
French tolls (return)	£110 – £140
Overnight accommodation (1 night)	£40 – £70
Total	£545 – £740

Want a personalised estimate? Use our route comparison tool to calculate the exact driving to France cost for your journey, including alternative crossing options.

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Tips for Reducing Your Driving to France Cost

Fill up at supermarket stations

Both in the UK and France, supermarket fuel is consistently cheaper than branded or motorway stations. In France, look for Leclerc, Carrefour, or Intermarché — they are often 8 to 15 centimes per litre cheaper than autoroute services. Over a long trip, this can save £20 to £30 on fuel alone.

Consider toll-free routes

French national routes (marked with D or N numbers) are toll-free and often pass through attractive countryside and towns. The trade-off is speed — a toll-free route from Calais to Bordeaux might take 11 to 12 hours instead of 8 on the autoroute. For shorter distances, however, the toll-free option can save £40 to £90 with only 1 to 2 extra hours of driving. Set your GPS to "avoid tolls" to see the alternative route.

Book crossings off-peak and in advance

Both Eurotunnel and ferry operators offer their lowest prices for midweek, off-peak departures booked several weeks ahead. Avoid Friday evening and Saturday morning departures during school holidays — these are the most expensive slots. Travelling on a Tuesday or Wednesday can halve your crossing cost compared to a peak Saturday. See our guide to the cheapest way to drive to France for more detail on timing.

Use a western ferry for western destinations

If you're heading to Brittany, the Loire Valley, or southwest France, a ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Caen, Cherbourg, or Roscoff can save significant fuel and toll costs compared to crossing at Dover and driving across northern France. Check Bristol to Bordeaux for an example of how western crossings compare.

Share the driving and the costs

Driving to France is already one of the cheapest options per person for groups and families, since crossing fares cover the car rather than individual passengers. A family of four in a single car pays the same crossing fare as a solo driver. If you can share fuel and toll costs with fellow passengers, the per-person cost drops dramatically — often under £100 per person return for a trip to Paris.

Drive efficiently

Steady motorway speeds of 110 to 120 km/h use significantly less fuel than pushing to 130 km/h (the French autoroute limit). Keeping tyres at the correct pressure, removing unused roof boxes, and using cruise control on flat sections can improve fuel economy by 10 to 15 percent on a long drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost in total to drive to France from the UK?

The total cost of driving to France depends on your route, vehicle, and crossing choice. A short trip such as London to Paris typically costs between £180 and £320 return, covering the Channel crossing, fuel in the UK and France, and French motorway tolls. Longer journeys to the south of France can reach £500 to £800 return when you add in overnight accommodation and higher toll costs.

How much are French motorway tolls?

French autoroute tolls are charged per section and vary by distance and vehicle class. Calais to Paris costs roughly £20 to £25 one way. Calais to Lyon is around £50 to £60, and Calais to Nice is approximately £80 to £100. You can avoid tolls entirely by using national routes (D-roads and N-roads), but this typically adds 30 to 50 percent more driving time.

Is it cheaper to take the Eurotunnel or a ferry to France?

Off-peak ferry crossings from Dover to Calais start from around £55 each way for a standard car, while Eurotunnel starts from approximately £89. However, Eurotunnel is significantly faster at 35 minutes versus 90 minutes for the ferry. During peak summer periods both options increase sharply, with Eurotunnel reaching £249 or more and ferries climbing to £150 or above. Booking several weeks ahead usually secures the best prices on either option.

How much does fuel cost for driving through France?

Fuel in France typically costs between €1.70 and €1.95 per litre for unleaded petrol, and slightly less for diesel. A drive from Calais to Nice (approximately 1,100 km) uses around 75 to 90 litres in a typical family car, costing roughly £110 to £140 in French fuel alone. Filling up at French supermarket stations (Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché) can save 5 to 10 centimes per litre compared to motorway services.

Do I need to stop overnight when driving to the south of France?

For destinations beyond Lyon (roughly 7 to 8 hours from Calais), an overnight stop is strongly recommended. Driving tired on unfamiliar roads increases accident risk significantly. Budget hotels such as Ibis Budget, Première Classe, or B&B Hotels along the autoroute network cost between £40 and £70 per night. Many drivers break the journey around the Loire Valley or Lyon area.

What hidden costs should I budget for when driving to France?

Beyond fuel, tolls, and the crossing fare, you should budget for: a Crit'Air vignette (£3.50) if driving through low-emission zones in cities like Paris or Lyon, breakdown cover valid for Europe (£40 to £80 per year), travel insurance, a GB sticker or number plate identifier if your plates don't already show it, and compulsory equipment such as a warning triangle and hi-vis jacket. You may also want to carry cash for some older toll booths.

Related Guides

Continue planning your trip with these in-depth guides covering crossings, routes, and budget strategies.