Does my dog need a tapeworm treatment to enter France?

No - the tapeworm rule only applies when entering Great Britain. Going to France you need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an AHC or EU pet passport. For the return to the UK, a vet must give the treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival.

Can my dog sit on the car seat in France?

Both UK and French rules expect pets to be secured so they cannot distract the driver. A crash-tested harness, a crate or a boot guard all work - and a familiar blanket makes the tunnel crossing calmer.

How long does the whole journey take?

London to the Folkestone terminal is about 90 minutes, pet check-in around 30-60 minutes, the crossing 35 minutes, and Calais to Paris about three hours. Door to door, expect roughly six to seven hours with breaks.

Practical Guides 2026-07-29 6 min read

Can I Take My Dog to France by Car? Rules, Route & Cost (2026)

Yes - and it is the easiest way. Your dog stays with you in the car through Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. Here are the documents, the route and the real costs.

In this guide

1. Yes - and it is the easiest way to do it
2. Documents your dog needs in 2026
3. The drive, step by step
4. What it really costs

Yes - and it is the easiest way to do it

Driving is the simplest way to take a dog to France. On Eurotunnel Le Shuttle your dog stays in the car with you for the 35-minute crossing - no cargo hold, no kennels, no separation. Compare that with flying, where pets typically travel as manifest cargo, or most ferries, where dogs stay alone on the car deck or in onboard kennels. For an anxious dog, the tunnel is the calmest option by a distance.

Documents your dog needs in 2026

Going from Great Britain to France your dog needs three things: a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a UK vet within 10 days of travel - or a valid EU-issued pet passport. No tapeworm treatment is needed entering France. For the return journey to the UK, dogs additionally need a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival.

The drive, step by step

From London you take the M20 to Folkestone, check in at the pet reception where staff scan the microchip and check your AHC, then board Le Shuttle. Thirty-five minutes later you are in Calais, and the A26/A1 motorways take you on to Paris in about three hours. Plan a stop every two hours for water and a walk - service areas on French autoroutes are well set up for dogs.

What it really costs

Doing it yourself means fuel, French tolls (roughly £25-30 each way to Paris), the Le Shuttle ticket plus a small per-pet fare, and the AHC at £100-250 from most UK vets. If you would rather not drive, our door-to-door pet taxi from London to Paris starts from £715: you and your dog travel together in a climate-controlled vehicle and we handle the tunnel check-in with you.

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