Pet Taxi and Private Transfers Between the UK and France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Switzerland

Do you need a licence to transport pets to the UK?

Yes. A company that transports animals by road as part of its business needs an Animal Transporter Authorisation under assimilated Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, and its vehicles must be inspected and approved for long journeys. To carry pets through the Channel Tunnel as a pet transporter, the operator (LeShuttle) asks for both documents. Before you book any pet transport to the UK, ask the company for its authorisation number.

Our transporter authorisation: UK Animal Transporter Authorisation, Type 2 (Articles 10 and 11), no. UK/REIGA/T2/00114987, issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). It is valid for journeys of any length, including journeys over 8 hours, until 15 April 2030, and covers dogs, cats, fish, parrots, canaries and hamsters.

Our approved vehicles: VW Passat SW (certificate NSF 1888, valid until 1 April 2030) and VW Caravelle van (certificate no. 2112, valid until 23 July 2031), inspected and approved by NSF Certification UK under Article 18(2) of the same Regulation. Pets travel only in these two vehicles.

Copies of these documents are available on request.

What do I need to bring my dog or cat to the UK from France?

Bringing a dog or cat to the UK from France or another EU country requires:

1. A microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.

2. A rabies vaccination, given when your pet is at least 12 weeks old. After a first vaccination, you must wait 21 days before travelling.

3. An EU pet passport or an animal health certificate showing the microchip number and the rabies vaccination.

4. For dogs only, a tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before you arrive in the UK, and recorded in the passport or certificate.

At the Channel Tunnel terminal in Calais, you present your pet and its documents at the Pet Reception before boarding. We plan your pick-up time so that we arrive at least 90 minutes before departure. Up to 5 pets can travel in one vehicle with their owners.

Do you also offer a pet taxi from the UK to France?

Yes. We pick you up with your dog or cat at any address in London or elsewhere in the UK and drive you to Paris or any city in France or continental Europe. In this direction, you travel in the car with your pet: the Channel Tunnel does not accept commercial transport of animals from Folkestone to Calais, so pets cannot travel from the UK to France without their owner. Up to 5 pets can travel in one vehicle.

What does my dog or cat need to travel from the UK to France?

If you live in the UK and are taking your dog or cat to France, your pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel after a first vaccination) and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet in the UK no more than 10 days before you reach France. Since April 2026, EU pet passports are only valid for owners whose main residence is in the EU, so most UK residents need an AHC for each trip. No tapeworm treatment is needed to enter France. On the way back to the UK, your dog will need a tapeworm treatment from a vet in France or the EU, 1 to 5 days before arrival.

I am moving from the USA to the UK with my dog. Can I fly to Paris and continue by car?

Yes, and many pet owners do. Apart from assistance dogs, pets cannot fly into the UK in the cabin or as checked baggage on regular flights. Many airlines, however, accept small pets in the cabin to Paris. You can land at Charles de Gaulle airport with your pet, and our driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and take you door to door to London or anywhere in the UK through the Channel Tunnel.

Your pet will need a health certificate to enter the EU and another one to enter Great Britain, both prepared in the USA before you fly, and dogs need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arriving in the UK, which a vet in France can give. Check the exact requirements with your vet before you travel, and contact us if you need help planning the trip.

How does my pet travel in the car, and how many pets can come?

Your dog or cat travels in its own secure pet carrier, in one of our two approved vehicles: the VW Passat SW (up to 3 passengers) or the VW Caravelle van (up to 8 passengers). Up to 5 pets can travel in one vehicle with their owners. On long journeys, short stops so your dog can walk and drink are free. The Channel Tunnel pet fee, €29 per pet and per crossing, is charged by LeShuttle and added to the price of the ride.

Can my pet travel to the UK without me?

On request, from France to the UK only. A pet travelling without its owner is a commercial movement, and the documents and booking process are different from a trip with the owner. Please contact us before booking, and we will tell you what is needed. From the UK to France, the Channel Tunnel does not accept pets travelling without their owner.

How do you cross the Channel with a pet?

With a pet, we always cross by the Channel Tunnel (LeShuttle, Calais - Folkestone). The crossing takes about 35 minutes. Before boarding, you check your pet in at the Pet Reception, which is open 24 hours a day. The Channel Tunnel ticket is not included in the price of the ride: we buy it for you and invoice it at cost. LeShuttle fares change with the season, the day and the time of departure, from about £124 (about €145) one way for a car on off-peak dates, such as winter weekdays, to £229 (about €270) or more during the summer and Christmas holidays. A ticket for our van costs more, because LeShuttle classes it as a large vehicle. Pets are not accepted on Eurostar trains.

Do passengers need an ETA to enter the UK?

Yes, most of them. Travellers who are not British or Irish citizens, including children, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel. Apply online well before your trip: the Channel Tunnel operator checks it before boarding and can refuse passengers without one. We also need each passenger's passport details when you book, for the Advance Passenger Information required at the border.

Will I incur any extra charges if my plane is delayed?

No, we monitor your flight's progress and will adjust your vehicle's arrival time accordingly, ensuring there are no extra charges for delays.

What if my flight or train delay is more than one hour?

We understand that sometimes it could happen. If you anticipate that your flight or train will be delayed by more than an hour, please notify us as soon as possible via e-mail, SMS, or phone call. Depending on vehicle availability, we can either reschedule the start of our service to a later time or cancel it without any penalty.

Are taxes, tolls and parking fees included in the price?

All taxes, bridge and road tolls, and parking fees are included in the instant online quotes provided on our website - except Eurotunnel or ferry tickets for journeys to and from the UK, which are invoiced separately at cost. For transfers between the UK and continental Europe, please make your booking at least 48 hours before the pick-up time.

What is your cancellation policy?

We will accept any cancellation without a fine if you make it at least 24 hours before the pickup.

No-show: A 100% charge applies if you do not show up for the transfer.

Cancellations must be communicated via email or phone, especially if the transfer is imminent.

Channel Tunnel tickets: we buy your LeShuttle ticket in advance, and whether it can be refunded depends on the ticket type. The Standard ticket, which we book unless you ask otherwise, is not refundable: only its date and time can be changed before departure, and LeShuttle may charge a change fee or a fare difference. If you cancel, the price of a Standard ticket is not refunded, even when the ride itself is cancelled free of charge. If you want to be able to cancel, ask us for a FlexiPlus ticket: it can be changed free of charge and is fully refunded if cancelled no later than the day of travel, but it costs more (from about £284 each way for a car).

Can I book a transfer now and make changes or add a stop later?

Yes, you can request changes to your booking via email. If the transfer is imminent, please call us directly. Changes to your itinerary can be made free of charge. However, please note that any modifications to the route may affect the distance and, consequently, the price. Moving the pick-up to late at night or very early in the morning may also increase the price slightly.

What happens if the car I booked is unavailable?

When you book an Economy class car, we reserve the right to provide a similar or upgraded vehicle if your selected car is unavailable. If we upgrade your vehicle for this reason, the price stays the same. The price changes only if you ask for a higher class of vehicle yourself. For a trip with a pet, the replacement is always one of our two vehicles approved for animal transport.

When will I receive confirmation of my booking?

You will receive three emails confirming your booking:

1. Initial Confirmation: An automatic email confirming that your booking has been recorded by our system.

2. Booking Acceptance: An email from our manager confirming that your booking has been accepted.

3. Driver Assignment: Once a driver has been assigned to your journey, you will receive an email with the driver's name, phone number, and photo.

For your first booking on our website, you will also receive a welcome email with your login and password.

What should I do if I haven't received confirmation and my transfer is starting soon?

First, check your spam folder. If you don't find the confirmation email there, please call us at +33 7 82 30 62 95 and we will assist you promptly.

For all other conditions, please see our General Terms & Conditions.