Driving to Spain through France

We are also waiting to return home to Spain from the Uk.  Our residency was being processed when all this happened so we don’t have our residency cards as yet. When allowed we intend to go through the Tunnel and drive the whole way sleeping in the car as we go. We have traveled this way a couple of times before and although tiring it is actually quite enjoyable. Especially this time we don’t feel we want to travel on a ferry so when borders are clear we will come home to beautiful Spain!!

I have residency but its the French question that remains unanswered by the authorities, I am not worried ferry and hate using the tunnel, it adds unnecessary time to the journey plus the tolls at that northern end of France are a rip off, its Poole - Cherbourg for me every time but at the moment I am unclear if I will get stopped in France.

Good luck

You won’t have any problems travelling through France as long as you obey the rules, letter of attestation etc. 

The potential problem is double quarantine I.e. will the french authorities allow you travel to Spain without the 14 days quarantine in France.

I hope that this will be allowed as I’m in the same situation as you and am planning to travel on 16 th June to Garrucha. Am currently in holiday accommodation for two months and it’s cost me £4K to date. Clearly I don’t want to subject our local town to the virus but want to get back soonest.

Hi Phil,

Sounds like you are as clear as I am, that's exactly my issue. I only want to drive through France stopping only for fuel and the rip off tolls and can do this in the day so the thought of a 2 week quarantine in France is not appealing and probably impossible (where could I) I can grab some sleep on the ferry and in the car and that doesn't worry me.

Cheers and good luck,   Dave

Fly. Simples

What's the travel time to drive, looking to do my 1st trip but have 2 drivers so we can share and rest

Nice one Albert never thought of that!

My Family are in the North west of England so in usual circumstances I set off early to make the Poole ferry which leaves around 12.15pm, this ferry takes around 4 1/2hrs getting you in Cherbourg a little before 6pm French time, I usually drive for a short distance then to whatever hotel I have booked for the night. The next day is the longest when I drive for around 10 hours or so with plenty of stops for the dogs it makes it nearer 12 hours for me and that gets me to my next overnight stop just over the Spanish border somewhere around the San Sebastian / Irun area and about 580 miles covered, the speed limit is 80mph and is a good run with the only usual traffic issues around Bordeaux and if I check my average speed it is usually in the early 60's mph making the 10hrs easily achievable. The next day is slightly shorter in distance to my house in Almeria, the roads are better and quieter (85mph limit) so this 560 or so mile journey can be done in around 8 1/2 hours and I'm there. The route I take is a compromise between Ferry (or Chunnel) journey time, toll prices (rip off if you get it wrong) and night's in hotels with their inconvenience and costs. If for example I go Dover to Calais, the ferry or Chunnel is quicker but the tolls cost me an extra £50 or so, I need an extra night in a hotel plus you burn more fuel and the ferry/Chunnel costs are not much cheaper but on the other hand if you take a longer ferry journey getting you further south than Cherbourg then the small gain is outweighed by the wasted driving time sat on a ferry and of course the Poole Cherbourg time of 4 1/2 hours is pretty good for the dogs.  You may find another route better for yourselves if you are based in the South East for example, in any case I can assure you the worst part of my journey is the UK driving, France is easier and better and Spain better still. Have a good trip !!

Latest news is this:

France allows entriy for people from EU countries who are transiting to a third country.  This would apply to people driving from UK to Spain. The quarantines do not apply if one is transiting, which means driving through with no touristic stops on the way.

However --  you must download (from the French gov website), complete, and carry with you an 'Attestation' document, which basically is a declaration of where you are going, how you are getting there, how long you are going to be in France en route, where you are going to stay while en route, and things like that.  You must also download, complete,  and carry with you a document that is basically a declaration that you are free from Covid-19 symptoms. These documents may be checked at entry to France, or presumably at any time while travelling through France if there are spot checks, and likely will need to be presented at any hotel(s) you stay in. Since a ferry or Chunnel terminal has a passport check, they will check you have these extra documents then.  If you don't have them, they may refuse entry -- so best to have them. They might do a temperature check also. If you have a fever you might not be allowed to proceed.

I'm driving via chunnel to my permanent residence in Almeria in July (I hope) with the plan to stop one night in France. I am going to print out my hotel reservation, and an itinerary through France (this just from the google maps, or other provider, 'directions' function).  It might be overkill, but I will be able to prove what/where/how long and all that.  As part of the hotel reservation process I am going to get guidance from the hotel that a) they are open;  b) they are certified to accommodate transiting guests (this might also be overkill); c) what their restaurant options are...if I need to eat bread and cheese in the room then I will buy them in advance.

All of the above are based on current advice from the French authorities.  The advice can change, either to be more strict, or to be more 'normal'.  It all  depends on how the virus progresses. So check frequently. The Foreign Office has a useful link (see below) which goes to the French gov site.  There you will find English translations, latest advice, links to the necessary documents, etc. 

Spain has its own requirements, but as of now they will be open for business from 1 July for tourists.  They are open now for permanent residents who are travelling to their permanent address in Spain, and for key workers, and certain other categories of traveller.  So all those same documents the French want will be helpful in Spain as well. Of course, if you have a residencia tarjeta that will be necessary too.  But check the advice often.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france