Truck and van drivers travelling to France require a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before arrival in France. To cater for this, 34 Department of Transport haulier information advice sites offering COVID-19 tests are now operational for international lorry and van drivers.
Drivers with a valid test will be able to use “fast track” access for Eurotunnel and Dover Port. Drivers entering Kent without a COVID-19 test can have it done at Ashford Sevington on M20 – Junction 8 for Channel Tunnel and Manston Airport for Dover (Postcode for entry to Manston site is CT12 5FF). However, this may cause severe delays and hence get tested before entering Kent by using one of the sites listed below. It is not possible to enter France without a valid negative test.
Additionally, from 1 January 2021, HGV drivers must have a Kent Access Permit (KAP) to travel through Kent to the Port of Dover or the Eurotunnel and on to the European Union (EU). The permit helps manage traffic by confirming drivers have the right documents for EU import controls.
Department of Transport information advice sites offering COVID-19 tests are located at the following key services and locations:
- Beaconsfield – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Burtonwood (Merseyside) – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Carlisle Stobart Truck Stop – Covid Testing Hours – 4am to 10pm
- Charnock Richard Services northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Cherwell Valley – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Doncaster North – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Donington Park – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Fleet southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Formula Services (Ellesmere Port) – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Hartshead Moor (Huddersfield) – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Heywood Distribution Truck Stop – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Hopwood Park – Covid Testing Hours – 4am to 10pm
- Junction 38 Services M6/A685– Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Leicester Forest East northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Leicester Forest East southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Membury eastbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Peterborough – Covid Testing Hours – 4am to 10pm
- Reading Eastbound – Covid Testing Hours – 24 hours
- Rothwell Truck Stop – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Rownhams northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Rugby Stobart Truck Stop – Covid Testing Hours – 24 hours
- Sandbach southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Stafford northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Strensham northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Strensham southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Sutton Scotney northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Sutton Scotney southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Tamworth Services – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- The Stockyard Truckstop Rotherham – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Thurrock Services – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Truck Haven (Carnforth) – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm, Monday to Friday
(6am to 11am and 4pm to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday) - Watford Gap southbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Wetherby Services – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
- Woodall northbound – Covid Testing Hours – 6am to 10pm
The above Covid testing times were correct at the time of publishing this blog, However, check this at the Gov.uk site before setting off on your journey.
Other than the COVID-19 tests, the advice sites also offer drivers:
- Information about the rules and documents needed to move goods between the UK and EU
- complete free border readiness check to ensure they have the correct documentation to cross the EU border
- help using the Check an HGV is ready to cross the border service
Drivers on Demand advices that you carry all the necessary paperwork and allow extra time to ensure that you do not get caught out by the 72 hour COVID-19 negative test result rule prior to entering France.
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