Holidaymakers embarking on their Christmas getaway are facing significant disruption at the Port of Dover, with queues stretching up to an hour after French border controls were hit by a major IT failure.
Border Tech Glitch Sparks Festive Gridlock
The problems began on Saturday morning, 20 December 2025, just as traffic was building towards its peak. The Port of Dover confirmed in a statement on social media platform X that the French border's technology systems had encountered issues, with some problems persisting throughout the morning. The port is now working closely with partner agencies in a bid to resolve the situation.
Passengers are being strongly advised not to arrive more than two hours before their scheduled sailing time. The port has also issued a plea for all traffic heading to the ferry terminals to stick to the main approach roads—the A20 and A2—and to avoid clogging up local residential routes.
Record-Breaking Christmas Exodus Underway
The timing of the IT meltdown could hardly be worse. The Port of Dover estimates that close to 30,000 cars will embark on outbound journeys during the festive period, with peak traffic flows expected between 6am and 1pm from Friday to Sunday. This year is forecast to be the busiest Christmas getaway on record for the UK.
This localised disruption at Dover is part of a much wider national travel surge. The RAC has estimated a staggering 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned across the country between Wednesday and Christmas Eve.
Advice for Travellers and Industry Response
Ferry operators are attempting to manage the fallout. P&O Ferries reported large queues on approach roads and in the port's buffer area, but confirmed that check-in was proceeding smoothly once passengers reached the terminal. The company echoed the port's advice, urging all customers to factor significant extra time into their journeys.
"If customers do miss their scheduled sailing due to the wait times, their ferry operator will place them on the next available crossing," assured the Port of Dover.
Travel experts have emphasised the need for patience and planning. Shaun Jones, an AA patrol expert, stated simply: "It’s beginning to look a lot like traffic. Our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route and allow extra time. Patience will be your best present this year."
Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, warned: "With record numbers predicted to be taking to the roads this Christmas, journeys have the potential to be Grinch-worthy without some careful planning." He added that 2025 is shaping up to be the busiest festive travel period since their records began.
In a small piece of good news for drivers, National Highways announced it will "remove as many roadworks as we safely can" on England's motorways and major A-roads to help ease the festive congestion.
