How to book a ferry with a car

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

Booking a ferry with a car involves more decisions than booking as a foot passenger: what counts as your vehicle's length, which deck category you need, whether to book a fixed or flexible fare, and how far ahead to commit. Get the measurements and category right at booking time and the rest of the trip runs smoothly — get them wrong and you risk being turned away or charged more at the port. This guide walks through the booking process itself, step by step.

Step one: measure your vehicle properly

Ferry vehicle fares are priced primarily on length, and sometimes on height. Before you start comparing prices, measure your actual vehicle rather than relying on the manufacturer's brochure figure, since roof boxes, bike racks, tow bars and aftermarket roof units all add to the real length or height that check-in staff will assess.

• Length: measure bumper to bumper, including any fitted rack or box that extends beyond the bodywork. Most standard saloons, hatchbacks and estates fall under about 5 metres and sit in the base category; anything longer moves into a higher-priced tier.
• Height: matters most for SUVs with roof boxes, campervans and vehicles towing a caravan. Some vessels have lower-height vehicle decks, and a vehicle that does not fit the standard deck may need to be booked into an open-deck or higher-clearance category, which can carry a different fare and is not available on every sailing.
• Overall combination length for a car towing a caravan or trailer: this is measured as one continuous length from front bumper to the rear of the trailer, not as two separate items.

Step two: choose your route and compare operators

For routes served by more than one operator — the English Channel, the Irish Sea, Spain to Morocco — compare not just the headline fare but the vehicle category thresholds, since one operator's pricing tiers do not always match another's. A car that falls into the cheapest band with one operator might tip into a higher band with a different one, depending on where they draw the length cut-off. See the general principles in our how to book ferries guide for comparing operators against aggregators.

Step three: pick a fixed or flexible fare

As with passenger tickets, car ferry bookings typically offer a cheaper fixed fare (little or no flexibility to change) and a pricier flexible fare (free or low-cost date changes, sometimes a refund option). If your route or travel dates depend on factors outside your control — weather for a long crossing, a connecting sailing, a tow vehicle booking tied to another leg of a longer trip — the flexible fare is usually worth the premium. If your dates are fixed and certain, the fixed fare saves money with little real downside.

Step four: decide on deck position (where relevant)

On longer or overnight routes with open and enclosed vehicle decks, you may be offered a choice, particularly for campervans wanting to sleep aboard the vehicle on an open deck (where the operator permits this) rather than being parked in an enclosed hold. This option is not universal — confirm directly with the operator whether it is available on your specific sailing before assuming it is included, since sleeping in your vehicle is only allowed on some routes and some decks.

Step five: check the small print on add-ons

Before finalising the booking, check for:

• Whether a driver counts as one of the included passenger fares, or whether the driver's passage is priced separately from the vehicle fare — this varies by operator.
• Pet supplements, if travelling with an animal — see travelling with pets across borders for the wider rules.
• Fuel and port surcharges that may sit outside the headline fare shown in search results.
• Whether trailers, roof boxes and bike racks are automatically included in your declared vehicle length or need to be added as a separate line item.

Step six: confirm and save your booking details

Once booked, keep the confirmation accessible on your phone or printed, along with the vehicle registration you provided. Check-in staff typically match the registration plate against your booking, so a late change of vehicle (a different hire car, for instance) needs to be updated with the operator before you arrive at the port, not sorted out at the check-in barrier.

When to book

Vehicle spaces are more limited than passenger seats, particularly on popular summer routes and during school holiday periods, so book earlier than you might for a foot-passenger crossing. For the Channel, Irish Sea and other high-traffic short routes, booking a few weeks ahead in peak season is sensible; for longer routes such as UK to northern Spain with limited weekly sailings, book as early as your dates allow, since vehicle capacity on these services sells out well before passenger capacity does.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what length category my car falls into?

Measure your vehicle bumper to bumper, including any roof box or rack, and check the operator's specific length brackets — these differ slightly between companies. When unsure, round up or contact the operator before booking to avoid a mismatch at check-in.

Can I change my vehicle details after booking?

Most operators allow this before the check-in cut-off, particularly if the change is to correct a genuine error. Contact the operator directly rather than simply arriving with a different vehicle, which can cause delays or an on-the-spot charge.

Is it cheaper to book a fixed or flexible car ferry fare?

The fixed fare is cheaper but offers little or no ability to change dates. The flexible fare costs more but is worth it if your plans could shift — for a longer trip with several connecting legs, the extra cost is often reasonable insurance.

Do caravans and trailers need a separate booking?

No, but they are measured as part of your total vehicle length — front bumper of the car to the rear of the trailer — rather than booked as a separate item. Provide accurate combined measurements when booking.