Which crossings carry vehicles, which do not, and how to plan a driving route around the gaps.
Most car ferries carry cars, campervans, motorbikes, caravans and trailers. Fast passenger craft, hydrofoils and many short island hops are foot-passenger only, so confirm the route carries vehicles before you build a driving itinerary around it.
What Is the Advantage of Taking Your Own Car?
Your car crosses with you, so there is no baggage allowance, no hire car, and no transfer at the other end. You arrive ready to drive with whatever fits safely in the vehicle.
For families this is the whole argument. Pushchairs, cool boxes, bikes and a boot full of luggage all travel at no extra cost, which is where flying gets expensive fast.
Fast passenger craft, hydrofoils, catamarans on short island runs and most river or estuary shuttles carry foot passengers only. These are common in Greece, Croatia and the Thai islands, where fast craft run alongside slower car ferries.
The pattern to remember: if the crossing is fast and the vessel is small, assume no vehicles until the route page says otherwise.
On many island networks both types run the same water. The fast craft halves the journey time and takes no cars; the conventional ferry takes twice as long and carries everything.
How Do You Plan a Driving Route Across Several Ferries?
Book the constrained legs first. Island routes with one daily sailing and limited deck space dictate the itinerary, and the flexible legs should be arranged around them rather than the other way round.
Work backwards from the tightest link in the chain. A single daily sailing with space for forty cars is what determines the trip, not the hourly Channel crossing at the start.
Leave a buffer before any fixed commitment such as a flight home. Weather cancels small-craft sailings more often than people expect, and multi-leg trips are covered further in the guide to planning an island-hopping route.
Common questions
Do all ferries take cars?
No. Fast passenger craft and many short island hops carry foot passengers only. Every route page states whether vehicles are carried.
Can I take a motorbike on a ferry?
Yes, on any vehicle route. Motorbikes are cheaper than cars and are usually loaded first and secured with straps provided by the crew.
Is my car insured on the ferry?
The operator carries the vehicle under its own conditions of carriage. Your own policy needs to cover the countries you drive in, which many UK policies do not by default.
Can I leave luggage in the car?
Yes, and that is the main advantage. You cannot return to the vehicle during the crossing, so take what you need with you before leaving the deck.
