Vehicle lengths and definitions

Definition of vehicle length

By “vehicle length” we mean the total length of your vehicle, including any trailer or caravan in tow, or bicycles or luggage boxes fitted to the rear.

You must measure the total length of the vehicle with the car trailer, caravan, etc. mounted to the back of your vehicle. In other words, it isn’t enough to just add together the length of your car and the length of the caravan, luggage, etc.

If the total length of your vehicle exceeds what you have specified in your booking, we can’t guarantee you a spot on the ferry you have booked. This is because it can be difficult to find space on the car deck if the ferry is fully booked.

The five categories of vehicle length

We divide vehicles into five categories according to their length. The categories indicate the total length of your vehicle. This means that if you're boarding with a car trailer or caravan in tow, you should measure the length of your vehicle with the car trailer or caravan.

The five categories are:

• Up to 6 metres
• 6 to 8 metres
• 8 to 10 metres
• 10 to 12 metres
• Over 12 metres

General rules for all vehicles 

(except commercial goods vehicles)

Passenger car prices apply to cars, motorhomes and cars with caravans or trailers in tow that meet the following criteria:

• Prices apply to vehicles up to 6 m in length
• Registered for max. 9 passengers
• Permitted total weight of max. 3,500 kg
• Legally insured
• Vehicles (including caravans and trailers) exceeding 6 m in length and where the towing vehicle has a max. permissible total weight of 3,500 kg are charged according to their vehicle and length category.

Motorhomes (regardless of weight) are charged according to the passenger car tariffs if the vehicle is registered as a motorhome in the registration certificate.

Motorcycles, mopeds and EU-approved three-wheel mopeds include max. 3 people and a sidecar (max. 2.5 m long). If the motorcycle is any larger than that, it will be classified as a car.

Quad bikes are classified as motorcycles.

Trikes and Smart cars are classified as passenger cars.

We measure your vehicle in order to ensure there is room for you on the ferry

When you book your ferry ticket, it’s very important for us to know the length of your vehicle.

On a typical ferry crossing, we need to make room for lots of vehicles, which is why we need to know the length of all the vehicles boarding the ferry. That way we can ensure that we have room for you on the ferry you have booked.

How we measure your vehicle

We measure your vehicle from the front to the rear, including any object mounted/attached to it. For example, if you have mounted bicycles or a luggage box to the back of your car, these should be included as part of the overall length of your vehicle.

If you're going to have a trailer or caravan in tow when boarding the ferry, you should measure the entire length of the vehicle with these attached. This means that it isn’t enough to simply add together the length of your car and the length of your trailer, for example.

Special rules

In addition to the general rules, a few special rules apply to passengers in a van or whose vehicle in any way deviates from the above specifications.

Vans

Vans are classified as passenger cars if they are registered and insured as a car with a maximum seating capacity of nine people, a maximum total weight of 3,500 kg and a maximum total length of 6 metres, while also complying with all applicable legal regulations.

Vans over 6 metres in length with a maximum total weight of 3,500 kg are charged as passenger cars with trailers exceeding 6 metres according to the above length categories.

Deviations from the above specifications

For vehicles that deviate from the above rules, our bus and/or freight rates will apply.