Vehicle type guide

Vehicle types explained

When you make a booking with us, you’ll be asked which type of vehicle you plan to bring onto the ferry.

You’re effectively booking out space on the deck of our ferry and, as such, it’s important you give us the right details so we can allocate you the room you need. 

The vehicle size you give us needs to be the true maximum length and height of the vehicle you plan to bring, including any tow bars and items hanging off the back or placed on top of your roof, like bicycles or a roof box. 

If you do make a mistake when giving us your vehicle size details, you’ll be asked to change your ticket at the port and pay any difference in price before you travel. You might not be able to get onto your preferred sailing, either, so make sure you’ve measured up correctly. 

Bringing a trailer or caravan

You can bring a trailer or a caravan with you, but you’ll need to measure this separately to your vehicle 

Consider anything additional on top or on the back of your trailer or caravan, such as bicycles. 

E-scooters

E-scooters and other small electric vehicles such as hoverboards will not be allowed on our ferries or in our ports from Monday 2 October 2023.

The decision has been made on safety grounds as these items are not tested or regulated and there has been an increasing number of reports of fires linked to their batteries.

E-bikes, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are still allowed as they are legally approved for use in the UK.

 

Vehicle size lookup

If you’re not sure of the size of your car or van you can use our registration lookup tool, which is available when you start making a booking.

The tool will return the size of your vehicle as held on a third party database. Please note, the results returned are only a guide. As some vehicles may vary from the designed specifications, please ensure that the measurements are correct before booking.

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Vehicle types

Car

Everyday cars, such as a Volskwagen Polo or Citroën Berlingo. Includes MPVs, pick-ups built on a car chassis, and other passenger vehicles with up to seven seats, including specially-adapted disabled vehicles.

Motorhomes

Recreational vehicles built or adapted for sleeping which include fitted seating and kitchen facilities.

Vans

Vans, pick-ups, trucks and other goods vehicles designed to carry heavy loads and have not been specifically constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers. Maximum seven metres long.

Lorries

Single or double chassis freight vehicles designed to carry heavy loads. 7.01 metres to 19 metres long.

To book a freight vehicle over 19 metres long, 4.2 metres high or 44 tonne gross vehicle weight rating, please call our Sales team on 023 9285 5260.

Minibuses

Passenger vehicles 5.01 metres to eight metres long with between eight and 17 seats.

Coaches

Passenger vehicles over 8.01 metres long. Because we need to know additional information for coach bookings, such as loaded and empty passenger numbers, please visit our coach page to make your booking.

Motorcycles, trikes & quads

Motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecars, three or four-wheeled personal powered tricycles, TWIZYs or quad bikes up to 3.5 metres long.

Bicycles and mobility scooters

Pushbikes, e-bikes and battery-powered mobility scooters travel free of charge when a customer purchases a foot passenger ticket.

Why choose us?

We’ve three routes to choose from, with excellent motorway links to our car ferry routes and direct rail and coach connections on our foot passenger routes. Hot and cold food and drinks at all ports and onboard all car ferries.

See the top reasons to choose us

Dangerous Goods (ADR)

We can carry a large variety of different substances, but some are restricted by regulations and must be declared at least 24 hours in advance of your sailing. Find out what you can bring.

Restrictions on dangerous goods

Travelling by car

Not sure what to expect when you catch a Wightlink ferry? Get clued up on the check in process, boarding the ferry and disembarking on the other side.  

Read our vehicle travel guide