Caravan and Motorhome Ferry Deals: How to Cut Crossing Costs

A caravan or motorhome can change a ferry quote much more than you might expect. When I checked the current operator offers, I found that the biggest difference was not always the voucher code. It was whether the booking included the full vehicle length, a caravan hitch, a rear bike rack, a roof box, a cabin and any pets travelling with you.

The cheapest-looking fare is only useful when it matches the vehicle that will arrive at the port. A standard car, a car towing a caravan, a long motorhome and a campervan carrying bikes can all need different space on the vehicle deck. I would therefore compare the complete booking rather than the advertised starting price.

This guide explains what can change caravan and motorhome ferry costs, which current operator offers are worth checking and how I would compare a direct ferry deal, membership saving or voucher code before paying. For wider advice across routes and fare types, see our guide to finding cheaper ferry tickets from the UK.

Why Caravans and Motorhomes Can Change the Ferry Price

Ferry operators do not price every vehicle in the same way. They need to allocate the correct deck space, and that can depend on the vehicle category, total length, height and anything being towed or attached.

When I compared the booking rules, it was clear to me that small details can move a vehicle into a different price band. A motorhome with a rear storage box is longer than the base vehicle. A campervan with roof equipment may be taller than the default booking category. A caravan must usually be measured with its hitch included.

The fare can also change with the route, sailing time and type of crossing. A short daytime Channel crossing is a different proposition from an overnight sailing to Spain where a cabin, meals and pet accommodation may form a substantial part of the final price.

Brittany Ferries tells customers to declare the correct vehicle type and dimensions so that the right deck space can be allocated. Its guidance says the length of a caravan or trailer should include the hitch, and supplements may apply when the vehicle has not been booked correctly. You can read the current Brittany Ferries vehicle-booking guidance.

Measure the Whole Outfit Before Comparing Fares

I would measure the vehicle before searching for an offer, not after finding a price I wanted to keep.

For a caravan booking, include the caravan hitch and check whether a rear carrier, storage box or other attachment changes the total length. If the towing car has a roof box or bikes on top, include the full travelling height where the booking form asks for it.

For a motorhome or campervan, measure the vehicle exactly as it will travel. That means including:

• rear-mounted bike racks;
• storage boxes and ladders;
• roof boxes and roof-mounted equipment;
• awnings or other fixed fittings where relevant; and
• any trailer being towed.

When I checked Irish Ferries' current vehicle guidance, I found that it specifically distinguishes vehicles by height and length, including roof items and rear racks. Vehicles declared incorrectly may be charged at the port or refused boarding if sufficient space is unavailable. That is a good example of why an accurate measurement matters more than choosing the cheapest vehicle category.

Brittany Ferries currently allows motorhomes and campervans up to 9 metres long and 4 metres high to be booked online. Larger vehicles need to be booked by contacting the operator. See the Brittany Ferries motorhome booking limits.

What Different Ferry Booking Types Can Cost

The biggest cost difference is often the booking type itself. A foot-passenger fare, a standard car fare, a car with a caravan and a motorhome quote should not be treated as interchangeable.

Published starting fares can change quickly, so I would not use them as the main measure of value. The more useful comparison is what each operator currently offers touring vehicles and which restrictions remain after the discount is applied.

When I reviewed these options, the pattern was straightforward: a touring-vehicle offer can reduce the caravan or motorhome part of the fare while leaving cabins, meals, pets, lounges and fees unchanged. I would add every essential extra before deciding which booking is cheapest.

Stena Line Caravan and Motorhome Offers: What the Terms Really Mean

Stena Line currently has some of the clearest touring-vehicle offers, but each one works differently.

On selected daytime Harwich to Hook of Holland departures, caravans can travel free when booked with a car. The offer applies to the basic car and caravan or trailer rate and is currently valid for bookings and travel until 31 March 2027. During July and August, the caravan receives a 50% discount rather than travelling free.

When I checked the exclusions, I found that cabins, lounges, meals, pets and fees remain outside the discount. The offer is for new bookings, cannot be combined with another promotion and uses the code CARAVAN. The full conditions are on the Stena Line caravans-go-free page.

Stena Line also offers motorhomes at the standard-car fare on selected Holland daytime sailings. This promotion is currently valid until 31 March 2027 but excludes travel in July and August. It uses the code CAMPER, applies to direct bookings and has the same important exclusions for cabins, lounges, meals, pets and fees. See the Stena Line Holland motorhome terms.

For Ireland and Britain routes, Stena Line also promotes up to 50% off caravan supplements on selected sailings. The current offer covers specified travel days and routes including Cairnryan to Belfast, Holyhead to Dublin and Fishguard to Rosslare. Stena Line route pages also advertise motorhome savings on selected Irish Sea sailings.

In my view, these offers are strongest when the route and sailing already suit the holiday. They become less useful when the discounted departure creates a longer drive, excludes the month you need or leaves expensive extras at full price.

Before booking, I would compare the operator offer with the current listings on our Stena Line voucher codes and offers page.

Brittany Ferries Rules to Check Before Booking a Touring Vehicle

Brittany Ferries is particularly relevant for longer caravan, campervan and motorhome trips to France and Spain. On these routes, the basic vehicle fare may be only one part of the booking.

When I checked the current rules, the starting point was the vehicle size. Brittany Ferries says a touring caravan, motorhome or campervan can travel when it is up to 4 metres high and 9 metres long. Motorhomes within those limits can be booked online; larger vehicles require assistance from the reservations team.

The operator also asks customers to select relevant roof items and declare the correct overall dimensions. I would take this seriously because longer routes often have less scope to correct a vehicle category at the last minute.

After entering the vehicle, add the same passengers, cabin, pet arrangements and fare type to every comparison. Brittany Ferries applies an emissions-related passenger surcharge that varies with the route, passengers and vehicle type, so the first fare shown may not be the entire cost.

You can check the current Brittany Ferries caravan and motorhome guidance and compare available savings on our Brittany Ferries voucher codes page.

Direct Ferries Can Help Compare Touring-Vehicle Routes, but Check the Operator Terms

Direct Ferries can be useful at the start of the search because it allows several routes, ports and operators to be compared in one place. This can help when you are deciding whether to use Dover, Harwich, an Irish Sea crossing or a longer France or Spain route.

When I use a comparison route for this type of booking, I would make sure every quote contains the same:

• vehicle type and full dimensions;
• passenger numbers and ages;
• outbound and return sailing;
• cabin or reserved seating;
• pet arrangements; and
• fare flexibility.

Once a suitable route appears, check the operator's own website as well. I have found that this is the simplest way to see whether a direct touring-vehicle promotion changes the result and whether amendment terms or vehicle rules differ.

Our guide to Direct Ferries versus booking direct explains that comparison in more detail. You can also check our Direct Ferries voucher codes before paying.

Cabins, Pets and Onboard Extras Can Shrink the Saving

A touring-vehicle offer may reduce the car, caravan, trailer or motorhome element without reducing the rest of the trip.

When I checked the Stena Line Holland offers, cabins, lounges, meals, pets and fees were all excluded. This does not make the offer poor value, but it means the phrase “caravans go free” cannot be treated as the final booking price.

This matters even more on overnight and longer crossings. A family may reasonably need a cabin, while a traveller with a dog may need a pet-friendly cabin, kennel or approved onboard arrangement. Brittany Ferries says the available pet options depend on the ship and route.

I would add the essential accommodation and pet arrangements before comparing discounts. The cheapest basic fare is not useful when it does not provide the journey you actually need.

For more detail, see our guide to ferry cabin costs and overnight booking rules.

Club Discounts, Public Offers and Voucher Codes: Which Should You Check First?

There are usually three possible saving routes: a direct operator offer, a club or membership discount and a public voucher code.

I would start with a vehicle-specific operator offer because it may reduce the most expensive part of the booking. Stena Line's caravan and motorhome promotions and Irish Ferries' touring-vehicle rates are examples of savings designed around the vehicle rather than a general percentage off.

Next, compare any membership rate you can genuinely use. A club discount may be valuable for regular tourers, but include the membership cost and check whether a public offer is already better.

Finally, test a current voucher code against the completed booking. I have found that the key question is not whether a code exists, but whether it accepts the exact route, fare and vehicle you selected.

My Favourite Voucher Codes checks offer wording and available restrictions before publishing listings. You can read more on our voucher code testing process page.

Mistakes That Make Caravan and Motorhome Ferry Bookings More Expensive

The mistake I would be most careful to avoid is searching as a standard car when towing a caravan or travelling in a larger campervan. That may produce an attractive quote, but it is not the fare for the vehicle arriving at the port.

Other common problems include leaving a bike rack or roof box out of the dimensions, comparing one bare vehicle fare with another quote that includes a cabin, and assuming an operator promotion applies throughout the summer.

Travel dates deserve particular attention. Some current offers apply only on selected daytime or midweek sailings. The Stena Line Holland caravan discount changes during July and August, while its Holland motorhome offer excludes those months altogether.

I would also check the return crossing independently. A low outbound fare can be paired with a much higher Sunday or school-holiday return, and that difference can be larger than the original discount.

A Practical Checklist Before Booking a Caravan or Motorhome Ferry Crossing

• Measure the full vehicle. Include the caravan hitch, rear rack, roof box, storage box and trailer.
• Select the correct category. Do not use a standard-car quote for a touring vehicle.
• Check the route and sailing. Some offers apply only on selected travel days or daytime departures.
• Add essential extras. Include cabins, pets, meals and lounges before judging the saving.
• Read the exclusions. Check peak months, new-booking rules and whether offers can be combined.
• Compare like with like. Use the same passengers, vehicle and flexibility on every booking route.
• Price the return separately. A cheap outbound sailing does not guarantee a cheap round trip.
• Confirm that the total falls. A voucher only counts as a saving when the final booking price changes.

How Your Booking Can Support Charity Through My Favourite Voucher Codes

Using My Favourite Voucher Codes does not add anything to the price you pay. When an eligible booking earns commission, we donate 20% of our monthly profits to charity, with users choosing the recipient through our public poll.

You can read more on our charity page, vote through the monthly charity polls or learn more about the site on our About Us page.

Caravan and Motorhome Ferry FAQs

By Julian House, updated 30 July 2026.