I have added a bike rack to the rear of motorhome since buying a cross channel ferry ticket ~ will they charge me extra

[Langloan]

I have an 8.7m AUTOTRAIL ARAPAHO and booked a Dover Calais crossing and stated the length when booking

i have now added a tow ball 2 bike rack

When I board will they charge me extra or do they not really bother checking

the added depth is apparently about 1m extra max

 

[Gaston aires]

No one ever checked ours, even with the scooter rack.
Phil

 

[Kayak Kid]

No - I am sure you will be fine!
If you were travelling with Calmac on the Scottish West Coast then it could be a different answer,

 

[Tombola]

No

 

[eddie]

Well, as your a metre longer than declared, the worst that could happen is you have to pay for your ‘actual’ length, which isn‘t unreasonable

I suppose the question should be, “how would you feel if every vehicle arrived 1m over the declared length, and you as a late arrival were told sorry, no room”

I would image that being told that someone would be miffed and start talking about refunds and compensation, IE the ferry company would be out of pocket for no fault of their own.

Having said that, I doubt the ferry will check, although I know they do as we we‘ve been checked in the past

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[tonka]

I've had a motorhome for 23 years so far, done lots of ferry trips mainly Dover - Calais, never been checked or measured once.
HOWEVER. in the time spent on Fun and other forums I have read of instances where they have checked.
It mainly seemed to be peak times when ferry's were at capacity.
For what it's worth you will probably be ok, if questioned just plead ignorant for this trip and say you thought it was just van length.

 

[paddymcc]

We saved ourselves a fair bit of money on the Hirtsals to Kristiansand ferry ( Denmark to Norway) by putting the 3 bikes and rack inside the campervan. Our daughter had to be a contortionist to get out but it saved us a few bob- important if going to Norway!
But I expect you will be fine if it's not peak time.

 

[Howard H]

On a trip Portsmouth to Santander I decided to take my bikes at last moment but forgot to change my booking details . I don’t know how they knew but as I pulled into the check in they pointed out that I had a bike rack on that hadn’t been booked in and had to check if they had room , they had and no charge . So they do notice these things !

 

[Ridgeway]

My 8.5m van is often 7.5m

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

I have been checked Dover for the length of the van as I was booking in they sent me to be checked everything was as I had declared so no problem. They have some marks on the floor I think to estimate your length. But I wouldn't worry about it just plead ignorance, and enjoy your holiday.

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[VXman]

Don't know who you are going with but I just checked Irish ferries as I normally use them and am thinking of getting a bike rack fitted. They only have 3 catagories - below 2.25 metres high, above 2.25 metres high or greater than 8 metres length.

I did a price check at my usual 'above 2.25' (we are 7.5 long) and then at 'over 8 metres'. No price difference.

As with others - no one has ever checked anyway.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Checking in at Rosslaire Ireland, lots of markings on the road by the booths so they could see vehicle length as they issued passes. You wouldn't know if they've checked you out until they said something.

 

[PaulandAngie]

In my experience, I have only ever been checked through Brittany ferries who are very vigilant and have been known to get out of their kiosk with a tape measure. I did once forget to add the rack in and suggested that at 7.3m long the rack would be included within the 8m parameter cost (7m-8m) they insisted on further payment for the rack. All the other crossings made over the years with others have not been checked in my experience.

 

[Littlewheels]

Same here with BF they used to be so friendly but now go out their way to be as difficult as possible.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Cant answer your question but have you thought the bike rack might catch on the ramp on entry or exist ,just a thought but that said i dont know how low your tow bar is

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[philann]

We just take it off and put it inside for the crossing

 

[EuroTrotters]

Brittany ferries are very keen these days. It’s cheaper to add rear bike rack rather than a metre , usually

 

[Southpark]

I have an 8.7m AUTOTRAIL ARAPAHO and booked a Dover Calais crossing and stated the length when booking



i have now added a tow ball 2 bike rack



When I board will they charge me extra or do they not really bother checking



the added depth is apparently about 1m extra max





 

[Southpark]

We have used the ferries quite often and always say yes. It's £10 extra but it's piece of mind.

 

[Soycd]

I don't know about cross channel. When I was booking a ferry from Ancona to Greece a couple of years ago, the good folk at Viamare advised me to be careful on length. The threshold for the lower price was 6 metres, then it goes up a lot if above that length. We are 6 metres but with the bike rack quite a bit more. They told me that they can be quite stringent at the checkin and will either charge you more or refuse boarding if they are at capacity! In the end Covid came along and we had to cancel anyway.

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[gpat]

It's pot luck. Mostly you will get away with it. Brittany ferries are the keenest, Eurotunnel not so mean.

 

[philann]

If you bought a trailer after booking a ticket would you expect them to charge for it?

 

[Southpark]

Every time we have booked with Brittany Ferries, it asks you to tick the box. It's only £10 extra, it's piece of mind.