Hire Cars on Ferries in Australia
A ferry ticket does not grant permission to carry a rental car, so check both the operator's booking rules and the rental agreement. SeaLink lets you mark a Kangaroo Island booking as a hire car, and Hertz requires prior permission before its vehicles travel on any ferry.
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Key facts
- Kangaroo Island booking
- The SeaLink online form has a "This is a hire car" option
- Hire car details
- Phone SeaLink after collecting the car to give its make and model
- EV or hybrid
- You must say at booking whether the hire car is electric or hybrid, as capacity for these is limited on every sailing
- Kangaroo Island size limit
- Vehicles up to 5.9 m long and under 2.3 m high can be booked online
- Hertz permission
- Prior permission from Hertz is required before transporting a vehicle on a ferry
- Sorrento ferry
- Searoad says hire cars are generally permitted, but to check with your rental company before travel
- Tasmania crossing
- The Spirit of Tasmania runs between Geelong and Devonport
Does a ferry operator accepting cars mean a hire car is allowed?
No. Ferry acceptance and rental permission are separate checks. SeaLink has a hire car option for Kangaroo Island bookings, but your rental company must also allow the crossing. Hertz, for example, requires prior permission before a vehicle travels on a ferry.
How do you book Kangaroo Island with a hire car?
Tick "This is a hire car" on the SeaLink online form and say whether the car will be electric or hybrid, because SeaLink has limited capacity for those vehicles on every sailing. Once you have collected the car, phone SeaLink on 13 13 01 with its make and model.
Vehicles up to 5.9 metres long and under 2.3 metres high can be booked online. Check the rental agreement before boarding.
Is the Queenscliff to Sorrento crossing different?
Searoad Ferries says hire cars are generally permitted on its route, which runs within the Australian road network and does not service an island. It also says many hire companies exclude some ferry routes, usually those to offshore islands, and advises you to double-check with your rental company before travel.
What about Spirit of Tasmania?
The Spirit of Tasmania crosses Bass Strait between Geelong and Devonport. Before hiring a vehicle, check that the hire company allows its vehicles to be ferried, and get that permission for the exact journey before you book the ship.
What should you confirm before buying a vehicle ferry ticket?
First ask the rental company whether the exact ferry and destination are permitted under your agreement, preferably in writing. Then check the operator's vehicle booking rules, including vehicle size and whether an electric or hybrid car must be declared.
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Questions people ask
Can you take a rental car on a ferry in Australia?
Sometimes. You need approval under the rental agreement and a vehicle booking with the ferry operator.
Can a hire car go to Kangaroo Island?
SeaLink offers a hire car booking option, but your rental company must also allow the crossing.
Are rental cars allowed on the Sorrento ferry?
Searoad says yes, but advises checking with your rental company before travel.
Can a Hertz car go on a ferry?
Hertz permits vehicles on certain ferries, but only with its prior permission.
Does a ferry booking mean my rental car is allowed aboard?
No. The ferry operator and the rental company set separate conditions, so get permission from the rental company for the exact crossing.
Can I book a ferry before I know the hire-car model?
On Kangaroo Island sailings with SeaLink, yes. Tick the hire car option and phone with the make and model after you collect the car.