Taking a Vehicle on the Portsmouth to St Malo Ferry: The Complete 2026 Guide

Taking a vehicle on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry is the most popular way to make this crossing — and for good reason. Your vehicle travels with you, your luggage stays locked away until you arrive, and you roll off the gangway in Brittany ready to drive straight to your destination. Whether you’re in a standard car, a people carrier, a van, a motorhome, a campervan, or towing a caravan, this guide covers everything: booking, prices, vehicle dimensions, check-in, loading onto the car deck, what to pack in your overnight bag, alarm advice, and everything you need to drive legally in France the moment you leave the port.

Last updated: March 2026 | Information verified from Brittany Ferries official sources. Always check with Brittany Ferries directly for the latest requirements before travel.

🚗 Vehicle Ferry Fast Facts — Portsmouth to St Malo

~11 hrs

Overnight crossing

60 min

Check-in before departure

20:15

Departs Portsmouth

08:15

Arrives St Malo (local)

✅ Cars, vans, motorhomes, campervans and caravans welcome — add-ons like bike racks and trailers affect the price
✅ Cabins are compulsory on overnight sailings — you cannot stay in your vehicle
✅ Alarms must be disabled before you leave the car deck — essential advice below
✅ You cannot return to the car deck during the crossing — pack an overnight bag before boarding
✅ Measure your vehicle accurately — height and length limits apply to all vehicle types
✅ Valid passports required for all passengers including children

Book with Brittany Ferries

Vehicle Dimensions & Prices 2026 — Portsmouth to St Malo

Vehicle fares cover your vehicle and all passengers travelling in it. Your cabin is booked and priced separately on top of the vehicle fare. Brittany Ferries categorise vehicles by both height and length — getting your measurements right at the booking stage is essential. The prices below are typical starting points for 2026 — actual fares vary by sailing date, season, and how far in advance you book. Summer school holiday sailings are the most expensive and sell out earliest.

Vehicle Type	Max Height	Max Length	From Price
Car (+ 2 passengers)	2.60m	6m	£181+
Van / People carrier	3m	6.5m	£219+
Minibus	2.60m	6m	£232+
Motorhome / Campervan	4m	9m	£243+
Caravan / Trailer (added to car fare)	4m	9m total	+£46+
Roof items (roof box, roof-mounted bikes)	4m max	—	Varies
+ Rear-mounted bike rack	—	Adds to length	+£15+
+ 4-Berth Inside Cabin	Per cabin. Bunk beds, ensuite, Video on Demand.		£70+
+ 2-Berth Club Cabin	Per cabin. Twin beds, ensuite, tea & coffee tray.		£100+
+ 2-Berth Commodore Cabin	Queen bed, sea view, lounge access & breakfast included.		£140+

💡 Booking tip: Cabin costs are per cabin — not per person. A family sharing a 4-berth cabin splits the cost between everyone on board. Book 6–12 months ahead for the best vehicle fares, particularly for July and August sailings which sell out early and rise sharply in price as dates approach.

⚠️ Always declare accessories and measure accurately at booking: Rear-mounted bike racks, roof-mounted bikes, trailers, large roof boxes, and any equipment that adds to your vehicle’s height or length must be declared when booking. For caravans, measure the total combined length of car, towbar, and caravan. For motorhomes, measure to the top of any roof-mounted equipment including solar panels, satellite dishes and bike carriers. If your vehicle is larger than declared, you may be unable to board or charged an adjustment fee at the port. When in doubt, always check with Brittany Ferries before travel.

🚐 Taking a Motorhome or Campervan on the Portsmouth to St Malo Ferry

The Portsmouth to St Malo route is one of the most popular ferry crossings for motorhome and campervan travellers heading to Brittany and beyond. Brittany’s quiet roads, well-equipped aires de camping-car, and scenic coastline make it one of the best regions in France for motorhome touring. The ferry journey itself is straightforward — but there are a few things motorhome owners need to know that car drivers don’t.

📐 Motorhome Size Limits

Brittany Ferries accept motorhomes and campervans up to 4 metres high and 9 metres long. These are the most generous dimensions of any vehicle category on the route — most motorhomes comfortably fall within them. However, the height limit includes everything on the roof:

Solar panels and solar panel mounts
Satellite dishes or TV aerials
Roof-mounted bike carriers
Air conditioning units
Any roof boxes or storage

⚠️ Measure your overall height including all roof equipment before booking — not just the vehicle height from the manufacturer’s spec sheet.

🚫 You Cannot Stay in Your Motorhome

For safety reasons, you cannot stay in your motorhome or campervan during the crossing. This is mandatory for all passengers — the vehicle deck is sealed after loading and remains inaccessible until arrival at St Malo. You must go up to the passenger decks and book a cabin for the night.

This means everything you need for the 11-hour overnight crossing must come with you in a bag when you leave the motorhome. This includes all bedding, toiletries, medication, passports, and travel documents — none of these can be retrieved once the car deck is sealed.

If you are travelling with a pet, they may be permitted to remain in your vehicle during the crossing on some ships, and you may be allowed supervised visits to them. See our pets guide for full details.

📋 What You Need to Drive Your Motorhome in France

To drive your motorhome legally in France, you must carry:

Valid UK driving licence — photocard accepted; old-style paper licences require an IDP
V5C logbook for the vehicle
Vehicle insurance with European cover — check your policy, many UK policies reverted to third-party only for EU travel post-Brexit
UK identifier — “UK” sticker or UK-flagged number plate. The old “GB” sticker is no longer valid
International Driving Permit (IDP) — required in some circumstances; check gov.uk for current guidance

Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes also have lower speed limits in France than standard cars. See our full Driving in France guide for motorhome-specific speed limits, toll classifications, and aire guidance.

💡 Motorhome overnight bag tip: Motorhome travellers often have everything they need for France packed away in cupboards — but remember you cannot access any of it during the crossing. Pack a dedicated overnight bag with passports, medication, toiletries, a change of clothes and any valuables before you drive to the port. Treat it the same as you would a flight: the vehicle is the hold, you can’t open it mid-journey.

🏕️ Taking a Caravan on the Portsmouth to St Malo Ferry

Towing a touring caravan to Brittany or further into France is a fantastic way to travel — you have your accommodation with you from the moment you leave home, and Brittany has an excellent network of campsites, many of which are right on the coast. Taking your caravan on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry is straightforward, but the booking process has a few specifics that are worth getting right first time.

📐 Caravan Size Limits & How to Measure

Brittany Ferries accept towed touring caravans up to 4 metres high and 9 metres long. The 9 metre length is your total combined length — measured from the front of your towing vehicle to the very back of the caravan, including the towbar and any A-frame or overhangs:

Measure from the front bumper of your car to the rear of the caravan
Include the towbar and caravan coupling in the measurement
Include any rear-mounted accessories such as a bike rack on the caravan
If in doubt, measure on the driveway before you book

⚠️ The caravan surcharge is added on top of the standard car fare — from £46+ depending on size. Book as “car with caravan/trailer” from the outset.

🔐 On the Car Deck with a Caravan

Loading a car and caravan combination onto the car deck is a skilled manoeuvre directed by port staff and the ship’s Loading Officer. The key things to know:

Follow all crew directions carefully — car deck clearances are tight with a caravan in tow
Caravan brake and handbrake should be applied once positioned
You cannot return to the caravan during the crossing — pack everything you need in your overnight bag beforehand
Disable any alarms fitted to the caravan as well as the tow vehicle — both can trigger and drain batteries
Note your deck number and nearest exit so you can find your outfit on arrival

On arrival in St Malo, wait for the announcement before returning to your vehicle. Take your time — a car and caravan combination requires more care than a solo car when manoeuvring in a confined space immediately after disembarking.

🇫🇷 Towing a Caravan in France

France has specific speed limits for vehicles towing caravans or trailers that differ significantly from standard car limits:

Motorway: 130 kph (same as car) if outfit is under 3.5t GTM — reduced to 90 kph if over 3.5t GTM
Dual carriageway: 110 kph under 3.5t / 90 kph over 3.5t
Rural roads: 80 kph
Towns: 50 kph

Motorway toll booths in France classify vehicles by height — caravans and trailers that bring the outfit over 2 metres high typically fall into toll Class 2, which is priced higher than a standard car. See our full Driving in France guide for complete toll classifications and caravan-specific rules.

💡 Caravan booking tip: Always book your ferry as “car with caravan” or “car with trailer” from the start — do not book as a car only and try to add the caravan later. The surcharge applied at the port for an undeclared caravan is typically higher than the advance booking price, and in busy periods you may be turned away if there is no space for your outfit. Large caravans can attract a surcharge of £200 or more depending on total outfit length, so accurate measurements matter.

⚠️ Essential: Your Overnight Bag — Pack This Before You Leave Home

This is the single most important practical tip for first-time vehicle ferry passengers: once you drive onto the car deck, you cannot return to your vehicle for the entire crossing. The car deck is sealed after loading and remains inaccessible until the ship docks in St Malo. Everything you need for the 11-hour overnight crossing must come with you when you leave the vehicle — so pack this bag before you leave home, not in the car park at the port. This applies equally to car drivers, motorhome owners, and caravan towers.

🎒 What to Pack in Your Ferry Overnight Bag

Use a compact holdall or backpack. Soap and towels are provided in every cabin — you don’t need to pack those.

👕 Overnight Clothes

Pyjamas or comfortable sleep clothes
Outfit to wear the next day in France
Clean underwear and socks
Light jumper — ships can be cool at night

🪥 Toiletries

Toothbrush & toothpaste
Any prescription medication
Seasickness tablets if needed
Ear plugs — 4-berth cabins can be cosy

📱 Electronics & Entertainment

Phone & charger or power bank
Tablet, Kindle or laptop
Headphones
Download films/shows beforehand — Wi-Fi at sea is limited

🥤 Snacks & Drinks

A bottle of water per person
Crackers, cereal bars, fruit
Children’s snacks and comfort food
Helpful if seasickness puts you off the restaurant

📄 Travel Documents

All passports
Booking confirmation / boarding card
Vehicle & insurance documents
V5C registration document

👶 Families with Children

Children’s pyjamas & next-day clothes
Favourite toy or comfort item
Nappies & changing supplies if needed
Child’s medication if required

💡 Seasickness tip: The Bay of Biscay can be rough, particularly in autumn and winter. If anyone in your party is prone to seasickness, pack snacks and water rather than relying on the restaurant. Consider taking seasickness medication (such as Stugeron) at least an hour before departure. Lying flat in a cabin is far more comfortable than sitting upright in a public lounge when the sea is rough — and cabins on lower decks feel noticeably less movement than those higher up the ship.

🔔 Car Alarms & Battery Drain on the Car Deck — Read This Before You Travel

The car deck is an enclosed steel environment. The ship moves, vibrates and shifts throughout the crossing. If your vehicle alarm triggers on the car deck, nobody can reach it. Crew cannot access your vehicle. You cannot return to the car deck. A triggered alarm will drain your battery completely over an 11-hour crossing and causes significant disturbance to other vehicles nearby. Brittany Ferries specifically require all vehicle alarms to be disabled before you leave the car deck — this applies to cars, motorhomes, campervans, and any alarm fitted to a caravan.

🔕 How to Disable Your Car Alarm

The method varies by make and model. The most common approaches are:

Lock with the key in the door — on many older cars, physically locking the driver’s door with the key (not the remote) bypasses the alarm entirely
Double-press the key fob — on some cars, pressing lock once arms the alarm; pressing twice locks without arming it. Check your manual to confirm
Consult the owner’s manual — most manuals have a dedicated section on disabling the factory alarm for transport situations
Aftermarket alarms — if you have a fitted aftermarket alarm, ask the installer about valet or transit mode before your trip

⚠️ Test this at home before your trip — not in the queue at the port.

🔋 Battery Drain & Portable Jump Starters

Even with your alarm properly disabled, an 11-hour crossing can occasionally affect a marginal battery — particularly on older vehicles or those with continuous electrical draws such as dashcams left in parking mode.

We strongly recommend packing a portable jump starter in your overnight bag. Modern compact units are small enough to fit in a coat pocket, cost from around £30–£50, and can start most cars multiple times from flat. If your battery is dead on arrival at St Malo, you will need to deal with it yourself — reliable breakdown assistance at the port cannot be guaranteed.

A good jump starter also doubles as a USB power bank for charging phones and tablets throughout the crossing.

✅ Before You Leave Your Vehicle on Deck

Handbrake fully and firmly applied
Vehicle alarm disabled — test it before you leave
Caravan alarm disabled if fitted
Engine off, keys in your pocket or overnight bag
Windows fully closed
Note your deck number and nearest exit door number
Overnight bag taken with you
Dashcam parking mode switched off — draws current continuously
Any loose or roof-mounted items secure

⛔ You Cannot Return to the Car Deck During the Crossing

The car deck is sealed after loading and remains completely inaccessible to passengers for the entire sailing. No exceptions. If you leave your passport, medication, or anything else in the vehicle, you will not be able to retrieve it until the ship docks in St Malo. This is exactly why packing your overnight bag before you drive to the port is so important — whether you’re in a small car or a large motorhome.

Step-by-Step: Checking In at Portsmouth International Port

Follow Brittany Ferries signs from the M275 / A3(M) — the port is well signposted from the motorway. Passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure. If travelling with a pet, arrive at least 90 minutes before departure.

Drive to the Brittany Ferries Check-in Booths

Follow signs for Brittany Ferries vehicle embarkation check-in booths. Have your booking reference and valid passports for all passengers ready before you reach the booth — doing this in advance speeds the process up considerably. If you are travelling with a pet, follow the designated pet lanes and arrive at least 90 minutes before departure.

Receive Your Boarding Card

Your passports are checked and returned along with a boarding card that hangs from your interior mirror — this identifies your vehicle to port staff. If you have a cabin booked, your boarding card is also your cabin key and shows your cabin number. The ship’s Wi-Fi code is printed on it too. Keep it safe for the entire journey.

Use the Terminal (If Time Allows)

After check-in, subject to time available, you may be able to leave your vehicle and use the terminal building. The terminal has a Costa Coffee and bar on the mezzanine floor, a travel shop (open 06:00–22:30), toilets, baby changing, a free water refill station, and a tourist information desk. Listen carefully for any announcements directing passengers to return to their vehicles.

Security Check & Departure Lanes

When directed, proceed to the designated car lane before the security check. Once through security, you enter the departure lanes and must remain with your vehicle. Do not leave it unattended at this stage. Random spot checks may occur — cooperate with officials and keep documents to hand.

Loading onto the Car Deck

Port staff directed by the ship’s Loading Officer will guide you on board. Vehicle positioning on the car deck depends on type and size — this is a skilled operation. Motorhomes, campervans, and car-and-caravan outfits are typically loaded into dedicated areas. Be patient if your lane moves more slowly than others; it does not mean anything is wrong. Follow all directions carefully and drive slowly — clearances on car decks are tight and there is limited space between parked vehicles.

Park Up, Disable Your Alarm & Head to Your Cabin

Once parked, apply the handbrake firmly. Disable your vehicle alarm now — before anything else. If you are towing a caravan, disable any caravan alarm too. Note your deck number and nearest exit door number (you’ll need these to find your vehicle on arrival in St Malo). Grab your overnight bag, lock up, and follow signs to the lifts or stairs to the passenger decks above. Car deck exits are secured shortly after all vehicles are loaded.

💡 Special travel needs: If you or anyone in your party has reduced mobility or other requirements that may affect your journey, contact Brittany Ferries at least 48 hours before departure so they can make appropriate arrangements.

Onboard — What to Expect on the Overnight Crossing

The overnight sailing is operated by the MV Saint-Malo or the Armorique — both are well-appointed cruise ferries, not basic roll-on-roll-off vessels. You’re not sitting in a plastic seat for 11 hours. There are restaurants, bars, a shop, outdoor decks, entertainment, and comfortable cabin accommodation. For a full breakdown of every facility on both ships, see our complete onboard facilities guide.

🍽️ Dining

Both ships have an à la carte restaurant and a self-service brasserie for overnight crossings. The food is genuinely good — consider booking dinner in advance for busy summer sailings. The bar and lounge serve drinks and lighter snacks throughout the evening.

🛏️ Cabins

All cabins include an ensuite bathroom, fresh bed linen, air conditioning, and Video on Demand. Soap and towels are provided in every cabin. Your boarding card is your cabin key. Cabins are available from the moment you board the ship.

Cabins Guide →

📶 Wi-Fi & Data

Free Wi-Fi (approx. one hour) and paid packages available — code is on your boarding card. Turn off mobile data roaming before boarding. At sea, your phone may connect to the Telenor Maritime offshore network at very high roaming rates. Download anything you want to watch before leaving Portsmouth.

🛍️ Shops & Duty-Free

An onboard boutique sells duty-free wine, spirits, perfume, confectionery, French produce, and travel essentials. Particularly good value on the return sailing — a great chance to stock up on wine and cheese at competitive prices.

👨‍👩‍👧 Children

Indoor playrooms, outdoor play areas, and Video on Demand in every cabin keep younger passengers entertained. Pierre le Bear is MV Saint-Malo’s resident character for young children. Armorique has cinema screenings on some sailings. The 20:15 departure works well for an early cabin night with young children.

ℹ️ Information Desk

Deck plans are displayed on the walls of every deck to help you navigate. An Information Desk on Deck 6 or 7 is staffed by bilingual English/French crew throughout the crossing. If you lose your boarding card/cabin key, visit the desk with your travel documents.

💡 Alcohol reminder: France has a lower drink-drive limit than the UK — 0.05% BAC versus 0.08% in England and Wales. You’ll be driving off the ship at around 08:15 local time in France. Drinks from the previous evening may still be present in your system. As Brittany Ferries note, there is often a large police presence at the ports. Plan your evening on board accordingly.

Arriving in St Malo — Disembarking with Your Vehicle

The ship arrives at approximately 08:15 local French time. The disembarkation process is orderly — don’t rush it. Moments after leaving the ship you’ll be on French roads for the first time on your trip, so a calm and unhurried start is the right approach. Motorhome and caravan drivers should take particular care leaving the vehicle deck and the port — tight turns at low speed immediately after an overnight crossing require full concentration.

Wake-Up Call & Vacate Your Cabin

On overnight sailings, a wake-up call is given approximately 60 minutes before arrival. You must leave your cabin and take all your belongings at least 30 minutes before the ship docks. Don’t leave anything behind — you cannot return to the cabin once you have checked out.

Wait for the Announcement in a Public Area

An announcement will be made when passengers may return to their vehicles. Brittany Ferries recommend waiting in a large public area — a lounge, restaurant, or outer deck — so you will clearly hear the call. Crowding at the car deck entrance before the announcement is made causes unnecessary backlog on stairs and lifts.

Return to Your Vehicle — Passports Out Now

When the announcement is made, proceed to your car deck (the number you noted when parking). Have your passports ready before you reach border control — don’t put them away. Passport checks at St Malo can take time on busy sailings. Fumbling for documents in a queue of vehicles holds everyone up and nobody appreciates it.

Wait for the Signal — Then Drive on the Right

Do not start your engine until instructed by crew. Follow all directions carefully — car decks have crew directing traffic simultaneously in both directions. Once clear of the ship and onto the quayside, you are driving in France — on the right. Take it slowly leaving the port. The first junction and the first petrol station are where instinct defaults to the left. Be deliberate and give yourself time to adjust. Motorhome and caravan drivers should be especially patient — other vehicles will be keen to get past, but your safety is more important than their schedule.

🇫🇷 Driving in France from St Malo — What You Need to Know

Bringing your vehicle to France provides the ultimate flexibility — your French adventure truly begins the moment you drive off the ferry. But as a UK driver, several rules are different from home and some of them carry on-the-spot fines. French police can issue and collect fines at the roadside in euros, so it pays to be prepared before you set off from St Malo. Here’s a quick-reference overview — our full Driving in France guide covers everything in complete detail, including motorhome and caravan-specific rules.

📄 Documents to Carry

Valid passport — all passengers
Full UK driving licence — photocard valid in France, no IDP required. Old-style paper licences require an IDP (£5.50, available from PayPoint outlets)
V5C vehicle registration document — or VE103 for hire vehicles
Proof of insurance — check your policy covers France; many UK comprehensive policies revert to third-party only in the EU post-Brexit. Green Cards are no longer compulsory but can be useful as additional proof
MOT certificate — if the vehicle is over 3 years old

🚗 Required Equipment in the Vehicle

Warning triangle — mandatory. Place 30m behind the vehicle on a regular road if broken down. On a motorway, use the orange emergency phones instead and do not place a triangle
Hi-visibility vest — one for every person in the vehicle. Must be stored inside the cab (never in the boot or locker) so it is immediately accessible
Headlight beam deflectors — UK right-hand drive headlights dip left, dazzling oncoming drivers on French roads. Cheap peel-on sticker deflectors are available from ferry shops, Halfords, RAC/AA stores and online
UK identifier — “UK” oval sticker or UK-flagged number plate. The old “GB” sticker has not been valid since September 2021
Crit’Air sticker — required for 25 French cities including Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and more. Order from certificat-air.gouv.fr (~£4, allow 10 days for delivery)

🚦 Key Road Rules

Drive on the right — overtake on the left. Stay right on motorways unless overtaking; French police are strict on this
Speed limits (standard car): 130 kph motorways / 110 kph dual carriageways / 80 kph rural roads / 50 kph in towns
Motorhomes & caravans over 3.5t GTM have lower limits — 90 kph motorways, 80 kph dual carriageways. See our Driving in France guide for full tables
Priorité à droite — at many unmarked junctions, vehicles from the right have priority
Drink-drive limit: 0.05% BAC — lower than the UK’s 0.08%
Radar detectors illegal — even switched off. GPS speed camera alerts must also be disabled
Mobile phones banned — hands-free included. Headphones and earphones also illegal while driving

🗺️

Read Our Full Driving in France Guide

Toll roads and how to pay, fuel types and where to fill up cheaply, full speed limit tables including motorhome and caravan limits, Crit’Air cities, priorité à droite explained in detail, motorway aires de repos and aires de service, breakdown procedures, and practical tips for driving from St Malo — all verified from official sources.

Driving in France Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stay in my car on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry?

No. The car deck is closed to all passengers for the entire sailing. A cabin is compulsory on this overnight crossing. You must leave your vehicle when you park on the car deck and cannot return until the ship docks at St Malo and the announcement to return is made. This applies to all vehicle types — cars, vans, motorhomes, campervans, and car-and-caravan outfits.

Can I take a motorhome or campervan on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry?

Yes — motorhomes and campervans are welcome on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry. The maximum dimensions are 4 metres high and 9 metres long. These measurements must include all roof-mounted equipment such as solar panels, satellite dishes, and bike carriers. Fares start from £243+ for the vehicle including all passengers. A cabin must be booked separately as you cannot stay in your motorhome during the crossing.

Can I take a caravan on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry?

Yes — touring caravans are accepted on the Portsmouth to St Malo route. The caravan surcharge starts from £46+ on top of the standard car fare. Maximum dimensions are 4 metres high and 9 metres total length — measured from the front of your tow vehicle to the very back of the caravan including the towbar. Always book as “car with caravan/trailer” from the outset; do not book as a car alone and try to add it later.

Do I need to disable my car alarm before the crossing?

Yes — Brittany Ferries require all vehicle alarms to be disabled before you leave the car deck. If an alarm triggers during the crossing nobody can access the vehicle to stop it, and it will drain the battery over the 11-hour sailing. This applies to cars, motorhomes, campervans, and any alarm fitted to a caravan. Test your alarm-disable method at home before your trip so you know exactly what to do at the port.

What time does the ferry depart and arrive?

The Portsmouth to St Malo sailing typically departs Portsmouth at approximately 20:15 and arrives St Malo at approximately 08:15 local French time. The return sailing typically departs St Malo at approximately 10:30 and arrives Portsmouth at approximately 18:20. Exact times vary by season — always check your booking confirmation.

Do I need headlight beam deflectors for driving in France?

Yes. UK right-hand drive headlights are angled to dip towards the left — in France this means they dip towards oncoming traffic. Beam deflector stickers redirect the beam and are a legal requirement for UK vehicles on French roads. They are inexpensive and available from ferry shops on board, Halfords, RAC/AA stores, and online. Fit them before you board the ferry so you’re ready to drive from the moment you disembark.

What happens if my vehicle battery is flat when I arrive in St Malo?

If your battery has drained during the crossing — most commonly from an alarm triggering or a dashcam left in parking mode — you will need to deal with it yourself at the port. Carry a portable jump starter in your overnight bag. Modern compact units cost from around £30–£50, are small enough for a coat pocket, and can start most cars and campervans multiple times from flat. Don’t rely on breakdown assistance being readily available at St Malo port.

Do I need a Crit’Air sticker to drive in France?

You need a Crit’Air sticker to enter any of the 25 low-emission zones (ZFEs) now operating in French cities including Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and others. The sticker must be ordered from the official French government website — certificat-air.gouv.fr — at a cost of around £4. Allow around 10 days for delivery as it is posted to your home address. This applies to all vehicles including motorhomes and vehicles towing caravans.

Does my UK car insurance cover me in France?

UK vehicle insurance should usually cover travel in the EU but you must check your individual policy — many UK comprehensive policies have reverted to third-party cover only for EU travel since Brexit. Contact your insurer before you travel to confirm what you are covered for in France. A Green Card is no longer compulsory but can be useful as additional confirmation of your cover and your insurer can usually issue one free of charge on request. Motorhome and caravan owners should check that their specific vehicle type is covered.

Continue Planning Your Portsmouth to St Malo Trip

🚗

Driving in France

Speed limits, toll roads, Crit’Air, fuel, priority rules and everything a UK driver needs before setting off from St Malo

Driving Guide →

🐾

Pets Guide

Everything you need to know about taking your dog, cat or other pet on the Portsmouth to St Malo crossing

Pets Guide →

🛏️

Cabin Guide

Every cabin grade on MV Saint-Malo — from 4-berth inside to Commodore suite with sea view and breakfast

Cabin Guide →

⚓

Onboard Facilities

Restaurants, bars, shop, wellness room, kids’ areas — everything on both MV Saint-Malo and Armorique

Onboard Guide →

Ready to Book Your Vehicle on the Ferry?

Summer sailings fill quickly and fares rise as dates approach. Book early to secure the best price and your preferred sailing date — especially important for motorhome and caravan bookings where specialist spaces are limited.

Book with Brittany Ferries