This is a practical guide to the ferry experience itself — preparing your car, arriving at the UK port, checking in, boarding, the crossing, and driving away in France. For the broader question of which route to choose and how to plan the whole drive, see our separate driving to Brittany guide.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Getting the vehicle details right
The single most common booking error is declaring the wrong vehicle type or dimensions. Brittany Ferries allocates space on the car deck based on the details you provide at booking, so if your vehicle is longer, taller or wider than stated — or if you have a roof box, bike rack or trailer that you did not declare — you may not be allocated the correct space.
When booking, use the dropdown fields to specify your vehicle's length and height accurately. You must select "yes" to the roof items question if you are travelling with a roof box, bike rack or anything else on the roof. If you are towing a trailer or caravan, declare this at the time of booking — trailer dimensions are allocated separately.
It is worth checking your vehicle's actual dimensions before booking rather than estimating from the model name. A roof box or bike rack can add enough height to move your vehicle into a different size category, and the space allocated on board needs to accommodate it.
DOCUMENTS
What documents do you need to take?
Brittany Ferries requires all passengers to carry a valid passport. Your UK driving licence is also needed — GOV.UK confirms that a UK photocard driving licence is accepted for driving in France, and you do not need an International Driving Permit if you hold one. If you have a paper licence, or one issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP — check the GOV.UK guidance before travelling.
For the vehicle itself, carry your V5C log book. GOV.UK guidance states that if you are taking your vehicle to the EU for less than 12 months, you should carry your V5C (or a VE103 form if the vehicle is hired or leased). You do not need to carry a green card for insurance purposes — all UK vehicle insurance provides minimum third-party cover in the EU. However, check with your insurer whether your comprehensive cover extends to driving in France, as third-party cover alone may not be what you expect.
Keep all documents together in a folder that is easy to reach at check-in — you will need your booking reference and passports ready when you reach the vehicle embarkation booths.
WHAT TO CARRY
What to carry in the car for France
French law requires certain safety equipment to be carried in the vehicle. While the specifics can change and you should check current requirements before travelling, the following are generally required:
- UK sticker: GOV.UK requires a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle unless your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag. If your plate has a Euro symbol, a national flag, or no identifier, you need a UK sticker.
- Reflective jacket: French law requires the driver to keep a compliant reflective jacket within reach inside the vehicle (not in the boot), to put on before stepping out in a breakdown. Additional jackets for passengers are strongly recommended but not legally required.
- Warning triangle: To be placed behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
- Headlights: UK headlights dip to the left; in France you drive on the right. French law requires that you do not dazzle oncoming traffic — you can use beam deflectors, or adjust your headlights electronically if your vehicle allows (check your handbook).
Saint-Malo and Roscoff do not have low-emission zones, so a Crit'Air sticker is not needed for driving in or around either port. Rennes and Brest both have low-emission zones, but as of 2026 these only restrict vehicles that cannot obtain any Crit'Air sticker at all (broadly, cars registered before 1997). A normal UK car visiting Brittany is unlikely to be affected. If you plan to drive through other French cities on your way to or from the port — Paris, for example — check whether a Crit'Air sticker is needed. It can be ordered in advance from the official French government website.
Breathalysers are no longer legally required in France, though carrying one is still recommended by some motoring organisations. The legal requirements can change, so verify current rules before departure.
ARRIVING AT THE PORT
Arriving at the ferry port
Check-in: Brittany Ferries' published check-in times can vary by route and circumstances. Check the time shown on your booking confirmation and aim to arrive comfortably before it; passengers travelling with pets or requiring assistance may need to check in earlier.
These are minimums — arriving earlier gives you time to use the terminal facilities, grab a coffee, and avoid any stress from traffic delays on the approach to the port. Portsmouth and Plymouth are the main UK departure ports for Brittany, and both can experience congestion during peak sailing times.
If you have any special travel needs that may affect your journey — such as reduced mobility, travelling with an assistance dog, or carrying unusual items — Brittany Ferries asks that you contact them at least 48 hours before departure.
CHECK-IN
Checking in with your vehicle
Follow the signs to the Brittany Ferries vehicle embarkation check-in booths. Have your booking reference and all travel documents — valid passports for every passenger — ready before you reach the booth.
At check-in, your passports will be checked and returned to you along with a boarding card. This boarding card hangs from your interior rear-view mirror so that port staff can identify your vehicle as it moves through the lanes. The boarding card is printed with your cabin or seat number, and if you have booked a cabin it also serves as your cabin key.
After check-in, you will be directed into the car lane designated by staff, prior to the security check. If you wish to use the terminal facilities — such as the café or toilets — you may be able to leave your vehicle at this point, subject to time available. Listen out for any announcements asking passengers to return to their vehicles.
BOARDING
Boarding and the car deck
From the departure car lanes, you will be directed through security checks and onto the ship. You must remain with your vehicle during this phase. Port staff, directed by the ship's Loading Officer, will guide you on board — this is a skilled operation and the positioning of vehicles depends on their type and size, so be patient if your vehicle is not moving as fast as others.
Once parked, make sure your handbrake is properly applied and disable any car alarm — the movement of the ship can trigger sensitive alarms throughout the crossing. Motorcycles and bicycles will be secured with straps by a trained member of crew, and passengers travelling with bicycles will be asked to push their bike when on board and when directed to do so on the quayside.
Before you leave the car deck, take a note of the deck number and the nearest door or stairwell. The rows of vehicles look very similar after a long crossing, and finding your car again is easier if you have a reference point. A quick photo on your phone can help.
Be careful as you move towards the exits — other vehicles may still be boarding and there is limited space between the parked cars. Access to the public decks is via the lifts or stairways.
WHAT TO TAKE
What to take out of the car before the crossing
This is the step most first-timers get wrong: you are not permitted to return to the car deck during the sailing. Whatever you need for the crossing — whether it is a six-hour daytime crossing or an overnight sailing — must come with you when you leave the vehicle.
Pack a separate travel bag with the essentials you will need on board. For a daytime crossing this might include snacks, a phone charger, entertainment for children, and any medication. For an overnight sailing, take a small overnight bag with toiletries, a change of clothes, pyjamas, and anything you need for a comfortable night's sleep.
If you have booked a cabin, soap and towels are supplied. For overnight sailings without a cabin, there are public showers on board and Sleep Packs are available to purchase. Cabin keys are integrated into the boarding card, so keep it with you.
Take your passports, travel documents and valuables with you — do not leave them in the vehicle.
DURING THE CROSSING
During the crossing
The time on board is always UK time, even on crossings to France — departure times are quoted in local time, but the ship's clocks run on UK time. Each deck has detailed ship plans on the walls to help you locate your cabin, seat, or the restaurants and facilities.
There is an Information Desk on each ship, typically located on deck 6 or 7, with bilingual staff who can help with any queries. Ship guides with deck plans and facility information can be downloaded from the Brittany Ferries website before you travel.
Onboard facilities vary by ship but typically include restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, and lounges. Some vessels also have cinemas, playrooms for children, outdoor areas and swimming pools. The name of the ship you are sailing on will be shown on your travel documents, so you can check the specific facilities in advance.
WITH CHILDREN
Travelling with children
Ferry travel is generally more relaxed than flying for families with children — there is space to move around, no seatbelt signs, and no pressure to keep children seated for the entire journey. Most Brittany Ferries ships have indoor playrooms, outdoor deck areas, and some have cinemas or swimming pools.
Pack a small bag for each child with snacks, a drink, and entertainment — downloaded content is more reliable than the ship's WiFi, which can be patchy. If you are on an overnight sailing and have young children, a cabin makes the journey considerably easier than a reclining seat, particularly for bedtime routines.
If you are travelling with a baby, note that the ship's shop may stock basic baby supplies but should not be relied upon — bring what you need.
DISEMBARKATION
Returning to your vehicle and disembarking
If you have a cabin, Brittany Ferries asks that you leave it 30 minutes before arrival, ensuring you take all your belongings with you. On overnight sailings you will receive a wake-up call approximately 60 minutes before arrival.
An announcement will be made when you can return to your vehicle. The crew recommends waiting for the announcement in the large public areas rather than queuing in the stairwells. When you do return to the car deck, do not start your engine until instructed to do so by the crew, and carefully follow all directions given.
Disembarkation is the reverse of boarding — vehicles are directed off the ship by the crew, and the order depends on how the vehicle was loaded. Be patient: the first vehicles loaded are often the last off, and there is no way to rush the process.
DRIVING AWAY
Driving away from the French ferry port
Once you are off the ship and through the port area, you are driving in France. France is one hour ahead of the UK, so adjust your watch. If you have not already adjusted your headlights for driving on the right — whether with beam deflectors or via your vehicle's electronic setting — do so before you start driving in the dark, though if you are arriving on a daytime crossing this is less urgent.
French toll roads (péages) are common on the major routes away from the ports. Saint-Malo and Roscoff both have toll-free autoroute access for the initial part of the journey, but if you are heading further afield you will encounter péages. Have a credit card or contactless payment ready — most toll booths accept card payment, and some are entirely automatic.
Speed limits in France are clearly signposted and are enforced by both fixed cameras and mobile patrols. The general default speed limits are 130 km/h on motorways (reduced to 110 km/h in rain), 80 km/h on single-carriageway roads, and 50 km/h in built-up areas. Rural Breton roads can be narrow and winding, so drive to the conditions rather than the posted limit.
If you are arriving in Roscoff, the first fuel station on the route towards Morlaix is a practical stop if you need to top up. In Saint-Malo, fuel stations are available near the port but may close on Sundays — plan ahead if you are arriving late.
CHECKLIST
Practical checklist before you travel
- Booking: Correct vehicle type, dimensions declared, roof items and trailers specified.
- Documents: Passports for all passengers, UK driving licence, V5C log book, booking reference.
- Insurance: Confirm comprehensive cover extends to France; no green card required for third-party cover.
- Vehicle: UK sticker (if needed), reflective jacket, warning triangle, headlight adjustment for driving on the right.
- Overnight bag: Toiletries, change of clothes, medication, phone charger, entertainment for children.
- Arrival time: Check the check-in time shown on your booking confirmation and aim to arrive comfortably before it; passengers travelling with pets or requiring assistance may need to check in earlier.
- On board: Take everything you need — you cannot return to the car deck during the crossing.
- Disembarkation: Leave cabin 30 minutes before arrival; wait for the announcement before returning to the vehicle.