On BC Ferries, any vehicle over 7 ft (2.13 m) high or more than 20 ft (6.10 m) long is treated as oversized, which covers almost every rental motorhome. You pay an over-height fare plus an extra charge for each foot over 20 ft, so book with your exact length. Reservations are strongly recommended on the main Vancouver to Vancouver Island routes and are mandatory from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay).
Here is how the fares, bookings and loading rules work for RVs, based on BC Ferries' own travel information.
How BC Ferries classifies your motorhome
| Category | Definition | What it means for an RV |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vehicle | Under 7 ft (2.13 m) high and less than 20 ft (6.10 m) long | Some low-roof campervans fit here; most motorhomes do not |
| Oversized (over-height or over-length) | Over 7 ft high or more than 20 ft long | Typical Class C and Class A rentals; affects fare and deck placement |
| Commercial weight class | Registered gross vehicle weight over 5,500 kg, or wider than 9 ft (2.74 m) | Rare for rentals, but check the largest Class A units |
Items on the roof can push a standard vehicle into the oversized category. BC Ferries also says loose or unsafely secured roof items will not be counted and must be removed before check-in, so secure bikes and boxes properly or carry them on a rear rack, and include the rack in your length.
Fares: height, length and fare types
The fare for a motorhome has two parts: the over-height vehicle fare and an extra-length charge. According to the Camping and RVing BC Coalition, there is no extra charge up to 20 ft, and an extra-length rate applies per foot beyond that. Passengers are charged separately.
BC Ferries sells several fare types on routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Its fare page lists:
- Saver: lowest prices on select sailings, paid in full in advance, not sold at the terminal.
- Prepaid: paid in advance at a set price, with low change and cancellation fees.
- Reservation Only: a booking fee now, vehicle fare paid at the terminal.
- At Terminal: pay on arrival and travel after booked customers, with possible sailing waits.
The prices BC Ferries advertises for these fare types are for a standard under-height car and driver, so they are not a guide to motorhome costs. Price your actual vehicle with the BC Ferries fare calculator, entering the real height and length, and check current rates before you budget.
Which routes need a reservation
| Route | Booking | Notes for RVs |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay) | Strongly recommended | If sold out, BC Ferries suggests Tsawwassen to Duke Point or quieter times |
| Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Nanaimo (Duke Point) | Bookable | Good alternative for central and north Vancouver Island |
| Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) | Required in this direction | All vehicles must book and pay in advance; drive-up fares are not available |
| Horseshoe Bay to Sunshine Coast (Langdale) | Bookable | Tide-affected terminals (see below) |
| Tsawwassen to the Southern Gulf Islands | Bookable | Waitlists and thru fares via Swartz Bay when direct sailings sell out |
| Central and North Coast, including Port Hardy to Prince Rupert | Strongly recommended in spring and summer | With a booking, arrive 120 minutes before departure |
| Smaller local routes | Often not bookable | First come, first served; the booking screen shows whether a route can be reserved |
On bookable routes, BC Ferries' vehicle travel page singles out holiday weekends, Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, and Sunday afternoons as the times to book ahead.
Booking with the right length
Get the overall length from your rental company, including the rear ladder, spare tire carrier and any bike rack, then round up. The Camping and RVing BC Coalition notes that if the reserved length differs by more than 5 ft (1.5 m) at check-in, the booking will not be honoured. Booking a shorter length to save money is a false economy.
- Book your rental first so you know the exact model.
- Choose your sailings around the pick-up time, leaving room for the depot orientation and a grocery stop.
- Enter the vehicle as over-height with its full length.
- Declare any dangerous goods in the booking (see below).
- Keep the booking reference handy; you need it or the phone number on the booking to check in.
On board: decks, tides and propane
- Deck placement: oversized vehicles may go on the main or upper deck depending on reservations and the mix of over-height traffic. Upper-deck placement cannot be guaranteed.
- Leaving the vehicle: under Transport Canada rules, passengers cannot stay in vehicles on an enclosed lower deck during the sailing. You can stay in your motorhome only if it is placed on the upper vehicle deck.
- Tides: at some smaller terminals, vehicles with long rear overhangs, such as RVs, may be asked to wait for a later sailing at extreme high or low tide. BC Ferries names Langdale, Horseshoe Bay and Campbell River as particularly affected, so check tide conditions if your sailing is tight.
- Propane and fuels: BC Ferries says gasoline and propane do not need dangerous goods paperwork if within the limits on its dangerous goods page, and some camping fuels such as butane are prohibited. Ask your rental company how to secure the motorhome's propane system for the crossing, and declare anything extra you carry.
- Check-in times: these vary by terminal. Miss the cut-off and your reservation is forfeited and you are placed on the next available sailing.
A sample plan for a Vancouver Island loop
For a loop from Vancouver, a pattern that works well is outbound Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay for Victoria, then a return from Duke Point or Departure Bay after driving up-island. Book both legs when you book the motorhome, choose a mid-morning sailing on pick-up day rather than the first one, and avoid Friday afternoon departures in July and August. If you pick up on the island instead, our Victoria pick-up guide covers Vancouver Island routes; leaving from the mainland depot is covered in picking up a motorhome in Vancouver.
Planning notes
Price the ferries for your real vehicle before comparing rental quotes, because two or three crossings in a large motorhome can make a noticeable difference to the trip budget. For how ferries fit into a longer western trip, see our Western Canada road trip itinerary. Far & Away Adventures can book the motorhome and ferry sailings together so the times and vehicle length match.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in my motorhome during the sailing?
Only if it is loaded on the upper vehicle deck. On enclosed lower decks, Transport Canada rules require passengers to leave their vehicles, and BC Ferries cannot guarantee upper-deck placement.
Does a campervan count as over-height?
It depends on the model. A van under 7 ft high and under 20 ft long is a standard vehicle, but high-roof vans and anything with a roof box or rooftop tent often exceed 7 ft. Measure with everything mounted.
What happens if I miss my booked sailing?
If you miss the terminal check-in time, BC Ferries forfeits the reservation and you travel on the next available sailing in order of arrival. On routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, Saver and Prepaid fares can be used on another sailing the same day on the same route, after booked customers. Bookings from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay are valid only for the sailing booked.
Use this guide for trip ideas, not a current quotation or a guarantee of access, safety, inclusions or availability. Confirm the requirements and conditions for your dates, destination and provider before booking.