Vehicle regulations on ferries [Italy]

Have you decided to take a ferry in Italy and bring your car with you? Before booking your tickets, it's a good idea to be aware of the procedures, the regulations of the ferry companies and any limitations on the disembarkation and circulation of vehicles on some Italian islands.

On Ferryhopper, we created a guide with all the details:

• How to take your vehicle on a ferry
• Information on vehicle tickets
• Italian islands with prohibition of disembarkation and circulation of vehicles

Sunset on a ferry's car deck

What do I need to do to take my car on a ferry?

If you want to travel by ferry but don't want to give up your car, you should know that most ferries in Italy allow vehicles on board. As a result, you can safely board your car as long as you follow a few guidelines.

After choosing your preferred route from our Map of ferries, you can proceed with your ferry booking. All you need to do is enter the number of passengers and the type of vehicle you want to board.

Make sure to enter the correct information (model, brand and license plate) as you may be required to show the vehicle registration document at the port prior to boarding.

Can I take my campervan on ferries in Italy?

You are welcome to board with your own car, motorcycle, camper, caravan, or off-road vehicle at the majority of conventional Italian ferry companies.

If you want to take a road trip in Sardinia or Sicily with your camper, just select it when you book the trip. A large vehicle usually needs to have its length and width specified.

In this case, the overall dimnesions of the vehicle have to be included, so any protruding components (such as tow hooks, luggage racks, etc.) must also be taken into account. Keep in mind that each ferry company has its own set of restrictions.

Are there any special boarding procedures for motor vehicles?

You should be aware that you must get to the port of departure well in advance if you plan to take a car on the ferry. Depending on the season, the company, and the port's influx, it is usually best to arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour ahead of time.

Although the port staff is always available to provide instructions on how to board safely, the driver is in charge of boarding, parking and disembarking the vehicle. The driver must turn off the engine, shift into gear, pull the handbrake, and lock the car after parking it in the designated area.

It is important to remember that transporting flammable and dangerous materials inside vehicles is prohibited.

Important: if you own a liquid gas (LPG) or methane vehicle, you must declare it in your booking and report it at boarding.

Camper parked at a stunning panoramic point in Sardinia

What is the cost of boarding a vehicle on the ferry?

The cost of vehicle tickets varies depending on the type of vehicle you wish to travel in. Costs vary also depending on the route and ferry operator chosen.

Depending on availability, some Italian ferry companies, including Tirrenia, Moby and Grimaldi Lines, offer various discounts on vehicles. As a result, we recommend that you book your tickets well in advance in order to take advantage of the available special offers.

Here are some itineraries that are typically promoted at specific times of the year:

• Livorno - Olbia
• Genoa - Porto Torres
• Naples - Palermo
• Civitavecchia - Olbia

By choosing your preferred route on our search engine, you can see all of the available offers in real time. If they are provided, they will be automatically added to your reservation.

On which Italian islands am I not permitted to disembark and drive my vehicle?

At the start of the tourist season, restrictions on vehicle disembarkations and circulation are frequently implemented on some smaller islands in Italy.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Mobility frequently imposes bans on motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds on the islands of the Gulf of Naples, the Tremiti Islands, the Tuscan archipelago, and Sicily.

Consider that, depending on the island, there may be exceptions for certain types of vehicles and passengers. To learn more, we recommend visiting the official websites of the respective municipalities.

Here is more information on the 2022/2023 bans for vehicles based on the archipelago to which they belong:

Vehicle restrictions on the islands of the Gulf of Naples

On Capri, Ischia and Procida, there are various restrictions regarding vehicles:

• Motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds are not permitted in Capri from April 1 to November 3, 2022 and from December 19 to January 9, 2023. It should be noted that the ban extends to rental vehicles as well.
• From mid-April to the end of October, the circulation of motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds on Ischia is prohibited for residents of the Campania Region. Residents of other Italian or foreign municipalities, as well as the island's stable population, are excluded.
• Cars, motorcycles and mopeds are usually prohibited on Procida from April to the end of October, except for permanent residents. This year, the decree was extended until December 2022.

Vehicle restrictions on the Tremiti Islands

Cars and motorcycles are usually not permitted on the Tremiti Islands.

San Domino is the only island where vehicles can be disembarked with prior permission from the municipality, but only residents can request it.

Vehicle restrictions on the Tuscan Islands

Visitors to Giglio Island are typically prohibited from arriving in or moving around in vehicles during the month of August. Residents of Giglio are also subject to the prohibition.

If you are planning a trip to Giannutri, Capraia or Pianosa, you should be aware of the following:

• The ferry from Porto Santo Stefano to Giannutri carries only passengers and pets. Unauthorized motor vehicles are not permitted to disembark on the island.
• Cars and motorcycles can be taken on the ferries to Capraia, but in the summer, the municipality usually prohibits the circulation of motor vehicles for non-residents.
• Motor vehicles are not permitted to board the ferries to Pianosa. The island is also a protected reserve, so you can visit on foot only certain areas of the island.

Vehicle restrictions on the Aeolian Islands and Ustica

The Aeolian Islands do not allow the entry or movement of motor vehicles owned by visitors or non-permanent islanders between May and October.

Here are the restrictions for the 7 islands based on the 2022 calendar (including past dates):

• Lipari: from June 1 to September 30, 2022
• Salina: from June 15 to September 15, 2022 
• Stromboli: from May 1 to October 31, 2022
• Vulcano: from June 1 to September 30, 2022
• Alicudi: from June 1 to October 31, 2022
• Filicudi: from June 1 to September 30, 2022
• Panarea: from May 1 to October 31, 2022

However, on the island of Ustica in Sicily, the influx and circulation of motor vehicles belonging to non-permanent residents of the homonymous municipality is prohibited throughout the month of August.  

Vehicle restrictions on the Aegadian Islands

Favignana, the archipelago's main island, is the only one where you can generally disembark with your own vehicle. Despite this, except for permanent residents of the island, motor vehicle circulation is prohibited during the summer (June to September).

Only authorized activities are permitted to embark motor vehicles on ferries that operate connections to the islands of Marettimo and Levanzo.

Vehicle restrictions on the Pelagie Islands 

The Pelagie archipelago, located between the Italian and Tunisian coasts, is also Italy's southernmost. It is made up of two inhabited islands, Lampedusa and Linosa, but the restrictions apply only on motor vehicles to Linosa.

For non-permanent residents of the municipalities of Lampedusa and Linosa, the influx and circulation of motor vehicles on the island are usually prohibited from June to October.

Capri motorcycle tour with a view

Now that you have all of the information you need about vehicles on board in Italy, you can check all the available routes, compare prices and ferry companies, and book ferry tickets on Ferryhopper quickly and easily!