Only two of the three Isle of Wight ferry operators carry vehicles: Wightlink and Red Funnel. Hovertravel's hovercraft is foot passengers only, so if you're bringing a car, your choice is really between these two. The prices between them vary more than foot-passenger fares do, and the difference often comes down to when you travel rather than which operator you pick.
This guide covers the two vehicle routes, what actually drives the price up or down, and the costs people often forget to budget for.
Key Takeaways
- Wightlink's car day return starts from around £40.50 per leg on the Portsmouth–Fishbourne route, but Red Funnel's vehicle pricing varies by date, time, and demand rather than a fixed rate.
- In an August 2026 comparison, Red Funnel was cheaper than Wightlink on both a Saturday and a Sunday booking for the same trip type — but the gap ranged from £20 to £40 depending on the day.
- Red Funnel is currently offering 20% off car ferry travel for journeys up to 31 December 2026, if booked by 31 July 2026.
The Two Car Ferry Routes
Wightlink: Portsmouth to Fishbourne — a 45-minute crossing, running around 21 times a day (Wightlink, retrieved 2026-07-03). Fishbourne sits just east of Newport, making this route convenient if your destination is central or eastern parts of the island.
Red Funnel: Southampton to East Cowes — a 1-hour crossing, running around 19 times a day. East Cowes suits Newport, Cowes, and anywhere on the north of the island, and Southampton's rail links make this route practical if you're arriving by train before picking up a hire car, or dropping a car at the port.
Wightlink also runs a second, quieter vehicle route from Lymington to Yarmouth, on the western side of the island — worth checking if you're coming from the New Forest rather than Portsmouth.
What Actually Drives the Price
In 2026, the single biggest factor in car ferry pricing isn't the operator — it's the date and time you travel. Wightlink's own day-return fare starts from about £40.50 per leg, but that's a starting price, not a fixed one; both operators price car crossings dynamically, similar to how airlines price seats.
An August 2026 price check illustrates how much this swings: a Saturday-to-Saturday lunchtime return cost £307 with Wightlink versus £286 with Red Funnel — a £21 gap. But for a Sunday-to-Sunday booking of the same length, the gap widened to £40 (£269 Wightlink vs £229 Red Funnel). Same route, same duration, same season — the only thing that changed was the day of the week, and the price moved by nearly double.
Saturday is the most expensive day to travel by a clear margin, because most island self-catering cottages run Saturday changeovers. That concentrates both arriving and departing car traffic onto the same day, and both operators price accordingly.
Booking Tips That Actually Save Money
Avoid Saturday if you can. If your accommodation allows a Friday or Sunday changeover instead, you'll likely save £40 or more on the ferry alone, based on the comparison above.
Book outside the 10am–4pm window where possible. Both operators price midday crossings higher than early morning or evening sailings on the same day.
Get quotes from both operators before committing. Because pricing swings by day and demand rather than following a simple rate card, there's no reliable rule for which operator is cheaper on any given date — checking both takes a few minutes and can save a meaningful amount.
Ask your accommodation about bundled ferry deals. Many island campsites, holiday parks, and B&Bs negotiate block rates directly with the ferry operators and pass the saving on as part of a package price — this is frequently cheaper than booking the crossing separately, even after accounting for the accommodation cost.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Excess vehicle length or height. Standard car fares assume typical car dimensions. Larger vehicles, roof boxes, or anything towed (trailers, small boats) can incur an additional charge — check your vehicle's dimensions against the operator's standard limits before booking.
Date change fees. If your plans shift, both operators allow you to change your booked sailing, but usually for a fee plus any fare difference if the new sailing costs more.
Peak season premiums. July and August carry the highest base prices of the year on both routes, on top of the day-of-week effect described above. If your travel dates are flexible at all, shoulder-season crossings (May, June, September) are consistently cheaper.
Current Discounts for Car Ferry Travel (2026)
Red Funnel is offering 20% off car ferry and Red Jet foot passenger travel for journeys up to 31 December 2026, provided you book by 31 July 2026 (Red Funnel, retrieved 2026-07-03). Wightlink has 10% off ferry travel for bookings made and travelled before 27 March 2027, excluding bank holidays and Isle of Wight Festival weekend, and offers up to 40% off motorhome crossings at off-peak times.
For a full three-operator price comparison including foot-passenger fares, see our cheapest Isle of Wight ferry guide. If you're deciding specifically between Wightlink and Red Funnel for your car, our Wightlink vs Red Funnel comparison goes deeper on route-by-route pricing.
If You're Moving to the Island or Buying a Car There
If you're bringing a car over permanently — whether relocating to the island or buying a car on the mainland to bring back — the ferry cost is a one-off, not a recurring expense, so it's worth weighing against the wider cost of the move. See our guide to buying a car on the mainland and bringing it to the Isle of Wight for the full logistics, or browse local island cars on WightWheels to avoid the crossing altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ferry is cheapest for taking a car to the Isle of Wight?
It depends on your travel date more than the operator. In an August 2026 comparison, Red Funnel was cheaper than Wightlink on both a Saturday and a Sunday booking, but the gap ranged from £21 to £40 depending on the day. Always get quotes from both operators for your specific dates rather than assuming one is consistently cheaper.
Can Hovertravel take my car to the Isle of Wight?
No. Hovertravel's hovercraft service between Southsea and Ryde is foot passengers only — there's no vehicle deck. If you need to bring a car, your only options are Wightlink (Portsmouth–Fishbourne or Lymington–Yarmouth) or Red Funnel (Southampton–East Cowes).
What's the cheapest day to take a car ferry to the Isle of Wight?
Sunday is typically cheaper than Saturday by a wide margin, because Saturday is the standard changeover day for island holiday cottages, which concentrates demand. Midweek crossings and travel outside the 10am–4pm peak window also tend to cost less than weekend, midday sailings.
Do I need to book a specific sailing time for a car ferry?
Yes. Both Wightlink and Red Funnel require you to select a specific sailing when booking a vehicle crossing — there's no "any sailing" open ticket for cars. Both allow date or time changes for a fee if your plans shift, plus any fare difference if the new sailing costs more.
Related: Cheapest Isle of Wight ferry (all 3 operators) · Wightlink vs Red Funnel: which is cheapest? · Buying a car on the mainland to bring over
