Vehicle regulations on ferries in 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 restrictions on vehicle disembarkation and circulation

Sunset on a ferry's car deck

What do I need to do to take my car on an Italian 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 on 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?

Yes, 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 spend your vacation in Sardinia with your camper or try a road trip in Sicily, just select it when you book the trip. A large vehicle usually should 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 ferry routes 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.

Useful info: learn more about 2024 Sardinia ferry routes and available vehicle deals.

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 Pontine Islands, the Tuscan archipelago, and the islands close to 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 2024 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:

• Non-residents of the municipalities of Capri and Anacapri are normally not allowed to bring along and drive motor vehicles, motorcycles, or mopeds in Capri from the 1st of April to the end of December. There is still no official news for 2024.
• From April 29 to October 31, 2024, the circulation of motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds in Ischia is prohibited for residents of the Campania Region. Residents of other Italian or foreign municipalities, as well as the island's permanent residents, are excluded.
• Cars, motorcycles and mopeds are not allowed to cicrulate on Procida from March 23 to October 27, 2024. This restriction doesn't apply to permanent residents of the island.

Vehicle restrictions on the Tremiti Islands

From April 1 to October 31, 2024, cars, motorcycles and mopeds belonging to non-residents of the municipality are not allowed to land and circulate on the Tremiti Islands.

Vehicle restrictions on the Tuscan Islands

Visitors to Giglio Island are not allowed to bring along and drive vehicles between the 5th and the 25th of August. Residents of Giglio are also subject to the prohibition.

If you are planning a trip to Giannutri, Capraia or Pianosa, you should know that:

• The ferry from Porto Santo Stefano to Giannutri only carries passengers and pets. Unauthorized motor vehicles are not permitted to disembark on the island.
• Cars and motorcycles can be transported on ferries to Capraia. However, in summer, the circulation of motor vehicles is prohibited for non-residents by the municipality.
• Motor vehicles are not allowed on the ferries to Pianosa. The island is a protected reserve and partly a penal colony, so you can visit only certain areas of the island on foot.

Vehicle restrictions on the Pontine Islands

Although vehicles can be boarded on some conventional ferries to the Pontine Islands, there are restrictions on vehicle circulation during the summer:

• Usually, from June to September, a limited traffic zone (ZTL) for non-residents is applied in certain areas in the center of Ponza.
• During summer, it is also not possible to circulate or park in certain areas in the center of Ventotene town. However, some hotels on the island provide private taxis that transport guests between the port and the facilities.

Tip: to learn more about the current regulations, we recommend visiting the official websites of the respective municipalities.

Vehicle restrictions on the Aeolian Islands and Ustica

The Aeolian Islands do not allow the influx and circulation of motor vehicles belonging to non-residents between May and October.

Here is the vehicle restriction period for each of the 7 islands in 2024:

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

Note: from the 1st of June to the 30th of September, on the islands of Lipari, Vulcano and Filicudi the municipality allows cars and motorbikes belonging to non-residents if they have booked accommodation for at least 7 nights.

However, on the island of Ustica in Sicily, the influx and circulation of motor vehicles is prohibited throughout August, unless they belong to permanent residents of the homonymous municipality.  

Vehicle restrictions on the Aegadian Islands

Favignana, the archipelago's main island, is the only one where it is possible to disembark with your own vehicle. Despite this, except for permanent residents of the island, the circulation of motor vehicles is prohibited during summer (from 15 June to 30 September 2024).

Only authorized businesses are allowed to embark motor vehicles on ferries that serve 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 the southernmost in Italy. It consists of two inhabited islands, Lampedusa and Linosa. The vehicle transportation restrictions apply only in Linosa.

For non-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.

Lampedusa, on the other hand, has enacted a general ordinance in accordance with environmental regulations. This relates to the prohibition of Euro 0, Euro 1 and Euro 2 cars and commercial vehicles, as well as Euro 0 mopeds, on the island.

Capri motorcycle tour with a view

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