How to travel with Wightlink in your vehicle

When you buy your ticket, you’ll get a QR code in your confirmation email – make sure you have this ready when you arrive. You can either print it or access it on your smartphone with the Wightlink app.

Some of our ports have Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to speed up the checking in process, so please make sure you’ve entered the right number plate in your booking.

You’ll need to arrive between an hour and 30 minutes before your scheduled sailing time. Show your QR code to staff at the entrance to the port and they’ll direct you to a numbered car lane.

Pull up, switch off your engine and, if you fancy it, pick up a hot drink and a bite to eat from one of our port cafés.

We support anti-idling campaigns in our local areas such as Portsmouth City Council’s ‘Cough Cough, Engine Off’ campaign, so please keep your engine switched off until it’s time to board. A member of port staff will let you know when it’s your turn to board and you’ll be directed onto the ferry.

When you drive on, the crew will direct you to a parking space on deck – you may be asked to park on the lower or upper deck, or on a ‘mezzanine’ deck. A mezzanine deck boards from the lower deck as normal and then gets raised so more cars can then fit underneath.

Depending on which deck you are on, the crew may ask you to stay in your vehicle until it’s safe to get out. When it’s safe, head upstairs to the passenger lounges and get comfortable.

We work hard to run a reliable and punctual service but sometimes we can be delayed by circumstances beyond our control; this includes bad weather, low tides or giving way to other ships such as the Royal Navy or cross-channel ferries.

Unfortunately, mechanical, technical or other factors can occasionally cause disruption, too. We always do our best to minimise the inconvenience to you, but please bear with our staff as they try to resolve things.

If the service is cancelled or severely delayed, you could apply for compensation.

Our port staff will do their best to keep you up to date with changes to our service while you are waiting to travel. The best way to keep up to date is to download our app. Alternatively, you can follow our dedicated twitter feed, @wightlinktravel.

When making your booking, please ensure you give us the right contact details so we can get in touch with you if we need to.