Weight and size
What can board
One rule decides almost everything on this line: 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Below it, everything is carried. Above it, nothing is, at any price.
Since July 2021 the crossing has been limited to 3.5 tonnes. The number that matters is the gross vehicle weight on your registration document, not what the vehicle weighs loaded on the day. The check happens as you board, which means an over-weight vehicle is turned away after queueing.
| Vehicle | Carried | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Foot passenger | Yes | €6 |
| Bicycle | Yes | €3 |
| Motorcycle, scooter, quad | Yes | €15 |
| Car | Yes | €25 |
| Camper van under 3.5 t | Yes | €40 |
| Motorhome under 3.5 t | Yes | €40 |
| Car and caravan, combined under 3.5 t | Yes | By category |
| Motorhome over 3.5 t | No | – |
| Lorry | No | – |
| Coach | No | – |
Motorhomes, where the limit bites
A six metre van conversion or low-profile is almost always plated at 3.5 t and boards without discussion. A seven metre A-class, or a low-profile whose weight has been uprated to 4 t for extra payload, is refused. Two vehicles that look alike can be treated differently, and only the registration document settles it.
If you are over, you have two options. Around Bordeaux, 79 km and about 1 hr 15 min. Or the Royan to Le Verdon ferry further downstream, which carries lorries and coaches up to 4.45 m high and 4 m wide. That second option only makes sense if your route passes the estuary mouth anyway. Comparing the two lines.
Caravans and trailers
For a towed combination it is the total that counts. A 1.8 t saloon with a small 1.2 t caravan stays under. The same car with a twin-axle van often does not. Do the addition before you commit to the ramp rather than after.
Bicycles and two wheels
A bicycle costs €3 on top of the foot fare for the rider, so €9 for an adult with a bike. Motorcycles and quads pay €15, again with the rider charged separately. This is the only way across the estuary by bike short of the Bordeaux detour, which runs on roads that are no use to a cyclist.
Check before you join the queue
The weight check happens at boarding, after the wait. Being turned away costs you the whole sailing, and in winter the next one can be hours later. Reading the plate on your registration document takes ten seconds. See the timetable.
Questions about vehicles
Can a motorhome use the Blaye Lamarque ferry?
Yes, as long as it stays under 3.5 t gross vehicle weight. The fare is €40, driver charged on top. Above 3.5 t boarding is refused and you need Royan or the drive around Bordeaux.
Where do I find my vehicle's weight?
On the registration document, as gross vehicle weight or maximum authorised mass. That is the figure that counts, not what the vehicle actually weighs on the day. Many recent motorhomes are plated at exactly 3.5 t, which is fine, while longer models are often 4 t or more.
What about a caravan or a trailer?
The whole combination counts. A 1.8 t car with a 1.3 t caravan comes to 3.1 t and boards. The same car with a twin-axle caravan usually goes over the limit.
Are lorries and coaches allowed?
Not on this line. They are carried on Royan to Le Verdon, up to 4.45 m high and 4 m wide, and they can even reserve a crossing there.
Sources
Updated : September 2026