Many rental contracts allow the car on a ferry only with the company’s written permission, sometimes for a fee.
- Without that permission, some terms say the car is not covered for any damage or loss, not just during the crossing.
- Even with permission, damage during the crossing can be your responsibility.
- Ask at pick-up, get the permission on the contract, and keep the ferry ticket.
A ferry to Corsica, a hop from Sicily to the Aeolian Islands, a crossing from Athens to Crete: island trips with a rental car are among the best holidays in Europe. But the ferry is also one of the places where a rental contract can quietly stop protecting you. Many contracts allow a ferry crossing only with written permission, and without it the car can lose all cover, not just on the ship. Here is what to check before you book the crossing, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Why rental companies care about ferries
For a rental company, a ferry adds risk: the car can be damaged while loading or during the crossing, it ends up far from the company's stations, and a breakdown on an island is expensive to fix. That is why many contracts have a specific clause about sea transport.
Two real examples, from the Greek terms of large companies:
| Terms | What they say about ferries |
|---|---|
| Hertz Greece (Autohellas) | Allowed only with prior written approval. The renter is liable for all damage to the car caused during the transfer. |
| Europcar Greece | Written authorisation at pick-up is mandatory, for a fee of 25 euros each way plus VAT and airport fees. Without it, the car is not covered for any damage or loss. |
Other companies and countries have other rules. Some allow ferries freely, some forbid them, and some allow only certain routes. The only way to know is to read your own contract. The terms check helps you find the right clause.
Three things that can go wrong
1. You cross without permission. Under terms like Europcar Greece's, the car is then not covered for any damage or loss. A scratch on the island, a break-in or a minor collision can then cost you the full repair, not just the excess.
2. Damage happens on board. Even with permission, some terms make you liable for damage during the transfer. Ramps and tight car decks are where bumpers and underbodies get scraped.
3. The ferry goes abroad. A ferry to another country is also a cross-border trip. Your Europe advises telling the rental company when you book if you plan to drive in several countries, so it can provide the correct documents, insurance and breakdown cover. Read driving a rental car to another country.
How to take a rental car on a ferry safely
- Ask before you book. If the island is part of the plan, check the ferry clause before you pay. Some companies only allow crossings for certain car classes.
- Get permission in writing at pick-up. Ask staff to note it on the rental agreement, and pay any fee the terms set. Keep a photo of that page.
- Photograph the car before boarding. A short walk-around video in the port, including the bumpers and the underside edges, shows the condition before the ramp.
- Keep the ferry ticket. It proves when and where the car crossed, and it helps if the company later questions the route or the date.
- Check the car after landing. If something happened on board, report it to the ferry crew before you drive off, and tell the rental company.
Already on the island without permission?
If you only discover the ferry clause after the crossing, do not panic, but do not ignore it either. Contact the rental company, explain where the car is, and ask whether it can still give permission and on what terms. Get the answer in writing. Some companies will agree for a fee, others will not. Until you know, drive carefully, park in safe places and keep photographing the car, because if something happens your position is weaker than usual. Bring the car back over the same route, and take a walk-around video on both sides of the return crossing.
Parts that are often excluded anyway
Ferry ramps, island roads and dirt tracks to beaches are hard on exactly the parts that standard cover often leaves out. ECC Netherlands notes that even with zero excess, you are often still liable for damage to the windscreen, the chassis and the tyres. The Greek terms above exclude the underside of the car, and in Europcar's case also the wheels, tyres and windscreens, from the basic waiver. Read why windscreen, tyres and underbody are often not covered.
If a claim follows
If the company links damage to the crossing, ask for its evidence: dated photos, the return report, the repair invoice and the clause it relies on. Your permission, ferry ticket and port photos are your answer. Our letter templates help you word the objection, and the guide on how to dispute a damage claim shows the full process. Renting in Greece? Read our guide to Greek rentals.
Frequently asked questions
Is a ferry crossing within the same country also a problem?
It can be. Ferry clauses usually apply to any sea crossing, not only to trips abroad. The Greek terms of Hertz and Europcar both require written permission for ferry transport, without limiting this to trips abroad.
Does my excess insurance cover damage on a ferry?
Check the policy wording. Some excess policies only pay if the rental contract was respected. If the rental company did not allow the crossing, the insurer may refuse too.
What if the desk says it is fine but the contract says no?
Ask staff to write the permission on the contract or send it by email. A verbal answer is hard to prove later, and the written terms are what the company will rely on in a claim.