Brittany Ferries - Declaring your bike racks when booking ?

T64ME · May 15, 2017

We've booked direct with Brittany ferries to Santander later in the month and paid extra for taking a bike rack. Whilst the amount (£10) is small in the big picture - does everyone travelling with bike racks declare them - if not, do you get charged extra when checking in at the port ?

Many thanks

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Jabberwocky · May 15, 2017

Very generous. Thank you. :thumb

Martin · May 15, 2017

Thanks for adding this, I have moved this thread to the VIP room just incase it gets reported back to Brittany Ferries.

Martin · May 15, 2017

In regards to the bike rack, do you plan to have it in down position with bikes on?

T64ME · May 15, 2017

Martin said:
In regards to the bike rack, do you plan to have it in down position with bikes on?

The rack will be down and loaded with bikes. I hadn't considered the angle re rack and no bikes - logically if up with no bikes it wouldn't need to be declared......although logic doesn't seem to apply much these days!

ps: thank you for moving to the VIP room

Grey one · May 15, 2017

Martin said:
In regards to the bike rack, do you plan to have it in down position with bikes on?

Martin, if you do add to the answer to the original OP I would be interested in experiences with towbar mounted bike racks in particular. I am new to this and will be booking trips in near future and have often wondered the potential effect on price as the rack does of course increase the length of the vehicle.

Martin · May 15, 2017

We used to use BF quite a lot and several times we did not declare the bike rack, if they ever questioned it we would say we decided to bring the bikes at the last minute which was normally the case anyway. Worst that can happen is they will charge you on the day as I cant see an extra couple of feet will stop you from travelling.

However I hold no responsibility for anyone who gets stranded at Portsmouth if they get refused to go on the ship

T64ME · May 15, 2017

Martin said:
We used to use BF quite a lot and several times we did not declare the bike rack, if they every questioned it we would say we decided to bring the bikes at the last minute which was normally the case anyway. Worst that can happen is they will charge you on the day as I cant see an extra couple of feet will stop you from travelling.

However I hold no responsibility for anyone who gets stranded at Portsmouth if they get refused to go on the ship

Martin - Many thanks for the helpful view - risks are noted

WelshGas · May 15, 2017

Bike racks, either type, add to the height or length of the vehicle so can determine where the vehicle ends up on the ship. If not declared then this could have consequences on busy crossings.

Yorkie · May 22, 2018

T64ME said:
The rack will be down and loaded with bikes. I hadn't considered the angle re rack and no bikes - logically if up with no bikes it wouldn't need to be declared......although logic doesn't seem to apply much these days!

ps: thank you for moving to the VIP room

I phoned to check and they charged me £15. They were insisting that as it’s fitted I needed to tell them regardless of not using it. I told them I was well inside the maximum length but they were having none of it.
DFDS however, I travel as a car and never mention the rack. Twice so far this year.

owen_h · May 22, 2018

I'm booked on the Plymouth - Roscof route in July and did declare & pay for the bike rack. Also taking a kayak which overhangs the rear (but doesn't overhang the folded down bike rack ). Thought for the £10 I wouldn't chance it.
A few times I have been on the Eurotunnel with the bike rack the car behind me on the train has had its bonnet underneath my bike rack. (its a tailgate mounted one obviously).

PudnBob · May 22, 2018

We have just done the Poole Cherbourg trip and declared....there is a note somewhere saying if you don’t declare then they can charge and it was quite a lot I seem to remember

Cwtch_twt · May 22, 2018

owen_h said:
I'm booked on the Plymouth - Roscof route in July and did declare & pay for the bike rack. Also taking a kayak which overhangs the rear (but doesn't overhang the folded down bike rack ). Thought for the £10 I wouldn't chance it.
A few times I have been on the Eurotunnel with the bike rack the car behind me on the train has had its bonnet underneath my bike rack. (its a tailgate mounted one obviously).

Booked our Plymouth - Roscoff ferry in August through CAMC. Included the extra length and height added by the bike rack and bikes to my van dimensions.

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