Over-height vehicles promotion

Q. What is the over-height vehicles promotion?

A. The over-height vehicles promotion will run from Monday, April 1 through Wednesday, October 16, 2024. During the promotion, if you are travelling with a standard over-height vehicle over 7 feet (2.13 m) in height, you can take advantage of over-height Saver fares from $59 on select sailings. 

When booking a Saver fare, each additional foot over 20 feet (6.10 m) in length will be discounted by up to 50%. The promotion is available on select sailings on the following two routes (either direction): 
 

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point) 

 

Q. What are the benefits of the promotion? 

A. The over-height vehicles promotion provides more savings and greater travel certainty to customers travelling in standard over-height vehicles. 
 

More savings 

• If you are travelling in a standard over-height vehicle over 7 feet (2.13 m) in height, such as an RV, you can take advantage of over-height Saver fares, available on select less busy sailings. Saver fares start at $59 one-way, including a free reservation (valued at $18). Saver fares must be fully prepaid in advance and are not available for purchase at drive-up terminal ticket booths.
• With the purchase of an over-height Saver fare, each additional foot over 20 feet (6.10 m) in length will be reduced from $7.25 to $3.63 per foot.

 

Greater travel certainty  

• Discounted fares on select sailings will help spread traffic out more evenly throughout the day, reducing sailing waits on our popular sailings. Plus, you can feel confident knowing when you will be sailing with your free reservation, included when you book a Saver fare. 
   

Added flexibility 

• Cancel your booking up to three days before for a full refund, less a $5 cancellation fee, or within three days up to one hour before departure for a refund of the fare, less a $20 cancellation fee. Unredeemed bookings will be refunded less a $20 fee. 

  

Q. What routes does the promotion apply to?

A. Over-height Saver fares and extra length savings are available on the following routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, for travel in either direction:  
 

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)

 

Q. What sailings will the over-height Saver fares be offered on? Will it be early morning and late evening sailings only?

A. Over-height Saver fares will be offered on less busy sailings that are not expected to sell out, including early morning and late evening sailings, mid-week sailings, as well as various Saturday and Sunday sailings. However, there will be a limited number of Saver fares available on these sailings.
 
If you do not see any Saver fares when you are selecting your sailing time online, that means there are none available on that sailing or they have already sold out.
 

Below is a guide of where to find Saver fares:

Note: not all sailing times are guaranteed. Saver fares are limited and may sell out.

 

ROUTE (direction specific)	Weekday Saver fares	Weekend Saver fares
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay)	Mon – Thurs: throughout the day  late evening sailings
Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen)	Mon – Thurs: throughout the day  late evening sailings
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Nanaimo (Duke Point)	Mon – Fri: early morning sailings late evening sailings	Sat: throughout the day  Sun: early morning sailings late evening sailings
Nanaimo (Duke Point) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen)	Mon – Fri: early morning sailings late evening sailings	Sat: throughout the day  Sun: early morning sailings late evening sailings

Q. Why aren’t over-height Saver fares and extra length discounts available on all routes?

A. This promotion aims to increase ridership and move traffic to less busy sailings on specific major routes between Vancouver and Vancouver Island where there is capacity available and advance bookings are available. Shifting traffic on these popular routes will reduce overall sailing waits and provide greater travel certainty for all customers. 
 

Q. I have flexibility with my travel dates. Can I view a Saver fare calendar to see availability by week or month?

A. The best way to view Saver fare availability is by exploring surrounding dates while you are in the booking process. At this time, our system is not set up to display Saver fare availability by month.

Saver fares will be offered on less busy sailings that are not expected to sell out, including early morning and late evening sailings, midday sailings during the week, as well as Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sailings. 
 

Q. How can I provide feedback?

A. Your feedback is important and helps us improve your online experience. Contact us here.

Q. How do I book an over-height Saver fare? Where does the extra length discount appear? 

A. You can book an over-height Saver fare online. After inputting your vehicle height and length, you will arrive on the sailing selection screen. Select "View fares" on the right side under the price to see all available fare choices for each sailing. If a Saver fare is available on that sailing, it will appear at the top of the list.

For vehicles over 20 feet (6.10 m) in length, the extra length savings of up to 50% off per additional foot will be automatically included in the total fare shown. 

Choose the fare you want to book using the "Select" button, then complete your booking and payment.

 

Q. Can I take advantage of the promotion without booking in advance? What if I want to pay in cash at the terminal?

A. Saver fares must be booked and paid for in advance, in full, and are not available for purchase at drive-up terminal ticket booths. If you would like to pay in cash, you can still pay for our existing At Terminal fare at the drive-up ticket booth when you arrive at the terminal. 

Subject to availability, you can book a Saver fare with cash at the Terminal Administration office at least two hours in advance of departure.

 

Q. Can I pay for a Saver fare with a gift certificate?

A. Gift certificates cannot be used to pay for Saver fares online. However, bookings and payment can be made with a gift certificate at the Terminal Administration office a minimum of two hours in advance of travel. 

Note: Bookings cannot be made at the vehicle or foot passenger ticket booths.

 

Q. I purchased an over-height Saver fare, but on the day of travel I arrived late and had to change sailings at the terminal. Why is the price different?

A. Saver fare pricing is only available on select sailings, subject to availability. If you arrived late and missed your sailing, you can use your Saver fare toward the purchase of an At Terminal fare by paying the difference in price. The regular per foot price will apply. Your fare must be put towards a different sailing on the same route, on the same day, for travel in the direction originally booked.

At Terminal fare conditions apply, so you will be boarded after reserved customers in the order you arrive on the next available sailing, where space is available.

 

Q. Can I take advantage of the promotion if I’m travelling on a thru fare? 

A. No, the promotion does not apply to thru fares.

 

Q. Is there a Seniors’ discount for Saver fares?

A. BC Seniors travel free on select routes Monday to Thursday. Seniors who book an over-height Saver fare from Monday to Thursday will only be charged for the cost of the vehicle.

If you are a BC senior travelling in an over-height vehicle over 20 feet in length, you can also take advantage of the extra length discount. 

 

Q. What vehicle types qualify for the over-height Saver fare and extra length discount?

A. Over-height Saver fares are available to customers travelling with a standard over-height vehicle, such as an RV or camper. Customers with over-height vehicles over 7 feet (2.13 m) in height can take advantage of the Saver fare discount for the first 20 feet (6.10 m), and the extra length discount (up to 50% off per additional foot) for any additional feet. Commercial vehicles, buses, tour operators and travel agents cannot book Saver fares.

 

Q. Are over-height Saver fares and extra length savings available for buses and commercial vehicles? 

A. The over-height vehicles promotion is specifically for standard over-height vehicles and recreational vehicles that are over 7 feet (2.13 m) in height. It is not applicable for bus or commercial travel.

 

Q. Is there an extra length discount available to under-height vehicles that are over 20 feet?

A. There is no extra length discount available for under-height vehicles under 7 feet (2.13 m) in height.

Standard under-height vehicles under 20 feet (6.10 m) in length and under 7 feet (2.13 m) in height can still take advantage of Saver fares starting from $49 on select sailings on all routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Q. If I book a Saver fare, can I change my sailing? What is the cut-off time for making a change?

A. You can change your sailing up to one hour before the scheduled departure time of your original booking for a $5 fee. If you change your Saver fare to a sailing where there are no Saver fares available or only more expensive Saver fares available, you will need to pay the difference in price. If there are no Saver fares available, you will no longer receive the extra length discount of 50% off per additional foot over 20 feet (6.10 m). 

Set up a BC Ferries account online to easily create and change bookings with ease. Bookings made online (as a guest or logged in customer) can be adjusted using the edit your booking link found in your booking confirmation email. 

If you’ve made a booking as a guest through the Customer Service Centre, you will need to contact the Customer Service Centre to modify your booking. If you have an account, you can log in to make any changes.

 

Q. Can I cancel a Saver fare booking?

A. Yes, you can cancel your booking up to three days before for a full refund, less a $5 cancellation fee, or within three days up to one hour before departure for a refund of the fare, less a $20 cancellation fee. Unredeemed bookings will be refunded less a $20 fee.

 

Q. What happens if I have fewer/more passengers than what was booked and paid for online?

A. If you check-in at the terminal with fewer passengers than you booked and paid for, and the booking has not been changed prior to check-in, the ticket agent will issue you a refund for the difference.

If you check-in at the terminal with more passengers than you booked and paid for, the ticket agent will charge you the additional passenger fare(s). 

Please update the number of passengers online or by contacting our Customer Service Centre up to one hour before your scheduled departure time.

 

Q. What happens if my vehicle is different from what was booked online?

A. To streamline terminal check-in, please update the length or type of your vehicle online in advance of checking in for your sailing. You can also do this by calling the Customer Service Centre up to one hour before your scheduled departure time. 

Subject to space availability, if you have booked a Saver Fare you can:

• Change the size of your vehicle and either pay or receive a refund for any price difference

View a full list of our booking cancellation and change policies

If you arrive at the terminal and your vehicle height is different than what you reserved online, your reservation will not be honoured. You will be boarded after reserved customers in the order you arrive on the next available sailing, based on space availability.

If your vehicle is longer than what you reserved, you will need to pay the difference in price. If your reserved vehicle length differs by more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) at check-in, your booking will not be honoured.