Ferry your car or fly and hire? See which costs less for your trip.
Enter your group and days to see if the Spirit with your own vehicle beats flying in and hiring.
Calculator
Compare the two trips
Ferry
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Fly and hire
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Add a flight fare and a daily hire rate to compare.
Time: the ferry adds two crossings of about 9 to 11 hours each, plus the drive to Geelong.
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The totals
What each total includes
- Ferry: two crossings for the vehicle and for every passenger. Infants under 3 travel free. Cabins and meals cost extra.
- Fly and hire: one return flight per traveller and the hire for every day in Tasmania.
- Left out of both: fuel, transfers, the drive to Geelong, excess and one-way fees.
- Campervan rate: filled from Tasmanian Campervan Hire's card when your dates match (checked 5 November 2026).
- Other companies: quote by date, so enter your own daily rate.
Hire cars
Planning to ship a mainland hire car?
Most hire companies need written approval for the crossing or don't allow it. Check which companies let you take the car on the Spirit before you book.
Hiring in Tasmania instead? Pick up a car in Devonport off the ferry, or in Hobart or Launceston. Want to sleep in it? Campervans across Tasmania.
FAQ
Ferry or fly FAQ
Is it cheaper to take your car on the Spirit of Tasmania or hire one in Tasmania?
It depends on how many of you travel and for how long.
The ferry is a fixed cost: two crossings for the car and every passenger. Hiring grows with every day.
Short trips usually favour flying and hiring; long trips and bigger groups favour the ferry.
Put your own quotes in the calculator to see where your trip lands.
How much does it cost to take a car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Spirit of Tasmania advertises vehicle fares from $49 each way for a standard-size car on selected sailings, plus passenger fares from $49 per adult and $25 per child (3 to 15), each way.
Fares change by sailing and demand (read 5 November 2026).
Your own quote from Spirit's Find a Fare is the number to use.
How long is the Spirit of Tasmania crossing?
About 9 to 11 hours between Geelong and Devonport, according to Spirit of Tasmania.
A return trip means two crossings, so count them in your holiday days.
Can I take a hire car from the mainland on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Only if the hire company allows it, and most don't without written approval.
Our table lists the rule of 16 brands with the source.
Sources
Where the numbers come from
- Spirit of Tasmania, read : adult fares, child fares, vehicle fares, fare structure and crossing time.
- Tasmanian Campervan Hire: tascamper.com/rates, checked .
- Flights and car hire: no fixed published price, so the calculator uses yours.