BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries (WSF) both run car ferries, but they treat bookings very differently. On BC Ferries' main routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, 70 to 90% of the car deck can be booked and a car with driver costs $49 to $130 in Canadian dollars depending on the fare type you choose. WSF takes vehicle reservations on only two of its routes, charges nothing to make one and bills you only if you fail to show; everywhere else it is first come, first served.
Which routes can you book?
BC Ferries' fares page lists which of its routes are bookable. Across the two systems, the pattern is roughly this:
| BC Ferries | Washington State Ferries | |
|---|---|---|
| Routes that take vehicle bookings | Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen–Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay–Langdale, Tsawwassen–Southern Gulf Islands, Powell River–Comox and the northern routes | Only two: Port Townsend–Coupeville, and Anacortes to the San Juan Islands |
| Share of the deck you can book | 70–90% on the Vancouver Island routes, 65–70% to Langdale, all of it on four long or infrequent routes | San Juans: 90% in three releases, 10% held back; Port Townsend: 80% released two months ahead |
| Walk-on bookings | Possible on the main Vancouver Island routes at no extra cost, about 50 per sailing | Not offered; walk-on passengers never need one |
| Routes with no bookings at all | Short island runs such as Horseshoe Bay–Bowen Island and Swartz Bay–Salt Spring Island | Every route other than the two above, including Seattle–Bainbridge and Edmonds–Kingston |
One BC Ferries direction breaks the pattern: since 15 October 2025, drivers leaving Horseshoe Bay for Departure Bay can only travel with a prepaid booking.
How much does it cost to book?
On BC Ferries, the booking is built into the fare. For a standard car and driver between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, BC Ferries' fare page offers a Saver fare of $49 to $99 on selected sailings, a Prepaid fare of $110, or a "Reservation Only" option at $130, which is a $20 booking fee plus the $110 terminal price. Turning up without a booking also costs $110. Cancelling a Saver costs $5 up to four days before and $20 after that; a Prepaid booking costs $5 to cancel until the night before and $15 on the day.
WSF's reservations page says a vehicle reservation costs nothing and is not a ticket, so you still buy one when you arrive. The catch is the no-show fee, which the state tariff limits to between 25 and 100% of a one-way standard vehicle fare. To avoid it, change or cancel before 5 pm Pacific time on the day before you travel; within two hours of the sailing, no changes can be made.
How are fares charged?
| BC Ferries | WSF | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Each way is paid separately on the main routes; some short island routes charge once for the round trip | Walk-on tickets are round trip on most routes; on the San Juan route fares are only taken on westbound trips, mostly at Anacortes |
| Adult on foot | $21 each way, Vancouver–Victoria (CAD, June 2026 fares) | $18, collected at Anacortes, covering the return (San Juan route) |
| Children | Under 5 free; 5 to 11 half fare | 18 and under free on every route |
| Seniors | BC residents 65 and over ride free Monday to Thursday on selected routes, holidays excepted | Half fare at 65, bought in person with proof of age |
| Riders with a disability | 50% off passenger fares for BC residents with an Accessible Fare Identification or CNIB card | 50% off passenger fares with ID showing eligibility |
| Surcharges | 5% fuel surcharge added at payment | 35% on vehicles from 1 May to 30 September; 3% on card payments |
When do you have to check in?
BC Ferries sets a window rather than a single deadline. At Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, travellers holding a booking check in between 60 and 30 minutes before departure; outside that window, the booking lapses and you board in order of arrival. Without a booking, drivers can buy a ticket until 5 minutes before departure and walk-on passengers until 10 minutes before. Booked vehicles bound for the Southern Gulf Islands have an earlier cut-off, 40 minutes out, and on the northern routes BC Ferries asks booked travellers to arrive two hours ahead.
At WSF, San Juan Islands reservation holders are told to arrive 45 to 60 minutes early and to be checked in by 30 minutes before sailing, after which they drop to standby. On Port Townsend–Coupeville the advice is 30 to 45 minutes. For walk-on passengers the only advice WSF gives is to be aboard at least five minutes before the boat leaves.
What happens if a sailing is cancelled?
BC Ferries says it tries to move booked travellers to a later sailing that day at no charge; if it cannot, the booking is cancelled and fares and booking fees go back to the card used, with no action needed from you. The state rules governing WSF reservations say customers are not charged for changes or cancellations caused by a service interruption, and a deposit is refunded when a reserved sailing is cancelled or badly delayed and the traveller cannot go that day. WSF sends route alerts by email or text if you sign up.
What is different on board?
- Staying in the car: WSF lets you leave your vehicle or remain in it. On BC Ferries, anyone parked on an enclosed lower vehicle deck must leave it during the crossing, while on Horseshoe Bay–Langdale you may stay on any deck.
- Pets: BC Ferries keeps animals other than service animals in your vehicle or a pet area. WSF allows leashed dogs in most passenger areas, with other pets in a carrier, but keeps them out of food service areas and the galley half of the cabin.
- Wi-Fi: WSF says it has no public Wi-Fi on its boats or at terminals, and BC Ferries' travel tips state there is none on its vessels either.
- Alcohol: BC Ferries prohibits drinking your own alcohol on its ships and at terminals. WSF's code of conduct limits drinking to designated areas.
Sources
- bcferries.com/routes-fares/ferry-fares
- bcferries.com/newfares
- bcferries.com/allocating-space-on-board
- bcferries.com/web_image/h90/h4b/9089486028830.pdf
- bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/daily/TSA-SWB
- bcferries.com/travel-boarding/terminal-directions-parking-food/vancouv…
- bcferries.com/travel-boarding/foot-passenger-check-in
- bcferries.com/travel-boarding/travel-tips
- bcferries.com/travel-policies
- bcferries.com/travel-boarding/travel-with-pets
- bcferries.com/accessibility
- bcferries.com/contact-us/helping-you-during-a-service-disruption
- secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/reservations/vehicle/Default.aspx
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx
- wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/tickets/ticket-information
- wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/fares/FaresDetail.aspx
- wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/rider-information/riders…
- wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/rider-information/first-…
- wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/rider-information/what-y…
- wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/ferries-terminals/ferrie…
- wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/WSF-PassengerCodeOfConduct.pdf
