How to Pay for Sandbanks Ferry Crossings from July 2026: Everything Drivers Need to Know

Drivers using the Sandbanks Ferry between Sandbanks and Studland will see a major change to how they pay for crossings from 1 July 2026, as the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company introduces a new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) payment system.

The new technology is designed to improve traffic flow, reduce queues and make journeys across Poole Harbour quicker and more convenient for residents, commuters and visitors travelling between Bournemouth, Poole, Studland and Swanage.

What is changing?

From 1 July 2026, all vehicle and motorcycle crossings on the Sandbanks Ferry will be monitored using ANPR cameras, which will automatically read vehicle registration plates at Shell Bay.

Drivers will no longer need to stop at toll booths, use paper tickets, present a Sandbanks Ferry Toll Card or make card payments in person. Instead, all vehicle crossing payments will be made online.

Importantly, the cost of crossing the ferry remains unchanged.

By removing the need for vehicles to stop and pay, the company expects to significantly reduce congestion and waiting times, particularly on the Studland side during busy holiday periods and summer weekends.

How can drivers pay?

There will be three payment options available through the new online system:

1. Pay As You Go

2. Drivers can pay for a crossing without creating an account. Payments can be made up to 30 days before travel or until midnight on the day following the crossing.

3. Advance Tokens

Users can purchase return crossing tokens in advance. These remain valid for 30 days and do not require a specific travel date.

ANPR Account

Regular ferry users can create an account and pre-load it with tokens. Crossings are then deducted automatically each time the vehicle uses the ferry, with email reminders sent when the balance is running low.

Further guidance on setting up accounts and using the new system will be released ahead of the launch.

What happens to existing Toll Cards and paper tickets?

Current Sandbanks Ferry Toll Card (SFTC) accounts will stop operating at 11.15pm on 30 June 2026. Any remaining passes will need to be transferred to a new ANPR account once the system goes live.

Paper tickets will no longer be accepted from 1 July 2026. However, passengers can exchange unused paper tickets for digital tokens at the Ferry Office until 31 March 2027. These tokens can then be loaded onto a new ANPR account.

The payment website will be available before the launch date, allowing customers to familiarise themselves with the new system and set up accounts in advance.

Pedestrians and Cyclists Unaffected

The changes apply only to vehicles and motorcycles. Pedestrians and cyclists will continue to use the existing cashless payment arrangements for ferry crossings.

The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company says the move forms part of its ongoing investment in modernising services and improving the overall passenger experience, while ensuring the iconic Sandbanks Ferry remains fit for the future.

Staff will be available both on board and in the Ferry Office to help passengers with the transition and answer any questions about the new payment process.