Hobart to the Spirit of Tasmania: Getting Your Car Ready

This guide is for Hobart drivers taking their own car to the mainland on the Spirit of Tasmania. It covers the electrical checks worth doing before the drive north, how to leave your car on the vehicle deck, and what to think about for the mainland leg and the trip back home.

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The trip starts with a drive north

For Hobart drivers, the ferry trip starts with a run of roughly three hours to Devonport, north up the Midland Highway and then west along the Bass Highway. The Spirit of Tasmania crosses Bass Strait between Devonport and Spirit of Tasmania Quay in Geelong, and a crossing typically takes around 9 to 11 hours.

The service is changing in late 2026. Two new ships, Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, are taking over the route from the older pair, using a new berth called Spirit Quay in East Devonport that opened in October 2026. Terminal locations, check-in times and vehicle conditions can change with a new fleet, so read the details on your own booking and on the Spirit of Tasmania website rather than relying on what you remember from an earlier trip.

What the ferry asks of you and your vehicle

Spirit of Tasmania publishes a pre-sailing checklist. At the time of writing, the points that matter most for your car were:

• Declare your vehicle's correct length and height when you book. They're checked at check-in, and anything roof-mounted, such as a bike rack or roof box, adds to the height.
• Turn off your car alarm before boarding, because the ship's movement can set it off.
• You can't go back to your vehicle during the crossing, so take a bag with everything you'll need, including medication and chargers.
• Gas bottles must be turned off, and loose bottles have to be declared at check-in.
• Only diesel may be carried in jerry cans, within set container limits. Petrol in jerry cans isn't allowed.
• Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure.

Test the battery before you leave Hobart

A long ferry trip puts the battery in an awkward spot. Your car sits switched off for the whole crossing, and when the crew calls your deck you need it to start first time while a line of vehicles waits behind you. A battery that's been getting by on short trips around town may not have the margin you think.

Have the battery load tested a week or two before you go, not the day before. A simple voltage reading doesn't tell you how a battery behaves under load. Our guide on how to test a car battery explains the difference. Check the terminals for corrosion and make sure the clamps are tight. If the battery is old and borderline, replacing it at home costs less stress than sorting it out in Geelong or on a mainland highway.

Accessories that run while the car is parked

Think about anything in the car that draws power with the ignition off. You won't be able to check on it for the whole crossing, so set it up before you lock the car:

• Dash cameras in parking mode: switch parking mode off for the trip, or make sure the hardwire kit has a low-voltage cut-off that works.
• Portable fridges: if a fridge runs off the vehicle, it should be on an auxiliary battery with a low-voltage cut-off, never straight off the starting battery overnight. Otherwise, pre-chill it and switch it off.
• Phone chargers and inverters: unplug them from the 12V sockets.
• Interior lights and boot lights: make sure everything is off and every door is fully shut.
• Keys: keep your key or fob with you, not in the car. You'll need it the moment your deck is called.

Lights for unfamiliar roads

Depending on your sailing, you may drive off the ship early in the morning or late in the evening and head straight onto busy Victorian roads you don't know. Walk around the car and check every light: low and high beam, indicators, brake lights, reverse lights and the number plate light. Our guide on why indicators flash fast helps if one side is blinking quicker than the other, which usually means a blown globe.

A car loaded for a holiday sits lower at the back, which tips the headlights up. That can dazzle oncoming drivers and shorten your view of the road. If your car has a headlight height adjuster, set it for the load. If not, load heavy items low and forward, and have the aim checked if the lights seem off.

Power on the move and a small roadside kit

On a long mainland drive you'll be leaning on navigation, phone charging and maybe a fridge. A 12V socket that cuts out or a charger that only works when you wiggle it is usually a loose socket or a blown fuse. Sort it out before you leave by checking the fuse with our guide on how to check and replace a fuse.

Pack a small kit so a minor fault doesn't wreck the trip:

• A jump starter pack, charged before you leave, or a set of jumper leads.
• Spare fuses in the ratings your car uses.
• Spare globes for any lights you can change yourself.
• Your roadside assistance details, if you have cover that applies interstate.

Coming home: clean car, careful washing

Tasmania has strict biosecurity rules for vehicles arriving from the mainland. Biosecurity Tasmania says vehicles must be fully cleaned, including the underside, wheels, wheel arches and floor mats, with no soil, mud, seeds or plant material. Vehicles that aren't clean can be directed for cleaning before they're allowed in. Read the current Biosecurity Tasmania requirements for vehicles before you head back, especially if you've been off the bitumen.

When you wash the underside, go easy around the electrics. A high-pressure jet held close can force water into plugs, wheel speed sensors, the alternator and the starter motor. Spray from a distance, keep the jet moving, and don't aim directly at connectors. If a warning light appears after a big wash, give the car time to dry out before assuming the worst.

Getting a check before you go

A pre-trip check by an auto electrician can cover battery testing, charging system output, lights and any accessory wiring in one visit. Book it a week or more before you sail, so there's time to order parts if something needs replacing. If you're in the northern suburbs, start with our Glenorchy or Bridgewater pages, which are both on your way to the Midland Highway.

Parts for this job

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Questions Hobart drivers ask

Do I need to disconnect my car battery on the Spirit of Tasmania?

At the time of writing, Spirit of Tasmania's pre-sailing checklist asks you to turn your car alarm off, but doesn't say you must disconnect the battery. Switch off accessories that draw power while parked, such as dash cameras in parking mode and fridges on the starting battery. Check the current pre-sailing information for your booking before you travel.

Can I run my car fridge during the Bass Strait crossing?

You can't access your vehicle during the crossing, so you can't check on it. Running a fridge straight off the starting battery for that long risks a flat battery when it's time to drive off. If you want it running, use an auxiliary battery with a low-voltage cut-off. Otherwise pre-chill the fridge and switch it off.

Can I take a jerry can of fuel on the Spirit of Tasmania?

At the time of writing, Spirit of Tasmania only allowed diesel in jerry cans, with limits on container size and type. Petrol in jerry cans wasn't allowed, and empty containers had to be clean and dry. Rules for fuel and gas bottles can change, so check the current dangerous goods and pre-sailing information before you pack.

How long is the drive from Hobart to the ferry at Devonport?

Allow roughly three hours, via the Midland Highway and the Bass Highway. Add time for fuel and rest stops, roadworks and winter weather, and remember that check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. With the new Spirit Quay berth in East Devonport, confirm the terminal address on your booking before you set off.

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