A new fare structure for the Sandbanks Ferry, which operates between Studland and Sandbanks in Dorset, is to be fully implemented, with the toll for vehicles going up 16 percent, while pedestrians, bikers, and cyclists will see an 18 percent increase.
The price rises, set by a public inquiry, will take effect from Wednesday 1st April 2026, alongside a move by the Sandbanks Ferry company to stop accepting payment in cash.
The toll booth operators will no longer accept cash payments
Future rises in line with inflation
Following the outcome of the public inquiry which took place in January 2025, the government’s secretary of state for transport decided fares could go up higher than previously agreed and could then rise annually in line with inflation, rather than capped at three percent.
At the time of the decision in November 2025, the Sandbanks Ferry Company said it wouldn’t make any immediate changes but now the full force of the ruling will be implemented.
The tolls are to jump by up to 18 percent following the outcome of the 2025 public inquiry
Toll increases
- Pedestrians (free from Studland to Sandbanks) – Current toll: £1 / From 1st April 2026: £1.18
- Pedal or motorcycle – Current toll: £1 / From 1st April 2026: £1.18
- Cars and small vans – Current toll: £5.40 / From 1st April 2026: £6.26
- Coaches, buses and trucks – Current toll: £10.80 / From 1st April 2026: £12.52
These prices are allowed to rise every April in line with the previous January’s CPI inflation rate.
UK inflation was forecast to drop to around 2 percent, which is the government’s target rate, but since the conflict in the Middle East, oil and gas prices have risen and this could cause inflation to go up again.
The decision by the public inquiry to scrap the previously imposed 3 percent price cap and allow inflation linked price increases means ferry users are no longer protected from high inflation spikes but the ferry company is.
A discount when buying multiple passes or tickets can be got from the ferry office at Shell Bay in Studland
Discounts for bulk purchases
In better news for regular ferry users – mainly local residents – the discounts on bulk purchases of tickets will stay the same.
Drivers will be able to continue to purchase passes in multiples of 10 and 50 at a substantial discount. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists will be able to continue to purchase passes in multiples of 50 at a discount of 10 percent, and 100 at a discount of 32 percent.
The bulk purchases of passes and tickets are available from the ferry office at Shell Bay in Studland.
However, because the price of each crossing is increasing, the overall cost of the bulk purchases of tickets will go up.
Pedestrians and cyclists
- 50 tickets: Current cost £45 / From 1st April 2026 £53.10
- 100 tickets: Current cost £85 / From 1st April 2026 £100.30
Cars
- 10 passes: Current cost £38.88 / From 1st April 2026 £41.94
- 50 passes: Current cost £183.60 / From 1st April 2026 £198.13
Trucks, buses and coaches
- 10 passes: Current cost £77.76 / From 1st April 2026 £83.88
- 50 passes: Current cost £367.20 / From 1st April 2026 £396.26
The public inquiry took place over six days in January 2025 with one evening session at the Springfield Country Hotel in Stoborough
“Operational and cost efficiencies”
With the Sandbanks Ferry Company deciding to increase the tolls in full to the odd amounts, but possibly not wanting to receive lots of loose change, it has decided to stop accepting cash payments from Wednesday 1st April 2026.
Chair of the Sandbanks Ferry Company Mike Kean said:
“We greatly value the support from our customers and community, whose continued custom supports the long term future of the ferry crossing.
“We would also like to advise our customers that effective from 1st April 2026, the Sandbanks Ferry Company will be going fully cashless for all classes of toll, including pedestrians and cycles. From this date on, we will be unable to accept cash payment for any type of travel.
“The implementation of cashless operations is part of a wider movement across the company to create operational and cost efficiencies.”
The ferry company successfully argued at the public inquiry it needed more income in order to fund a replacement ferry in 2034, effectively meaning the current users of the ferry will have to pay the majority of the cost of a new ferry over the next eight years.
At the public inquiry, toll increases in excess of what was previously agreed were strongly opposed by a consortium of local councils comprising Dorset Council, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Studland Parish Council, Swanage Town Council and Corfe Castle Parish Council, along with many members of the general public.
Further information
- More on the Sandbanks Ferry website
