I’m off to France in July for a family holiday and want to take a bike. We’re driving and there is a 1.85m height restriction on the car for the ferry trip. If I tie the bike horizontal onto the roof bars with the pedals off and the bars detached and tucked in I can make the height. Is this a stupid idea, should I cover the bike in a tarpaulin, or just bite the bullet pay the extra for a tall vehicle and use by proper bike carrier.

How much extra is the tall vehicle surcharge?
Can you not lie the bike down just for the ferry crossing, ie drop it whilst queuing to board and put it back on the carrier once you have disembarked (or is that your plan already)?

That wasn’t my plan, but now you come to mention it…

Didn’t think there was any extra surcharge for over 1.85m…well, thats or experience on Eurotunnel & P&O ferry

Would it not fit in a roof box if you need to lie it down anyway? Extra storage then too.

can you not just push the bike on separately – is that less than the surcharge?

failing that let your tyres down [ car not bike]
say you will put it in the car once on the ferry ?
etc