Will Your Surfboard Fit? The Ultimate Car-to-Board Size Guide
What Surfboard Sizes Fit in What Cars? A UK-Focused Guide
Transporting surfboards can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a van or dedicated surf wagon. Whether you’re trying to shove a board inside your car or strap it up top, knowing what works for your model helps avoid dings, wax on the seats, or worse.
Below is a breakdown of considerations, followed by example car/make suggestions (UK market) and hoped-for board lengths. Use this as a guideline, not a guarantee, boards vary (thickness, curvature, fin setups) and modifications (folding seats, removing headrests) often make the difference.
Key Constraints & Tips
Before we jump into models, here are the factors that determine whether a board fits:
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Interior length & geometry: distance from boot (or tailgate) through cabin to the dash, as well as what angles you can insert (diagonally, offset, etc.).
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Seat flexibility: ability to fold down rear seats, recline front passenger seat, or remove headrests.
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Roof carrying: having roof bars, gutters, or using soft-rack systems.
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Overhang: how much board you can let overhang past the car (front or rear) without violating road laws or being unsafe.
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Board Length: longboards (9ft+) are harder internally; shorter boards (6–8ft) are more forgiving.
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Load rating & wind drag: Roof racks have weight limits, and long boards create drag.
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Legal / safety: Always secure boards tightly. Anything that obstructs driver view or sticks dangerously may be problematic.
- Wrap your surfboard: Always wrap surfboards in a board bag. Board bags protect your board when driving, loading and unloading, stop wax getting all over your car and minimise damp from wet surfboards.
We always suggest having soft roof racks (foam pads + straps) or traditional roof bars with protectors as part of your quiver.
Typical Board Sizes & What’s Likely to Fit
Here’s a rough guide:
| Board Length | Best Option | Likely Car Types / Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ~6'6″ (2.0 m) | Inside or roof | Small hatchbacks, compact cars | Many hatchbacks can take these internally with seats down or tilted |
| Up to ~8′ (2.4 m) | Mostly roof; maybe internal | Hatchbacks, estates, small SUVs | May fit internally if one front seat is reclined or removed |
| Up to ~9′ / 9′6″ | Roof almost always | Estates, large SUVs, MPVs, vans | Only a few cars can take these inside; overhang may be needed |
| Longboards (10′+) | Roof, van, truck | Full vans (Transit, Sprinter, etc.) | Rarely fit inside unless in a van or truck bed |
Example Makes & Models (UK) + What Boards Fit
Below are examples. Actual fit depends on trims, seat configuration, passengers etc.
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Volkswagen Golf / VW Golf Estate
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Shortboards (~6–7 ft): Often you can fit them internally by folding rear seats and angling the board forward.
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Mid-lengths (~8 ft): More likely roof mounting.
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Longboards (~9 ft): Roof only.
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Ford Focus (hatch / estate)
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Short to medium boards: possible with folded rear seats.
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~8 ft: roof.
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If it’s the estate variant, interior room is better for longer boards such as 8ft.
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Vauxhall Astra (hatch)
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Up to 8’ board possible with folded rear seats
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6–7’ boards are more comfortably internal, 8’+ is better on roof.
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Skoda Octavia Estate / Superb Estate
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These bigger estates tend to be good surf haulers.
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With rear seats down, you may push a board forward toward the dash.
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8–9 ft is more realistic inside interference.
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SUVs / Crossovers (e.g., Nissan Qashqai, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester)
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More height and vertical space helps.
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Short and mid-length boards may sit across folded rear seats.
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9 ft boards fit inside but likely better on the roof.
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MPVs / Minivans (e.g., Citroen Berlingo, Volkswagen Touran / Caddy Life)
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With front passenger seat folding flat, these are among the most flexible. Surfers often look at these when wanting both road usability and board-carrying.
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You might be able to “shoot through” a longboard from rear to dash in some layouts. Some VW Caddy models have an above the cab shelf which can hold the nose / tail of boards without causing interference.
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Vans (e.g., Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Transporter / California / camper vans)
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These are ideal for longboards and multiple boards.
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Many surfers carry multiple boards in these comfortably.
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Many van owners mount J-bars or side racks, or internal longitudinal storage.Storing surfboards internally on the roof is extremely popular and can help with surfboard security.
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Electric / Small hatchbacks (e.g., VW Polo, Mini Cooper)
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Roof is almost inevitable for medium to large boards.
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Internally, shorter boards only, however you can utilise the front passenger footwell by removing headrests etc.
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Practical Tips & Tricks
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Remove fins when trying to load interior — many boards stick because finboxes or fins catch.
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Remove headrests to give extra room for nose or tail insertion.
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Angle boards diagonally across footwells or between seats when interior loading.
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Use quality padding + tie-downs for roof transport.
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Watch overhang limits — in UK, excessive overhang may be problematic or unsafe.
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Test dry runs — before heading on a surf trip, test how the board goes in/out.
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Distribute weight — in multi-board loads, keep balance.
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Know your roof rack’s load limits (dynamic/static ratings).
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Mind wind drag & mpg — long overhangs and boards up high create drag.
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Secure loose straps — flapping straps are dangerous.
Key small-car specs & their implications
| Small Car Model | Internal / boot dimension(s) (seats folded / relevant) | Likely maximum surfboard length internally | Roof / overhang board possibilities & caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 108 | Boot floor length with back seats folded: ~1,075 mm (1.075 m) Boot width: ~1,010 mm at narrowest Boot opening height: ~820 mm |
Probably up to ~5′ (≈1.5 m) short or foam board, if angled, fins removed, front seat shifted. Anything more is very tight. | Roof mounting is almost a necessity for “normal” boards. The “TOP” version (fabric fold-back roof) may let you slide a long board through roof opening in some cases. Overhang will be significant; strong tie-downs and padding are essential. |
| Fiat 500 | With rear seats folded: ~1,169 mm (1.169 m) length Width between narrow interior points: ~1,018 mm Boot space up / down: ~185 L with seats up; ~474–550 L with seats down |
Likely up to ~5′ to ~5′6″ boards, especially if you recline / shift front seat and remove fins. A 6′ slim board might just squeeze diagonally depending on shape. | Roof is needed for anything over ~6 ft. You might carry up to 7-8 ft boards or more, but expect heavy overhang. Take care with rack strength, tie-downs, and wind drag. |
| Mini Cooper (e.g. 3-door / 5-door) | Likely up to ~5′ or so shortboard / foam boards internally, maybe 5′6″ in very favorable conditions (slim shape, angled loading). | Roof racks / soft racks required for “real” surfboards. Expect overhang. Use quality racks and straps. |
Advice for the smallest cars
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In ultra-compact cars like the 108 or Fiat 500, internal carry of anything longer than ~5–6 ft is pushing it. Most surfboards are going to end up on roof.
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Removing fins, reclining or shifting front passenger seats, removing headrests, and sliding boards in diagonally may squeeze a little extra length, but only for slender boards.
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For any board beyond what fits internally, plan for a good roof rack setup (foam pads, soft strap system or crossbars).
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Overhang becomes a major concern (tail or nose sticking out); check road laws, visibility, and ensure safety.
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If you frequently surf, many people in surf communities avoid ultra compacts for this very reason and lean toward hatchbacks / estates / small SUVs that give more internal flexibility.
We aim to make this a comprehensive guide, If we've not mentioned your car model, please let us know and we will add it to our blog.
