Is a boat license required to rent a boat?
Updated on: 26/05/2025To put it simply, here are the situations in which a boat license is not required:
- Any charter with a professional skipper or captain.
- If you are French and want to skipper a sailboat in France or in a French territory. In this case, you must have significant sailing experience on vessels comparable to the one you are renting.
- If you rent a motorboat that does not require a license, such as a river boat or a cruising houseboat.
Here are the cases where a boat license is required (coastal or offshore license for French nationals, or equivalent for customers of other nationalities, such as Yachtmaster, etc.):
- If you want to operate a motorboat (whether in France or abroad) with an engine power of more than 6 horsepower.
- If you want to skipper a sailboat abroad, in a country where a boat license is required (i.e., all countries outside of France).
If you recently obtained your license or plan to obtain it shortly before your departure, you will receive a document certifying that you passed your exam, allowing you to sail while awaiting receipt of the official document.
