{"id":58011,"date":"2024-12-18T10:11:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T10:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/?p=58011"},"modified":"2026-05-13T13:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:00:13","slug":"do-i-need-a-license-to-rent-a-boat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/do-i-need-a-license-to-rent-a-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need a License to Rent a Boat in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201dDo I need a license to rent a boat?\u201d is one of the most frequently asked questions that we get here at Borrow A Boat. And we get it. Most people out there <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">don\u2019t<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have licenses but are still interested in booking a boat trip.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer to this question is: <\/span><b>No, you don\u2019t need a licence to rent a boat. As long as you\u2019re not the one doing the actual sailing<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, here\u2019s the long version: At Borrow A Boat, we offer holiday-goers two types of bookings: <strong>bareboat charters or captain-guided charters<\/strong>.<\/span> This is what it means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you book the first option, you\u2019re essentially <a href=\"#bareboat\">renting a boat without any crew or provisions<\/a>, and you or someone on your boat WILL need a licence. With this option, you can customise your itinerary, cook your own meals, and ultimately, be your own captain. If you\u2019re a sailing fanatic, it\u2019s the best way to practice your favorite hobby while on an uber-personalized trip with family or friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you book the second option, a boat with a <a href=\"#captain\">captain<\/a>, aka someone who can guide and sail your boat and is liable for the safety of everyone on board, will be provided to you at an extra charge. It\u2019s a stress-free way to enjoy your vacation. Maybe you will even take the opportunity to learn a thing or two about sailing while you\u2019re on board.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Do I need a license to rent a boat? &#8211; Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bareboat-option-rent-a-boat-with-a-boat-license\">Bareboat Option: Rent a Boat With a Boat License<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#boot-mit-skipper-in-kroatien-mieten-brauche-ich-trotzdem-einen-bootsfuhrerschein\">Captain (Skipper) Option: Rent a Boat Without a Licence<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#kann-ich-in-kroatien-ohne-bootsfuhrerschein-ein-boot-mieten\">Top Six Questions About Booking a Captain (Skipper) With Your Boat<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-do-i-need-a-captain-skipper\">1. Do I need a captain (skipper)?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-who-chooses-the-captain\">2. Who chooses the captain?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-will-my-captain-speak-english\">3. Will my captain speak English?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-are-the-captain-fees-included-with-the-yacht-charter\">4. Are the captain fees included with the yacht charter?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-where-does-the-captain-sleep\">5. Where does the captain sleep?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-am-i-responsible-for-feeding-the-captain\">6. Am I responsible for feeding the captain?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bootsfuhrerschein-in-kroatien-machen\">The answer to your question: Do I need a license to rent a boat?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman at helm of sailing yacht\" class=\"wp-image-57902 lazyload\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AdobeStock_322682222-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Do I need a license to rent a boat?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bareboat-option-rent-a-boat-with-a-boat-license\">Bareboat Option: Rent a Boat With a Boat License<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To rent a boat in most countries,&nbsp;you\u2019ll need a boat license that is recognized&nbsp;by the country you\u2019ll be sailing in. In Europe,&nbsp;for example, most licenses from abroad are accepted as long as&nbsp;they are deemed equivalent to the&nbsp;local&nbsp;license. To be on the safe side, you can always apply for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iytworld.com\/courses\/international-certificate-of-competency-icc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Certificate of Competence<\/a>&nbsp;(ICC) in your home country in addition to your local boat license.&nbsp;Accepted in many countries around the world, an ICC&nbsp;proves the holder has undergone formal training and has all the necessary boating skills to manage a vessel in open waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;that an open waters license is not commonly valid for inland waters&nbsp;and most countries require a separate inland water license. Whenever a boat has a radio&nbsp;installed, you will also need to have a radio license in order to operate it. The most common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boat-radio-licence-mmsi.com\/about-us.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">radio license is the VHF license<\/a>,&nbsp;also known as the Short Range Certificate (SRC). Other types of radio licenses, such as an aircraft radio license,&nbsp;might&nbsp;also&nbsp;be accepted,&nbsp;but&nbsp;this&nbsp;should be confirmed by the specific boat operator beforehand. In the end, it\u2019s the&nbsp;decision of the&nbsp;boat operator or the operator&#8217;s insurance provider&nbsp;to accept or decline a license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"boot-mit-skipper-in-kroatien-mieten-brauche-ich-trotzdem-einen-bootsfuhrerschein\">Captain (Skipper) Option: Rent a Boat Without a Licence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a license and still want to enjoy an incredible boat holiday, you can choose the&nbsp;option to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/croatia-yacht-charter-with-a-skipper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">book a yacht charter with a captain (skipper)<\/a> with your boat. Each of our 30,000 chartered yachts in our 500 destinations is available with a captain. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/sailing-with-a-skipper-what-a-skipper-does\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The captain (skipper)<\/a> is responsible for sailing and navigation, and additionally takes on the liability of the boat. They&#8217;re also knowledgeable on local hotspots and can offer advice on everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/the-top-routes-in-the-mediterranean-for-expert-sailors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sailing routes<\/a> to the best local cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re a curious traveler who wants to take away some sailing skills from their trip, the captains will give you the opportunity to get involved, including assisting them with raising the sails and dropping anchor. To be ahead of the curve, learn the basic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/the-borrow-a-boat-guide-to-sailing-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nautical terms<\/a> before you get on board. If you&#8217;re looking to relax, have no fear, they\u2019ll also give you space and privacy to enjoy the tranquillity the sea. It is, after all, <em>your <\/em>vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"652\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/captain_on_a_yacht-1024x652-1.jpg\" alt=\"Do I need a license to rent a boat?\" class=\"wp-image-58012 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/652;width:1065px;height:auto\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/captain_on_a_yacht-1024x652-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/captain_on_a_yacht-1024x652-1-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/captain_on_a_yacht-1024x652-1-768x489.jpg 768w\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Do I need a license to rent a boat?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kann-ich-in-kroatien-ohne-bootsfuhrerschein-ein-boot-mieten\"><strong>Top Six Questions About Booking a Captain (Skipper) With Your Boat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-do-i-need-a-captain-skipper\">1. Do I need a captain (skipper)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have to ask, you probably do. Even if you have some sailing skills, it\u2019s great to have a captain to take the lead. The captains don\u2019t just navigate. They are also responsible for the safety of the boat and passengers during the whole trip. It\u2019s a demanding job and they have to know the area well. So, if your goal is to take a relaxing vacation to totally escape, you\u2019ll probably want a captain to take care of everything boat-related. The captain can also be your local guide for the area. He or she knows where to anchor and which islands are worth a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-who-chooses-the-captain\">2. Who chooses the captain?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When making your reservation, let us know if you need a captain or not. If you do, the charters \u2013 who have great relationships with local captains \u2013 will suggest a captain for your booking. If you have any special requests or concerns, feel free to ask the charter after you&#8217;ve booked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-will-my-captain-speak-english\">3. Will my captain speak English?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, your captain will speak at least some basic English, as well as the local language. It\u2019s their job to be able to communicate with their guests and with the locals alike. If you\u2019re concerned, simply communicate your needs with the charter when booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-are-the-captain-fees-included-with-the-yacht-charter\">4. Are the captain fees included with the yacht charter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No. Captains work independently from the charters, so their fee is usually paid prior to boarding. Captain fees can vary depending on a number of factors. However, you can expect to pay around \u20ac150 per day. Trust us, the cost is worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-where-does-the-captain-sleep\">5. Where does the captain sleep?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most vessels have a small &#8221;crew&#8221; cabin where the captain sleeps. Keep in mind, if you book a boat where one is not included, you must designate one cabin in your boat for your captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-am-i-responsible-for-feeding-the-captain\">6. Am I responsible for feeding the captain?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, hiring a captain means considering one extra mouth to feed for the entire on-board duration of your trip. This means when buying food and (non-alcoholic) beverages for consumption on the boat, you\u2019ll have to consider the captain. You won&#8217;t need to pay for food or accommodations while on land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bootsfuhrerschein-in-kroatien-machen\"><strong>The answer to your question: Do I need a license to rent a boat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, the answer to the question &#8220;do I need a license to rent a boat?&#8221; is &#8220;not necessarily&#8221;. It all depends on the kind of vacation you would like to enjoy and the kind of adventures you would want to embark on. Now that you possess all the knowledge about sailing with or without a license, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of both and what special requirements you should consider when choosing to sail with a captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From sleek and spacious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/t\/motorboat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motorboats<\/a> to&nbsp;luxurious <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/t\/catamaran\/\" target=\"_blank\">catamarans<\/a>&nbsp;and classic <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/t\/sailboat\/\" target=\"_blank\">sailboats<\/a>, there are plenty of options to choose from (over 21,000 boats more specifically).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it&#8217;s your first time renting a boat&nbsp;and you&#8217;re still looking for more information, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/the-first-timer-sailing-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">first-timers sailing checklist<\/a> for an entire list of essential sailing considerations. In addition, if you are unsure of where to visit, read through our destination guides for inspiration from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201dDo I need a license to rent a boat?\u201d is one of the most frequently asked questions that we get here at Borrow A Boat. And we get it. Most people out there don\u2019t have licenses but are still interested in booking a boat trip.&nbsp; The short answer to this question is: No, you don\u2019t &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Do I Need a License to Rent a Boat in 2026?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/do-i-need-a-license-to-rent-a-boat\/#more-58011\" aria-label=\"More on Do I Need a License to Rent a Boat in 2026?\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":58682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1062,15],"tags":[1020,1022,1024],"class_list":["post-58011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-licensing","category-boats","tag-croatia","tag-license","tag-tips","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58011"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60247,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58011\/revisions\/60247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}