boat licences and registrations
Before you launch your boat, you need to buy a licence (or registration). This allows you to cruise around and to keep your boat on the waterways.
Almost all of Britain's waterways are run by three main organisations, each of which issues its own licences and registrations.
- British Waterways runs almost all the canals, and rivers such as the Severn, Trent and Yorkshire Ouse.
- The Environment Agency runs the River Thames, the River Medway, and the rivers of East Anglia.
- The Broads Authority runs the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.
Just like a road tax disc, you will need to provide evidence that your boat meets safety standards (the Boat Safety Scheme) and has third-party insurance before being issued with a licence.
BW boat licences
You must not offer your boat for hire if it has a pleasure boat licence. There are strict safety rules for hire boats which are contained within the licence terms for leisure business boats. Please read this advice note first if you are considering hiring out your boat.
Choosing the right type of licence
news and reminders for boat licence holders
The current edition of the newsheet enclosed with boat licence and mooring permit renewals
pleasure boat licence
Download a pleasure boat licence if you wish to keep and use a boat on British Waterways navigations in England and Wales for pleasure or personal residential use. This licence covers periods of three, six and twelve months.
Pleasure boat (England & Wales) conditions
Pleasure boat (England & Wales) fees
Pleasure boat (England & Wales) application form
Download a short-term licence if you wish to cruise for one day, one week or one month on British Waterways' navigations in England and Wales. This is also suitable for boaters wishing to purchase a 'Thirty Day Explorer' licence.
Short term licences (England & Wales) fees & conditions
Short term licences (England & Wales) application form
Short term licences (England & Wales) boat condition declaration form
British Waterways moorings and continuous cruisers
You will be exempt from the licence requirement to have a home mooring providing that you travel extensively around the waterways, not staying in the same place for more than 14 days. Check our mooring guidance for continuous cruisers to see whether you qualify for this exemption.
BW mooring guidance for continuous cruisers
gold licence
Download a Gold Licence application form if you wish to spend time cruising on a combination of British Waterways and Environment Agency navigations.
Gold Licence information and application form 2008
scottish navigation licence
Download a Scottish Navigation Licence if you wish to use or keep a powered boat or sailing vessel on British Waterways' navigations in Scotland. This licence is valid for 12 months.
Scotland Private Pleasure Boat Long Term Licence and Moorings
Download a short term visitor licence if you wish to visit Scotland's waterways for a short period of time (up to three months)
Scotland Transit and Short Term Visitor Licences up to three months
business licences
Download a business licence if you have a boat which is not kept for purely private use. This includes boats operated by a local authority, social club, charity or time-share operator.
Business licences fees & conditions
Business licences fees
Business licences application form
historic boat discounts
Historic boat discount application form
Historic boat discount guidelines for applicants
other forms
Download this form to register a change in boat owner, a change in boat owner contact details, a change in boat name or a change in mooring location.
change of boat or owner details form
Download this form if you wish to set up a direct debit instruction to pay for your licence renewals.
online licence renewal
Do you already have a British Waterways boat licence? You can renew your licence online with Waterscape.com.
Licensing agents
If you need a licence in a hurry, you may find it easier to purchase from one of our local agents.
If you haven’t found what you were looking for on this page, please go to essential boating information on our useful downloads page
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