For years, in almost any Spanish port you could rent a little 5-metre, 15 hp boat just by showing your ID and listening to a short briefing on the pontoon. That is over. From 1 October 2026, renting one requires a licence. Here is exactly what the law says.
What exactly changes on 1 October 2026?
Royal Decree 1188/2025 of 26 December (Spanish Official Gazette, 30 December 2025) amends article 10 of Royal Decree 875/2014, which regulates recreational boating licences. That article is the well-known licence-free exemption: motorboats up to 5 metres long and 15 hp, in daylight and within 2 miles.
The change limits that exemption to private and sporting use. When the boat is rented, whoever skippers it must hold the corresponding licence. The decree itself cites the high number of incidents and accidents in these rentals, and this part comes into force on 1 October 2026.
In practice: the same boat you rented with nothing in August can only be rented from October if you hold a licence, or if a skipper takes it out for you.
What if the boat is mine?
If it is yours (or a friend lends it to you, with no rental involved), nothing changes. You can still take out a motorboat up to 5 metres and 15 hp or a sailing boat up to 6 metres without a licence, always in daylight, within 2 miles and aged 18 or over. All the limits are in what you can take out without a licence.
Which licence do I need to rent?
It depends on the boat. For the typical “no licence” rental boat, the Navigation Licence is more than enough:
| Licence | Max. length | Range | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation Licence | 6 m | 2 miles, daylight | One-day course, no exam |
| PNB | 8 m | 5 miles | Official exam + practical |
| PER | 15 m | 12 miles | Official exam + practical |
The Navigation Licence is a Spanish licence, valid in Spain. If you only want to rent a boat for a swim or a trip to a cove close to the coast, it is the quickest and cheapest way to do it.
How to get the licence in time for your rental
Here is the detail almost nobody tells you: the licence is not handed over on the day of the course. It is processed afterwards. So “course in the morning, boat in the afternoon” does not work. What does work:
- Book a date on the Navigation Licence page. Group courses are in Spanish; in English it is a private session.
- Take the course: 2 hours of theory and 4 hours on board in Port Garraf. No exam.
- Medical certificate: a basic check you can do before or after the course; we give you a discount voucher for a local clinic.
- Get your licence: free collection at the office, MRW courier (+€12, about a week) or 72-hour express (+€27).
One tip: the Navigation Licence never expires. If you already know you want to rent next summer, get it in winter or spring, calmly and without last-minute rush.
No licence: rent with a skipper
If you do not want to get any licence, the legal alternative is to have a professional skipper take the boat out. Many rental companies offer this as an extra. And if what you want is a day at sea without worrying about anything, at Altair we run private sailing trips with a skipper from Port Garraf.
Do you run a boat rental company?
From 1 October, some of your customers will turn up at the pontoon without a licence and you will not be able to rent to them. Here is a solution: your customers get the Navigation Licence with us and come back to you licensed. We can set up course days around your dates and a code for your customers.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you rent a boat without a licence in Spain from October 2026?
No. Royal Decree 1188/2025 limits the licence-free exemption in article 10 of Royal Decree 875/2014 to private and sporting use: from 1 October 2026, anyone renting a motorboat up to 5 metres and 15 hp needs the corresponding licence. Before, being 18 or over was enough.
Can I still take out my own boat without a licence?
Yes. For private use you can still skipper a motorboat up to 5 metres and 15 hp (or a sailing boat up to 6 metres) without a licence, in daylight, within 2 miles of the port or beach you left from and aged 18 or over. The change only affects rentals.
What is the fastest licence that lets me rent?
The Spanish Navigation Licence (Licencia de Navegación): 6 hours in a single day (2 of theory, 4 on board), with no exam. At Escuela Náutica Altair in Port Garraf (Sitges) it costs 139 per person in a group and lets you skipper boats up to 6 metres, in daylight and within 2 miles of the coast. It is valid in Spain.
How long does the licence take to arrive?
It is not handed over on the day of the course: it is processed afterwards. You can collect it free of charge at the office when it is ready, have it sent by MRW courier (+€12, about a week) or choose the 72-hour express option (+€27). So get it before you book your rental.
Can foreigners get the Spanish Navigation Licence?
Yes. You need to be 16 or over (with parental consent if under 18), bring a valid passport or ID and have a basic medical certificate, for which we give you a discount voucher at a local clinic. Group courses are in Spanish; in English it is taught as a private session.
What is the fine for skippering without the required licence?
It is a serious offence under the Spanish Ports and Merchant Navy Act (article 307.2.h), with a fine of up to €180,000 under article 312.2.b, plus the possible detention of the boat.
For the fines in detail, see boating fines in Spain.