Renting a licence-free boat: what the law says
Without a licence, you may drive a boat whose engine does not exceed 4.5 kW (6 hp), electric included. With the basic equipment supplied by the rental company, you sail less than 2 nautical miles from a shelter, at 5 knots within the 300 m coastal strip. The renter signs a declaration that makes them the skipper: they are the one answerable for complying with the rules.
Which boat can you drive without a licence?
A boating licence becomes mandatory when the engine power exceeds 4.5 kilowatts, i.e. 6 horsepower (French Ministry for the Sea, decree 2007-1167). The power taken into account is the propeller shaft power, as declared by the engine manufacturer, and the rule applies to combustion and electric engines alike (Division 240). A more powerful electric boat therefore requires a licence, like any other.
How far can you go?
The distance depends on the equipment on board: basic equipment allows you to sail less than 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) from a shelter, coastal equipment up to 6 nautical miles (French Ministry for the Sea). A licence-free rental boat generally sets off with basic equipment: the zone set by the rental company, often narrower, is added to this limit by contract. Beach craft under 2.50 m may not go beyond 300 m.
The mandatory basic equipment
| Equipment | What Division 240 requires |
|---|---|
| Lifejackets | One per person, with a buoyancy of at least 50; 100 for a child of 30 kg or less. |
| Light | A waterproof light with at least 6 hours of battery life. |
| Fire extinguisher | One or more. |
| Bailing | Bailer, bucket or pump, if the boat is not self-draining. |
| Towing | A mooring point and a line. |
| Anchoring | An anchor line, except for small boats under 250 kg. |
| Kill cord | Attached to the helmsman whenever the engine is running, with a spare accessible on board. |
The rules on the water
- 5 knots (10 km/h) within the 300 m coastal strip, whether buoyed or not, except in designated channels (order 109/2024).
- At least 100 m from dive flags (French Ministry for the Sea).
- Towed ringo or water skiing: in daylight, beyond the 300 m, with a helmsman and an observer aged at least 16, and a boat able to take all the towed people on board.
- A designated skipper for each boat (French Ministry for the Sea); any other driver must be registered as an additional driver on the declaration.
What the rental company must do
Division 240 requires the rental company (article 240-3.02):
- to have the renter sign a prior declaration, to countersign it and to give them a copy;
- to attach the boat’s latest annual inspection report to the contract;
- to display at its premises a diagram of local conditions: buoyage, channel, prohibited zones, speed.
None of the texts consulted requires a verbal briefing: ask for one, and have the kill cord, the lifejackets and the authorised zone shown to you before you leave.
Alcohol and emergencies
Since the law of 18 August 2026, driving a vessel that requires a licence with 0.80 g/l of alcohol in the blood is a criminal offence, punishable by three years and a €9,000 fine, even without signs of drunkenness (Légifrance). The testing arrangements have yet to be specified by ordinance, and the text does not clearly state whether it covers licence-free boats: the only safe rule is not to drink when you are at the helm.
If something goes wrong: 196, free of charge, reaches the CROSS; at sea, VHF channel 16 (French Ministry for the Sea). What to do is set out in detail in the Safety without a licence guide.
Frequently asked questions
What engine power for a licence-free boat?
4.5 kW, i.e. 6 horsepower, at most, measured at the propeller shaft according to the manufacturer’s declaration. The rule also applies to electric engines.
How far can you go with a licence-free boat?
With basic equipment, less than 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) from a shelter. The rental company may set a smaller zone in the contract.
Is there a minimum age to rent a licence-free boat?
None of the texts consulted sets a minimum age for driving a boat of 6 hp or less; the rental company sets its own conditions, and the renter who signs is the skipper.
Official sources
- French Ministry for the Sea — the boating licence
- Decree 2007-1167 — licence to drive leisure boats
- Division 240 — edition of 21 May 2026
- French Ministry for the Sea — safety equipment and operating limits
- French Ministry for the Sea — safety rules for water sports
- Prefectoral order 109/2024 — coastal strip
- Law of 18 August 2026 — alcohol at the helm
Sources consulted on 26 September 2026. This guide helps you prepare a trip; it replaces neither the texts in force, nor the rental company’s instructions, nor the day’s weather forecast.