Insuring a boat without a licence
When you take out boat insurance, you will be asked whether you have a sailing licence. If you do not have a licence, this is not a problem. You do not need a licence for every boat. Whether you need a licence depends on the maximum speed and the length of your boat. Do you not need a navigation licence? Then you can simply insure your boat, even without a licence.
So when do you need a boating licence?
Whether you need a boat licence therefore depends on two factors:
- The maximum speed of your boat
- The length of your boat
Anyone can sail a sailing boat, rowing boat, pedal boat or canoe, provided it is under 7 metres. There is no age limit. For boats between 7 m and 15 m, the requirement is that the driver is at least 16 years old. For all boats longer than 15 metres, you will need a boat licence. In addition, the driver of the boat must be at least 18 years of age. The maximum speed of the boat is also taken into account. If a motorboat can sail faster than 20 km/h, it is a fast motorboat and you will need a navigation licence. A rubber dinghy with more than 5 HP can usually go faster than 20 km/h. Therefore, you will still need a sailing licence. Therefore you will still need a license. When insuring a boat, it doesn't matter if you don't have a boating licence, provided that you don't need one for your boat either.
Is boat insurance mandatory?
In the Netherlands, it is not compulsory to insure your boat. However, in some situations third-party boat insurance is compulsory. This is for example during competitions, in a marina, in a boat shed or on (part of) the water. With WA boat insurance you are insured for damage you cause to others with your boat. Are you going to sail your boat outside Dutch waters? Then it is important that you check what the rules are in the country where you sail. In some countries, boat insurance is legally required. For instance, this is often the case in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia.
Frequently asked questions about boat insurance
Do I need a licence for my boat?
You do not need a sailing licence for every boat. The following applies in the Netherlands: can the boat sail faster than 20 km/h or is the boat longer than 15 metres? Then you need a sailing licence. These rules differ per country.
Can I insure my boat with only Sailing Licence 1?
Certainly, when insuring a boat, it does not matter whether you have Sailing Licence 1, Sailing Licence 2 or no Sailing Licence. The number only indicates where you are allowed to sail. With Boating Licence 1 you may sail on rivers, canals and lakes. This sailing licence is suitable for (smaller) inland waters. Boating Licence 2 also allows you to sail on larger waters or coastal waters.
What do I need to consider when taking out boat insurance?
In general, there are a number of factors which determine the premium of a boat insurance. Every insurer has different policy conditions, so boat insurance may be cheaper with one insurer than with another. When comparing boat insurance, it is therefore important that, apart from the differences in premium, you also analyse the policy conditions. Read more.
Boat insurance without a licence? Calculate the premium immediately!
Even without a boating license, you can insure your boat on Alpina\.nl. The first step is to compare boat insurance. To do this, you enter some data, in our online comparison tool. These are some details about your boat, such as the type of vessel, engine power and fuel type. You will also be asked whether you have a boating license, what your desired sailing area is and how many claim-free years you have accumulated with your vessel. You will also of course choose the coverage for your insurance. Based on this information, the premiums are then calculated. Once you have found a boat insurance policy that suits your needs, you can take it out online immediately.
Calculate the premium of your boat insurance directly!
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