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boat licences and registrations

Things to do boating on the canal

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.

Visit British Waterways’ boat licence pages.

British Waterways is steadily extending the availability of licence purchase by internet: existing customers can renew a long term licence online, and new customers can buy short term visitor licences online.

Buy a short term licence Renew your licence

British Waterways customers looking to buy or renew a licence should send a copy of their BSS certificate to:

British Waterways
Boat Licensing Team
PO Box 162
Leeds
LS9 1AX

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.

Other places to buy your boat licence