GOV.UK
Owning a boat
1. Overview
You must follow safety regulations and check whether you need insurance if you own a boat.
You must register your boat if you want to use it on inland waterways, eg rivers and canals.
Boat safety requirements
There are different safety requirements depending on whether you use your boat:
- on inland waterways
- at sea
- for private or commercial purposes
Insurance
You may need to get insurance before you can register and use your boat.
Register your boat
You can apply for a boat licence or registration once you’ve met the relevant safety and insurance requirements.