You must follow safety regulations and check whether you need insurance if you own a boat.

You must then 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.

You may need to get a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate before you can register or buy a licence to use inland waterways - eg rivers and canals.

You don’t need a certificate if you have a privately owned ‘open boat’ - eg a canoe, paddleboard or rowboat.

Some other types of boat (eg those with outboard motors and no electrical systems) may also be exempt - check with the navigation authority that manages your chosen waterway.

All boats have to be tested every 4 years.

You’re responsible for maintaining your boat to BSS certificate standards between tests.

New boats

If your boat is new it should already meet the standards, so you won’t need to have it checked.

You may be asked to provide the certificate proving that your new boat meets the required standards when you register it.

You’ll need to get a BSS certificate after 4 years, and every 4 years after that, unless you’re exempt.

Penalty for not having a certificate

You’ll be given a penalty if you don’t get a certificate for your boat and aren’t exempt. The penalty will depend on which navigation authority manages the waterway you’re using.

If you own a commercial boat

You may need a BSS certificate if your boat carries less than 12 passengers - check the BSS guidance.

You’ll need a Passenger Certificate issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) if you’re carrying more than 12 passengers.

You should also check whether you need:

• any statutory certificates
• to meet any other requirements

You must follow international safety regulations if you’re using a boat at sea.

This means you must:

• plan your voyage
• carry a radar reflector
• carry an illustrated table of the recognised life-saving signals
• help other craft, if needed
• use distress signals properly

You could be prosecuted if you're involved in a boating accident and you haven't followed the regulations.

Read the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s ‘Life saving signals’ leaflet for more information.

Preventing collisions

The regulations on preventing collisions say that you must:

• fit navigation lights, shapes and sound-signalling devices on your boat
• stay a safe distance away from other boats, and diving boats flying the blue-and-white ‘Alpha’ flag
• be alert to other boats around you at all times

Read 'The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996' for more information.

Safety equipment

If your boat is more than 13.7 metres long, you must carry:

• lifejackets
• liferafts
• flares
• fire extinguishers

The specific details of what you need to carry depends on the size of your boat and how far you’re travelling away from the coast.

See the regulations applicable to ‘pleasure vessels’.

Preventing pollution

You mustn’t drop oil or rubbish into the sea. If your boat is more than 12 metres long you must also display a notice on board explaining how to get rid of rubbish properly.

For more information, read the regulations for preventing pollution from ships.

Getting rid of old or damaged flares

You must follow the rules for getting rid of of out-of-date or damaged flares.

It’s an offence to:

• put them in household rubbish, garden waste or public litter bins
• dump them at sea
• leave them anywhere a member of the public could find them
• set them off

You should contact any of the following:

• the place you bought them, if they offer a ‘take back’ scheme
• some marinas - a small charge may apply
• some liferaft service stations
• some council recycling centres

You may also be able to dispose of them at a maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC). You must book an appointment in advance.

If you own a commercial boat

If you own a small commercial boat you may also have to:

• meet certain operational standards
• have the boat surveyed

You should check what kind of insurance you need - it depends on how and where you use your boat.

If you’re using inland waterways

You’ll usually need to have ‘third party’ insurance for at least £1 million if you have a powered boat or a houseboat.

You may also need insurance for some types of unpowered boat - check with the navigation authority that manages the waterway you want to use.

You could be prosecuted or fined if you don't have the right insurance - the kind of penalty depends on your navigation authority.

The Canal and River Trust website has a list of insurance companies that provide boat insurance.

If you’re using a boat at sea

Check the MCA guidance if you own a small commercial boat - you may need statutory certificates.