End of the rental of recreational boats without nautical qualifications

The Government has put an end to the rental of recreational boats without nautical qualifications. With the entry into force of Royal Decree 1188/2025 of 26 December, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), it will be mandatory to hold the corresponding licence in order to rent any recreational vessel, including small boats that were previously exempt.

From October 1st 2026, this new requirement will be fully enforceable throughout the national territory. A transitional period is established so that rental companies and users can adapt to the new regulations, after which non-compliance may be sanctioned in accordance with current maritime safety legislation.

The measure amends Royal Decree 875/2014, which regulated recreational boating licences, and removes the exception that allowed the operation of motor vessels of up to 5 metres in length and 15 HP without a licence when they were rented.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the change responds to the high number of incidents and accidents recorded on boats rented by people without nautical training, especially in tourist areas and during the summer season. The aim is to strengthen navigation safety and the protection of human life at sea.

As a result, anyone renting a vessel will be required to prove the appropriate nautical qualification depending on the characteristics of the boat, thereby aligning rental activities with the requirements already in place for other nautical activities. The regulation affects both charter companies and users, who must comply with the legal requirements before going to sea.

Likewise, the new regulatory framework seeks to provide greater legal certainty for the nautical sector by harmonising criteria and avoiding ambiguous interpretations that previously allowed rentals without prior training. It is a proportionate measure focused on prevention and the responsible use of recreational vessels.

With this reform, Spain takes a further step forward in the control and safety of recreational navigation and in the professionalisation of the sector, aligning itself with the maritime safety principles that govern the European Union as a whole.