How do I get my boat licence in NSW?

Do I need a boat licence in NSW?

No. But there’s a catch; if you plan on driving a recreational boat at a speed of more than 10 knots, you will need what is called a general boat licence.

The NSW Government issues boaters with a physical licence that looks a lot like a driver’s licence but is coloured blue rather than yellow. You must always carry your licence with you out on the water.

NSW general boating licence holders can download a digital copy of their licence to their smartphone via the Service NSW app so they don’t necessarily need to carry a physical copy.

What does my boat licence let me do?

Once you have your boat licence you can drive any boat as long as it is registered as a recreational boat and is used recreationally. You can’t do things such as charge people to jump onboard – but asking them to chip in for fuel is okay – and you can’t catch fish and sell them to someone else.

Under NSW licencing laws, someone who does not hold a general boating licence can drive your boat as long as they do not go faster than 10 knots, even when you are onboard and supervising them. 

How do I get my boat licence?

To qualify for a NSW boat licence, you first need to complete a minimum of three trips (if on a sailboat, you must be using the engine) with either an experienced skipper onboard, or as part of an accredited training course.

These trips need to be detailed in a logbook, and cover everything from engine maintenance to trip planning and ensuring you get rescued if things go wrong.

You then have to pass a general boat driving licence knowledge test made up of 50 multiple-choice questions, based on the NSW Boating Handbook.

How old do I need to be to get a boat licence?

In NSW, the minimum age to get a marine licence is 12. However, anyone aged under 16 cannot go faster than 20 knots unless they have someone on board aged 16 or over with a full licence, cannot go faster than 10 knots by themselves, nor can they compete in on-water competitions such as races or regattas.

Do I need to be able to drive a boat before I can get my licence?

Yes. Boats drive very differently from cars, so as we pointed out earlier NSW requires anyone wanting to apply for a general boating licence to keep a logbook of at least three trips they’ve made out on the water with an experienced skipper. 

How can I study for my boat licence?

You can prepare for the test by completing a practice test online.

How much does it cost to get a NSW marine licence?

Finding an experienced skipper to help you complete the logbook requirements is the cheapest way to jump the first hurdle. If you can’t find a skipper, there are a number of accredited courses you can take that will cost around $300.

Once you have met the logbook requirements, you have 12 months to sit the multiple-choice question test. To sit the test, book one via the Service NSW website and pay the $37 administration fee.

Once you pass, you can choose to get a general boating licence that will last from one year ($65, or $33 if you are aged less than 16 years) to 10 years ($488, or $244 if you are aged less than 16 years).

What happens if I forget to renew my boat licence?

If you let your general boating licence lapse you’ll need to re-sit the test to renew it.

Can I ride a jet ski with my marine licence?

No. You need to do a separate multiple-choice exam to gain a personal watercraft endorsement for your general boating licence. A jet ski licence endorsement in NSW costs more than twice as much as a general boating licence.

I have a sailboat; do I need a licence?

If your sailboat is powered only using the wind, in theory, you don’t need a marine licence. However, if it has an outboard or inboard engine or electric motor capable of pushing it along at more than 10 knots, you will.