All you need to know about licensing your boat with us. Here are some questions we get asked regularly by boaters that can help point you in the right direction.
Is my licence a different price if I have a home mooring instead of continuously cruising?
From April 2024, boats without a home mooring will pay an additional fee on top of the standard licence fee. Please see the consultation report for details on the changes to boat licence pricing.
How can I pay for my licence?
You can pay using a debit card, credit card or direct debit, but please note that we do not accept American Express or PayPal.
If you're having difficulties paying for your licence and can't use a debit or credit card or can't set up a direct debit – for instance, when you're using Universal Credit or other benefits – please speak to your local Licence Support Officer.
Universal credit FAQ
I am applying for assistance with a current licence
If you have already licensed your boat and are applying for assistance, then you will be able to download a copy of the licence invoice from your online account if you paid for the licence in full here. If you pay by direct debit, then you will have been sent your direct debit schedule by post a few days after processing your licence. However, if you require a copy of the invoice or direct debit schedule, please contact us.
I am yet to purchase the licence that I am applying for assistance with
If you are applying for universal credit for a licence you have not already processed, then you will need to use the licence renewal paperwork for your claim, as an invoice cannot be supplied until after the licence has been processed. If a renewal is not available, we are able to send a letter of confirmation of the licence fee, or you can obtain this yourself from our online licence fee calculator.
Is my licence a different price if I want to rent it out or use it for business purposes?
Yes, you'll need a business licence if you want to rent your boat out (for both short-term and longer-term rental) or if you want to carry out any type of business on board. There are different rules and prices depending on how you want to use your boat.
Please see our boating business pages for more information.
What's my customer number?
Your customer number is your unique seven-digit reference number (the one that starts with an 8) – you'll find it on the top right-hand corner of the paperwork we send you.
Removing or adding a name to your account
If you wish to add or remove a name on your account, then we will need to create a new account in the new name/names requested and, in some cases, this may require the current licence to be cancelled and for you to purchase a new licence on the new account. If you currently hold a Canal & River Trust mooring, you may want to check with your mooring contact before requesting any change, as this can make the current agreement invalid.
Ownership disputes
The Canal & River Trust are not the authority who retains ownership details; we simply hold the details of who is responsible for licensing the boat currently. Any disputes in ownership need to be resolved as a civil matter, and you may want to take legal advice if you do find yourself involved in a dispute.
What documents do I need before I can buy my licence?
Make sure you have your:
- Valid boat safety scheme certificate – you'll need to provide the BSSER number on the certificate when renewing online. Make sure you enter the details in the following format: BSSER-123456/21. Please note that small unpowered, trailed, portable or 'open boats' such as canoes, paddleboards, rowing boats or dinghies do not need a Boat Safety Certificate
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Insurance cover note – you'll need the name of your insurer, start date, end date and policy number when you renew online, so make sure your insurance cover is up to date and in place before you start
I have a river-only licence but want to go on the canal. What do I need to do?
It depends on how long you want to stay on our canals. If you're planning a short trip, you can temporarily upgrade your licence by buying a short-term licence for a week or month.
As a river-only licence holder, you're entitled to a 50% discount on the standard price. You can buy short-term licences online.
If you're planning a more permanent move to a full canal and river licence, you can request this upgrade online. You can also downgrade your standard licence to cover only rivers in the same way.
What's a houseboat certificate?
Houseboat certificates are only issued for boats where the houseboat certificate and the mooring agreement run at the same time and have the same expiry date.
'Houseboat' means a boat not mainly used for navigation and which has planning permission for the site where it is moored if needed.
Houseboat certificates are generally linked to a particular waterside mooring's long-term mooring permit and carry with them a limited right of assignment of the mooring permit.
Which navigations can I use with a Canal & River Trust licence?
Here's a list of our canal and river navigations. Remember, you'll need a licence from us before you use your boat on these waterways.
You also need a boat licence, even if your boat is unpowered, including canoes, kayaks, dinghies, sailing boats, rowing boats and paddleboards.
Can I still buy a licence if I don't have a home mooring?
Yes, if:
- your boat is removed from the water when it is not cruising, or
- you're going to use the boat to cruise continuously (travelling around the network without staying in one place for more than 14 days, or less where indicated)
Continuous cruising may not be suitable if you've commitments such as work, family or school in one place, as you must be on a genuine journey around the network.
Please read our mooring guidance for continuous cruisers and our continuous cruising pages to make sure this is the best decision for you.
Does the boat licence include access to the Anderton Boat Lift, Ribble Link, Liverpool Link, Wigan Dry Dock, etc.?
Please check individual pages on our website for full access and booking details. Note that there may be charges for services or passage, including a booking fee.
Booking is usually through our web licensing portal or by calling our customer services team on 0303 040 4040.
Will my boat fit on a certain canal?
You can view waterway dimensions, but this is for guidance only.
Please consider carefully not only the beam and length of your boat but its air draft and profile, too. Remember, the waterway dimensions take into account that there is room for craft to pass, moor and the size of fixed structures.
Please don't take larger craft on waterways not suitable for them. You must not cause, or be likely to cause, damage to the waterway, structures, or any boat because of your boat's dimensions or obstruct the waterway or hinder navigation.
I've bought a brand-new boat, can you give me a number before I buy the licence?
Yes, if your boat is still being built and you'd like to sign-write your index number on it in advance of buying your first licence, you can apply for just an index number. The cost of this ‘Early Registration' is £20, and it's non-refundable. You can buy an index number online once you've registered (or signed in for existing customers).
I want to buy a short-term/visitor licence, do I need a number for my boat before I purchase the licence?
No, if you are visiting from another navigation, you do not need to get a boat registration number (boat index number) from us.
Just make sure that you are clearly displaying your boat name and a copy of your short-term licence on both sides of your boat.
I've lost my licence discs. What should I do?
Although we can tell from the boat index number whether a boat is licenced, it's still a legal requirement to display them along with your boat name and index number.
If you bought your licence online, you can log into your account and print another set. If your index plates are temporarily obscured for any reason (e.g., under covers during winter), you can also print temporary plates to display.
How can I report an unlicensed boat?
There's no need to call or email us, our rangers are out checking. However, bear in mind some people just forget to stick their new licence up in their window (or condensation has caused it to fall off). So, if you don't see it in the window, it doesn't always mean it's unlicensed.
We no longer use our online boat checker. Having reviewed its usage, of all the boats checked over the review period, 37% were unlicensed but already in our enforcement process. The other 63% were either licensed, in places where a licence wasn't required or the details were incorrect.
We thank those who used the checker; please be assured that we will continue to maintain high levels of licence compliance on our waterways.
Please note we don't issue licences to our own workboats. A separate fleet management system makes sure all our boats comply with safety requirements.
Do I have to buy a separate boat licence for my tender?
Tenders are small boats that are easy to lift out of the water and are just for getting from the main boat to the river or canal bank while within sight of the main boat.
If your tender is less than 3m long and it is normally carried on your boat or towed behind it, and only used to and from your main boat, then you don't need a separate licence. Please make sure your tender is clearly marked with “Tender to YOURBOATNAME" and your boat's index number.
If you use your tender for any reason other than gaining access to your main boat, and/or if it's longer than 3m, and/or cannot easily be lifted out of the water and stored on the main boat, you'll need to buy a boat licence for the tender.
Adding a tender part way through your licence
We are unable to add a tender part way through a licence period, and it must be added upon renewal of your current licence. At all times, you must ensure you are using the tender in line with the terms and conditions, and if this is not the case, a separate licence will be required to be purchased.
Licence renewal:
To find out more about the new considerations you’ll need to take into account when buying or renewing your licence, head to our FAQs on boat licence changes.
Why haven't I received my licence renewal in the post yet?
If you've given us your email address, then you'll be sent your licence renewal electronically instead of by post. If you've already checked your inbox and still can't find it, then it's worth making sure our email hasn't been sent to your junk mail.
If you still can't find it, give us a call on 0303 040 4040, and we can look into it further.
I pay for my licence by direct debit. Why hasn't it renewed this year?
If you pay by direct debit, then log into your account and make sure all your details are correct before your renewal is completed. This will then renew automatically, unless you've not been complying with boat licence terms and conditions, e.g. not cruising enough.
I've renewed (or bought) my licence online, but I haven't received my licence discs in the post. Where are they?
We no longer post licence discs. If you've renewed your licence using our online system, we'll have sent you an email confirming your purchase and the discs are attached to that email for you to print out. They're black and white now, so no coloured ink is necessary.
If you don't have access to a printer, then we can print and post them out to you; just let us know.
What is the prompt payment discount and how do I qualify for it?
If you renew your boat licence before it expires, you can get a 2% prompt payment discount off your licence fee.
To qualify for the discount you need to complete your application before the start date of the licence and also pay in full or by direct debit. There is also a discount of 0.5% for renewing online.
I've changed mooring site or I don't have a home mooring, do I need to tell you?
Yes, you do, you must check that your mooring status is correct and update it if necessary before renewing your boat licence. Please see our license terms and conditions.
Bought or sold a boat?
You must let us know when you sell or transfer ownership of the boat or change the licence holder or keeper of the boat.
You can tell us online or complete and return the ‘change of details' form. We'll need you to provide us with the new owner's full contact details (full name, postal address, telephone and/or e-mail, so we can update our records as soon as possible.
Until you provide this information, the boat transfer will not processed and you'll remain responsible for the boat. This could include future licence fees and any other costs and charges relating to the boat.
When you buy a boat or take on responsibility for licensing it, you must let us know. You can tell us online or complete and return the ‘change of details' form. If you don't provide the required details (name, address, contact details, relevant dates) and license the boat, it will enter our enforcement process and may be removed from the water.
If this happens, we will seek to recover removal costs and/or outstanding licence fees.
I've sold my boat; can I claim a refund on my licence?
We issue refunds for any full, unused months of a 12-month or six-month canal and river licence. Three-month licences are non-refundable.
You no longer need to send back your old licence discs to us. If you tell us online that ownership has been transferred then your licence will be terminated automatically in line with our licence terms and conditions and any refund due will follow within 15 working days. Please note all refunds are subject to a £30 admin charge.
To work out your refund, see our licence terms & conditions.
I've just bought a boat and it has a licence but I'm not sure what to do when it runs out?
Standard six and 12-month Canal & River licences are not transferrable, so you'll need a buy a new licence.
River-only licences can be transferred, but the best thing to do is contact us to check that the previous owner has let us know about the sale. You can do this by registering online to update our records to show you are the new keeper of the boat and update your own contact details.
You can also buy a new licence online.
Boat safety
I've recently had my boat examined by a Boat Safety Examiner, do I need to tell you?
Yes, tell us as soon as your boat is issued with a new certificate so we can update our records ready for your next renewal.
You can also update this yourself on our online system, which links directly to the BSS database. Remember to tell us the complete certificate number (eg. BSSER-123456/21), and we'll be able to find the full details.
My licence is due for renewal but my current Boat Safety Certificate has expired. What should I do?
We must make sure everyone using our waters is safe, so we cannot re-licence a boat without a valid Boat Safety Certificate. We must be sure your boat is safe first. The Boat Safety Scheme can help you find an examiner in our local area.
Remember, you can renew your Boat Safety Certificate up to two months before it expires without losing the current end date. It's best to get the new examination done as early as possible so that any work on it can be completed before you need your new licence. Otherwise, you may lose out on the prompt payment discount or have to pay the late payment charge.
My licence is due for renewal but my Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) has expired. What should I do?
You will need to obtain a Boat Safety Certificate before renewing your boat licence.
Changes in circumstances
I've changed my address/phone number/email, what do I do?
The easiest way to update your contact details is online.
I've taken my boat out of the water, can I suspend my licence?
Licences can't be suspended, but if your boat is out of the water (for example, if it's on hard standing for repair work), we can issue a refund for any full, unused months of a 12 or six-month licence. You can then buy a new licence once your boat goes back into the water. Three-month licences are non-refundable.
To work out how much refund you could get, see our general terms and conditions for boat licences.
You can request a refund online, by email or by post. Complete a transfer of ownership/off-water declaration form and post them to our boat licensing team.
Within 15 working days, we'll calculate your refund, less a £30 admin charge. We will issue the refund directly to your bank if we hold your details, or issue a payable to the name(s) on your licensing account.
To avoid delay it is best to contact us and provide your preferred bank details for a BACS transfer. If you were paying by direct debit, and the amount you've paid so far doesn't cover what you owe, we'll write to you explaining any outstanding balance.
We hope the above has helped but if you would still like some more information, use our contact form or call 0303 040 4040.
