Do you need a boat license to rent in Lefkada? The honest answer

In Greece, a powerboat license is required for any motorboat with an engine over 30 HP. Below 30 HP you can rent and drive without a license. Above, the Greek Coast Guard requires a valid powerboat license, and rental operators are obliged to check it before handing you the keys.

This rule shapes most of what we do at Billy Boats. Every boat in our fleet is well above 30 HP, so anyone wanting to self-drive needs a license. Below is the full picture for visitors who want to rent in Lefkada and aren't sure where they stand.

What counts as a license in Greece

Greek harbour authorities accept the following:

• Greek powerboat license (Άδεια Χειριστή Ταχύπλοου).
• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), issued under UN Resolution 40 by national bodies including the RYA in the UK.
• RYA Day Skipper practical (with the ICC endorsement is cleanest).
• US Sailing Bareboat Certification, ASA 104, or equivalent.
• Most EU national licenses, German Sportbootführerschein See, Italian Patente Nautica, French Permis Côtier, Dutch Vaarbewijs, etc.

You must carry the original license on board. A photo on your phone is not accepted by the port police if you are checked.

What 30 HP gets you in practice

A 30-HP outboard is a small fishing tinny, six knots of cruising, no shade, no music, no room. Several Lefkada operators rent these out, mostly from Nidri, for short half-day pottering in flat water. They are useful for couples who want a private picnic in a nearby cove and have never driven a boat before.

For anything more, reaching Porto Katsiki, getting to Paxos, doing the inner Ionian loop with five island stops, you need a real boat with a real engine, which means above 30 HP, which means either a license or a skipper.

Our fleet, and what each requires

• Highfield 650 Sport, 150 HP Yamaha. Self-drive available with a valid license, or with one of our skippers.
• Mazziena 26SP, twin 200 HP Honda (400 HP combined). Skipper included, we do not offer self-drive on this boat.
• Kawasaki Ultra 250, 250 HP supercharged jet ski. Self-drive only, with a valid PWC license.

If you have a license and want the wheel, the Highfield is the boat. If you don't, the Mazziena 26SP rental with a skipper or the Highfield with one of ours is the better day. The trade-off between booking a boat with skipper in Lefkada or self-drive is covered in detail in its own post. Both ways, you see the same Lefkada.

What if I have a license but it isn't on the accepted list?

In practice, Greek harbour police are pragmatic, they generally accept any EU member-state license and most US sailing certifications. If you have something unusual (Australian, Canadian, etc.) email us a copy in advance and we will check with the local port authority before your booking. Better to know two weeks ahead than on the morning of the trip.

A real example

A British couple arrived last summer with the husband's RYA Day Skipper certificate, expecting to self-drive the Highfield. The certificate alone wasn't enough for the port police, they wanted the ICC endorsement on top. He had forgotten to apply for it. We swapped them onto the same boat with a skipper, same route, same day. Honest fix: apply for the ICC endorsement with your Day Skipper before you fly out. Details at rya.org.uk.

FAQ

What is the engine limit for license-free boating in Greece? 30 HP. Above that a powerboat license is required.

Does my UK Day Skipper count in Greece? Yes, with the ICC endorsement added on top. Without the ICC the RYA Day Skipper alone is sometimes rejected by Greek port authorities.

Can I rent a Billy Boats boat without a license? Yes, every boat in our fleet can be booked with one of our skippers. Self-drive on the Highfield requires a valid license; the Mazziena always comes with a skipper.

Where do I take a license course? The fastest options are the RYA Day Skipper + ICC route in the UK or one of the Greek sailing schools that runs a one-week intensive course. Plan three months ahead.

To book either way, use the booking form and tell us whether you want a skipper.