motorboat license switzerland

Sailing in Switzerland

Published by wannabewindsurfer on 19/11/2019 19/11/2019.

Switzerland might not be the country that immediately springs to mind when you think of sailing. Although there has been considerable media coverage of the Alinghi team, Switzerland is not exactly renowned for its nautical heritage.

Despite this, it is a country with many lakes and some of them get some reasonably consistent wind. There are however some very “special” regulations with respect to sailing in Switzerland. I will attempt to outline some of them in this article.

Certification

Switzerland has it’s own certification system for sailing and motor boats. You will require a Swiss Licence to navigate any boat with more than 15 square metres (12 square metres on Lake Constance) of sail area or with more then an 8HP (6KW) engine on Swiss waters.

The A License (A Schein) is for motor boats of more than 8HP (6HP on the Lake of Constance).

The D License (D Schein) is for sail boats of more than 15 square metre sail area.

If a sailing boat with more than 15 square metres of sail also has more than an 8HP engine on board you will effectively require both licenses to sail that boat!

Acceptance of Foreign Certification

Unless you are from a neighbouring country (Italy or South Germany) and live in Switzerland, you will not be able to use your already obtained certification here. If you are non-resident in Switzerland you may be able to use an ICC from another country to sail or drive a boat, but as soon as you are resident your foreign certification is not valid and with very few exceptions, there is no possibility to get your existing certification recognised. Regardless of your sailing experience or certification if you come to Switzerland you are limited to less than 15 square metre sail area or 8 HP engines.

Getting Swiss Certification

To get a Swiss Sailing or Motor Boating license the process is similar to applying for a drivers licence. You will first get an application form from the local Department of Motor Vehicles (Strassenverkehrsamt), these forms can be downloaded online from the website of your local Strassenverkehrsamt. You will then need to do an eye test similar to the driving licence eye test and get your passport photos confirmed by a local authority, lawyer or doctor. Then you can submit the form and get an invitation for a theory test.

Theory Test

The Theory test is a multiple choice test with 60 questions (out of a possible 510 pool questions) and negative marking.

• A non-completed question will give you -1 point
• Not ticking the correct answer will give you -1 point
• Each wrong answer you give to a question will give you -1 point (each)

This means it is possible to get -3 points for one wrong question if you don’t tick the correct answer and give two wrong answers. You will fail the test if you get more than 15 minus points. The theory test is the same for both sail and motor.

To practice for the Theory test I can highly recommend the Bootspruefung24 App, this has 15 practice tests and if you can answer all the questions in these 15 tests you will have no surprises in the official Theory Test.

Once you have passed the Theory test you are then eligible to do the practical test. In most cases an instructor will register you for the test, but I believe if you really want to you can register yourself. My advice is no matter how experienced you are take a couple of lessons first as some aspects of the test are quite specific to Switzerland!

Practical Test

The practical test is usually taken on a body of water in your canton of residence as the licence will be issued by your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

The procedure is quite straightforward. Your examiner will meet you a couple of minutes before the test start to get the introductions and formalities out of the way. He will then ask you some questions about the weather situation on the day to see if you can assess whether it is safe to go on the water or not.

You are then expected to prepare the boat to go on the the water and in doing so show evidence that you know all safety equipment which needs to be onboard by Swiss law and where it is on this particular boat. Once this has satisfactorily completed you will head out on the water to perform some maneuvers, such as coming alongside, man overboard, picking up a mooring, sailing a compass course etc. During the maneuvers you may be asked any questions from the theory test orally.

On completion of the “open lake” part of the assessment you will return to your starting harbour where you may be asked to perform some “close quarters” maneuvering, followed by making the boat fast and showing if you can tie some basic knots. (Bowline, Round turn & two half hitches, clove hitch, rolling hitch etc.)

For those with experience the exercises may seem incredibly basic, but they need to be done in such a specific way that the risk of failure for experienced mariners is actually quite real.

Once you pass the test you will get a paper licence which you are required to have with you when sailing or driving any boat (which requires that licence) and on some lakes the Police do spot checks.

Boats Not Requiring a Licence

Even if your boat does not require a licence to operate, it will still need to be registered and undergo a safety inspection. While this procedure varies from canton to canton (as everything in Switzerland), in general you will need to prove that you have a place to store the boat and you will need a contract to prove this. The contract for the boat storage has to be made out to the same name and address as the person who is registering the boat and the address needs to be the primary residence address where that person is registered.

Finding a place in a dinghy park (or a marina) for a boat is not that easy. In Swiss Dinghy Parks there are a lot of old boats in poor repair no longer used, but people are unwilling to give up their place as they will then lose it if they do ever decide to sail again.

Once the boat is registered you will get a number similar to a licence plate for your car, you are required to fix this to the hull on both sides so that it is clearly visible at all times when on the water. It is your responsibility to get stick on letters and numbers yourself to put this on the boat (there is also sizing requirements, depending on both size and type). Transfers of the letters can easily be got at hardware stores like Migros Do it Decor or Coop Bau and Hobby.

Shortly after registration you will be invited for an inspection. This inspection is theoretically to prove the Sea(Lake!)worthiness of the boat. There are requirements which you will need to satisfy like having life jackets with collars, a horn, a red flag and a bailer (even in boats where it might not be practical to use one!). You can download A full list of the equipment needed here .

The examiner will check all this equipment is present and also inspect the boat for structural integrity (ironically in our case he did not look at the sails or rudder at all!) If he is satisfied with all this he will sign you off and return your boat registration document. The boat registration certificate is made of paper and theoretically you must be have it on the boat at all times when it is on the water! While this is ok on a larger keel boat, it is certainly not practical for smaller “wet” sailing boats.

Sailing boats with over 15 metre squared sail area and all motor boats require insurance. For sail boats under 15m sail area insurance is optional. (but in my opinion recommended)

Boat Rental

Very few locations rent small sailing boats (which don’t require certification) and those that I have seen have been not in the best condition. There are a few organisations offering rental of Keel Boats on many Swiss Lakes. These organisations usually require some form of membership and a local certification (D-Schein) to be allowed to sail them, but then I believe the prices are (for Switzerland) quite reasonable. For more information look at Sailbox or Sailcom .

Storm Warning

Swiss Lakes are fitted out with warning systems which light up when the winds are expected to get over 25 knots. With expected winds of more than 25 knots you will see orange lights flashing at approximately 40 flashes per second (high wind warning). Once the forecasted wind speeds exceed 33 knots the lights will flash at 90 flashes per second (storm warning). It is technically illegal to go on the water with a Storm Warning (90 flashes per second) but windsurfing and kite surfing do seem to be tolerated. I’ve often seen Swiss boats starting to struggle once the wind increases to about 20 knots, so if you are experienced and enjoy sailing in stronger winds, don’t expect that everyone around you has it in control.

Other Lakes

If you think once you register your boat that you can enjoy going sailing anywhere in Switzerland, then think again. In general you can only use your boat in the canton of registration. If you would like to sail on another lake in a different canton you will first need to check if this is permitted. In many cases one cannot launch any boats not registered on that lake. In some cases, you will need a day pass to launch, in some places any boat registered in Switzerland can launch and in others sailing might be completely prohibited. If participating in a Regatta the organisers will have arranged that all participants may sail on that lake for the duration of the event.

Best Lakes for Wind

Some Swiss lakes have very poor wind statistics and in general sailing on lake Zurich is quite the oxymoron as it very rarely gets decent wind. However, Lakes like Urnersee, Walensee, Neuenburgersee and Lake Geneva often get quite good wind in Summer. In general different lakes benefit from different winds so I’ll try to explain these winds below.

Föhn: The Föhn is a wind that is generated by a pressure gradient between two sides of a mountain range. In Switzerland bad weather on one side of the Alps and good weather on the other leads to a typical Föhn situation. Usually lakes in a north/south direction in a Föhn affected area benefit from this wind, but beware it can be incredibly strong sometimes getting up to gusts of 40 knots. You find South Föhn usually the Northern side of the Alps. It is a strong and warm but gusty southerly wind which is found on lakes such as Urnersee, Walensee, Aegerisee and occasionally Zugersee. Föhn winds on the Urnersee and Walensee often reach 40+ knots. North Föhn in Ticino and the Northern Italian Lakes (Como and Garda) presents as a strong northerly wind

Bise: Bise is a cold North Easterly wind that is often prevalent in Autumn. It can get quite strong and is usually most potent on the lakes in the “Three Lake Land” (Bielersee, Neuenburgersee, Murtensee) and on Lake Geneva. Some other lakes may get some Bise to a smaller extent like the Zugersee.

South West: This is a low pressure wind which develops as storm fronts race across Europe. Usually this wind has lost a lot of it’s strength by the time it reaches Switzerland and is accompanied by frontal weather systems.

Thermal: In summer a few Swiss Lakes can get a good Thermal wind blowing. On days when it cools down quite a lot at night and there is a lot of sunshine giving radiative heat to the mountains during the day you can expect in the region of 15 to 20 knots on a few Swiss Lakes such as the Urnersee or Silvaplana (Windsurfing and Kitesurfing only!)

While Switzerland is not known as the sailing capital of Europe it is possible to get your sailing fix here. It is however connected with a considerable level of bureaucracy, which those of us who come from many “open sea” countries may find frustrating. Sailing Small boats does not require certification, but it is difficult to find anywhere to rent these boats and there is considerable bureaucracy to put your own boat on the water here. You can rent Keel boats on many lakes but then local certification is required.

Feel free to contact us if you would like any further information regarding sailing in Switzerland.

WannabeWindsurfer

Originally from the South of Ireland. An ex-watersports instructor who found my way to land locked Switzerland via Maui. I try to get wet and salty as often as possible.

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Sailing School

Private sailing classes and sailboat license for english speakers.

A Category D qualification is required for sailboats being sailed on Swiss waters with a sail area of more than 15 m2.

We will guide you in all matters from your boat theory test through to your undoubtedly successful practical sailboat exam.

We will also be responsible for the organisation of your classes and for formalities with the shipping office. The individual needs of our students are very important to us. The pace of learning is adjusted accordingly to your prior knowledge and level of training.

Take your sailing classes and sailing exam in English. No German or Swiss German required!

Our sailing instructors speak English very well and we are very experienced in conducting lessons in English. We will set you up with an examiner who speaks English too, so that you can concentrate on sailing during the exam and there will be no language barrier.

Of course we can also teach you some German sailing terms, if you want ;)

The theory exam can also be taken in English, and we can recommend you an app to prepare yourself which includes the original exam questions in English. You can find it   here

PREREQUISITES FOR THE CATEGORY D SAILING EXAM ON LAKE ZÜRICH:

Necessary equipment:, training content, training duration, prices in chf (private lessons), prices in chf (team lessons), the practical sailing training is divided into:.

• General boating theory and basic nautical knowledge
• Basic manoeuvres
• Manoeuvres for landing and casting off
• Rescue manoeuvres (man overboard)
• Anchoring manoeuvres
• Mooring (fastening) the boat
• Test preparation

The sailing training takes place in all weather conditions, excluding storms.

One sailing lesson is 2 hours long (120 min). Ideally at least 1 lesson a week should be scheduled in order to practise regularly.

The intensive course is suited to those in a bit more of a hurry – you can obtain a sailing licence within 10 days.

To ensure that you pass your practical sailing exam, you will need about 8 lessons depending on your prior knowledge.

Other costs

70 CHF one-time insurance contribution

👍 YOU SPLIT THE PACKAGE PRICE AMONG the participants! FOR EXAMPLE, WITH 2 PEOPLE: 65 CHF/PERSON/HOUR

👍 any unused lessons will be refunded.

70 CHF one-time insurance contribution per person

Zürich Wollishofen

Zürich tiefenbrunnen, wangen flughafen franzrüti, lachen marina lachen, altendorf hensa werft altendorf, richterswil / wollerau, freienbach strandbad.

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Motorcycle license Switzerland: costs and info for your motorbike test

What are the different categories of driving licence? How do I go about taking the motorcycle test? What do I need in order to ride a motorbike in Switzerland? Comparis answers the most important questions.

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1. What are the different categories of motorcycle licence?

In Switzerland, motorcycles are divided into four different categories . The categories are aligned with the EU . 16-year-olds are allowed to ride category A1 motorcycles. For light motorcycles, the minimum age is 15 years.

What you need to know about the motorcycle test

Anyone holding a category B driving licence can get a A1 licence without taking a test.

The categories A1 (from 15 years) and A (restricted) are relatively new (since 2021).

As of January 2021, it is no longer possible to directly get a category A motorcycle licence. 

Since 2021, you may only apply for the category A (unrestricted) licence if you have held an A (restricted) licence for at least two years . There are certain exceptions for apprentices undertaking basic vocational training for the Swiss federal certificate of proficiency in motorcycle mechanics, for the police and for transport professionals.

2. What tests do I need to take for a motorcycle licence?

There are two phases in getting your motorcycle licence. The first is learning to drive in the regular way , and the second consists of a compulsory additional training course while you have your licence on probation. Once you have completed the courses and passed the tests, they essentially remain valid indefinitely. The steps in detail:

1. First aid course

Planning to apply for a provisional driving licence and register for the theory test? Then you must first complete a first aid course. This requirement does not apply to holders of Category A, A1, B or B1 licences. The first aid certificate is valid for a maximum of six years . Here you can find a list of recognized course organizers (not available in English). 

2. Eyesight test

The result of the eyesight test is noted directly in the application form at the optician's or ophthalmologist's practice. The eyesight test may not be more than 24 months old.

3. Provisional licence

To be allowed to drive with blue L plates, you must submit an application for your provisional licence to the residents' registration office or road traffic office .

4. Basic practical training

This course lasts 12 hours for all category A licences. It must be completed within four months of getting your provisional licence .

5. Traffic awareness theory course

The traffic awareness course is intended to give you a better understanding of road traffic at the theoretical level and to motivate you to drive carefully. You do not have to do this course if you hold a category A, A1, B or B1 licence .

6. Driving test

After passing the test you'll immediately get your probationary driving licence through the post. Remember that a probationary period applies. You will not get your permanent driving licence until after the end of this probationary period, but you must apply for it and attend a compulsory one-day additional training course (WAB).

7. Compulsory additional training course (WAB)

You must complete the WAB additional training course within 12 months of getting your driving licence on probation. You do not need to take another test. Since 2020 the WAB has lasted just one day (7 hours).

Our tip: register for the WAB compulsory further training course immediately after passing your driving test. Appointments get booked up quickly. Anyone who does not complete the WAB further training in the first 12 months will pay a fine of up to 300 francs if stopped by the police .

3. How much does a motorcycle licence cost?

The cost of obtaining a licence depends on the school, your needs, and where you live. Expect a minimum budget of about 1,500 francs – not including driving lessons. The costs are broken down as follows:

Approximate costs of a motorcycle licence

4. Which motorcycles can I ride on my standard driving licence?

Drivers do not have to pass a test or attend a traffic awareness course for category A1. The first aid course is also unnecessary if you have done one in the past six years.

Important: you must complete the 12-hour basic course  categories of motorcycle licence (link only available in German). To ride category A motorcycles, you will also need to pass the practical test.

5. What do I need in order to ride a scooter?

A conventional scooter, or a category A1 electric scooter , is a good option in city traffic. They're not only smaller and easier to manoeuvre, but usually also easier to operate. This category also includes enduros and choppers.

Federal law only requires that you wear a helmet , but some cantons demand motorcycle-specific safety equipment during the driving test. For example, the canton of Zurich requires an approved helmet, a motorcycle jacket, trousers and gloves, as well as sturdy shoes that come above the ankle.

6. What else do I need to ride a motorcycle?

Liability insurance.

Aside from servicing and fuel costs, motorbike insurance will often be one of the biggest items on your budget. Like a car, liability insurance is compulsory if you ride a motorcycle. The same applies to scooters and Vespas .

Protective clothing

Good basic motorcycle equipment includes helmet, gloves, special boots, an all-in-one suit and a kidney belt . The law only requires that you wear a helmet, but depending on your canton you may need motorcycle-specific safety gear to take your test.

Swiss motorway vignette

Anyone using motorways and expressways in Switzerland must display a special sticker, the vignette. It costs 40 francs. Read key info on the Swiss motorway vignette here.

This article was first published on 02.04.2020

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How to get a Motorboat License in Switzerland

Going around Switzerland, it is hard to miss its beautiful lakes. This summer (2023) I was fortunate enough to have figured out the process and obtained my boating licenses in Switzerland. In this blog post, I will share with you the process I went through to obtain one. I generally found very little information about it which is in English and accessible to many English-speaking expats in Switzerland.

On Swiss lakes (and in other European countries), you might have come across license-free motorboat rentals. In Switzerland, you are allowed to drive a motorboat of less than 8HP without a license. While such low-power boats are okay as a tourist activity, you can’t get very far with those and those won’t go fast either.

If you are a visitor and have some kind of motorboat license in your country you are generally allowed to drive a motorboat in Switzerland only if you are a visitor. If you are a resident here, you must obtain a Swiss license by clearing the Swiss boat driving test. However if your motorboat licenses were obtained before your move to Switzerland and they are from either Austria or Germany they can be converted to a Swiss License without examination (see BAV-). If you are from one of the other popular boating countries in Europe like France, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, or the United Kingdom (UK), your licenses are not valid in Switzerland. Also understand that if you have done an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) course, it is also not a valid qualification to drive a motorboat in Switzerland. Read on if you want to understand how to obtain a Swiss license and the nuances associated with it.

Cantonal Shipping Office

Like many other things in Switzerland, the motorboat licenses are administered by the Cantons. The road traffic department (Strassenverkehrsamt in German, Office cantonal des véhicules in French) handles these affairs. Here is the official site of the Shipping Administration of Canton of Zurich. Every canton has this department, you need to apply in the Canton of your residence. There are several categories of boating licenses. Category A (for motorboats above 8HP) and Category D (sailing boats about 15m2 of sail area) are the licenses that might interest a leisure boater. This post is particularly for these two categories.

It might also be interesting to know that the Swiss license is an Inland water license. Accordingly, it is not valid for boating on the seas. However, it is valid for other inland water lakes in Europe, the canals of France, Belgium and Netherlands, the rivers like the Seine, Rhine, and Danube etc. It might be interesting to know that there are over 30,000Km of inland water ways in Europe. There is even a detailed map of the Inland waterways of Europe . If you want to drive a boat only on the seas this license is not what you need. However, if you are living in Switzerland and want to practice this hobby more often and closer to home, then you will need the category A license.

In the future, I of course want to get a license that lets me drive a motorboat on the sea. Some people feel they want to drive only on the sea. Nothing wrong with that, but I think if one is living in Switzerland you will get only a few chances a year to drive on the sea. For me I want to drive on the sea in a safe manner, so I feel practicing it regularly on the lakes is a great experience builder. In a future blog post, I can also cover what license you might need to drive a motor boat on the seas.

Application Process for the Swiss Category A License

The first step, if you decide to go this route and obtain your Swiss Category A license, you need to fill out the form from the traffic office of your Canton of Residence. For Zurich, it can be obtained here . You will then need to get an eye examination done on the form itself. This is a very easy step and takes 20 CHF and can be done at any optician’s store. Then you can submit this form either at your Geminde Kries Buro or the Shipping office. You need to show up in person as they need to verify the ID. Within a week of the submission, you will receive an invitation for the shipping theory examination. This letter will have the details on how to book a theory exam. In Zurich, it takes 3-4 weeks to get an appointment for the theory examination.

Theory Examination

To take this exam, you shall go to the shipping office. This exam can be taken in English, German, French, and Italian. It contains 50 multiple choice questions and you are allowed 15 mistakes. It asks questions about boat traffic rules, traffic signs, seamanship, and rules on Swiss lakes. You will need to study for it. It is about 10 hours of effort for it. Boatdriver.ch is an excellent app to study for the theory test, and I highly recommend it. You need to pay 30 CHF for the app though which is well worth the price. Note that this theory exam is the same for Category A (motorboat license) and Category D (sailing license). It is valid for two years.

I managed to pass it after about 10 hours of learning. It was a fairly easy exam on site of the shipping office on a computer. The appointment takes 3-4 weeks though, so you need to time accordingly. It might be interesting to know that, there is no learning license requrement to learn a motorboat. So you could start your lessons even without finishing the theory exam.

Motor Boat Lessons

The next step is to enroll yourself in a motorboat school and learn the various maneuvers. To pass the Swiss practical examination, it is expected that you know about 16 prescribed maneuvers. It generally takes about 20 1.5 hrs sessions to learn those. There are many many motorboat schools (German: Motorboot Fahreschule) in Switzerland. I learned to drive with Michael Ramseier, here is his website and contact info. It costs about 180 CHF per lesson. He is an excellent teacher, and I had many fun days learning from him. The boat we learned with is pictured below, it was a 230 HP Volvo Penta Engine on a Draco boat. Other schools also charge pretty much the same price.

The practical exam is conducted only in German. I don’t really speak much German, I am at level A1 and know a few words a some grammar in German. You will need to understand the names of the Manoervres in German and some safety-related questions the examiner might have. This is easily manageable with some super basic knowledge of German. In the French-speaking cantons, this exam happens only in French.

I have tried to summarize what I learnt in those lessons in as much details as possible with some 3rd party video illustration. I have noticed there is a lot of wrong information on youtube on how to park boats.

Practical Exam

It is a 1-hour driving test with the examiner of the traffic office. It starts with driving around on the lake to see if you know the rules of the lake. They ask about the weather conditions right now. I think what they want to particularly hear is how strong is the wind and in which direction in blows. You should be able to reply in German to it. Next, they take you to a harbor and ask you to do various landings on the piers. These are the same ones you learned in your motorboat lessons. Next, they ask you to set an Anchor. Then on the lake, they do a Man-overboard with a Buoy. After that, they ask you to find your position on the map using compass measurements. Finally, they ask some safety-related questions.

• Driving on the lake
• Landings on the pier and in Harbours
• Man-overboard
• Compass Positioning
• Question/Answers
• Docking the boat on the Pier with appropriate knots.

Some questions they might ask

• What will you do in case of Engine Fire on board?
• What will you do in case of Battery fire on board?
• Why is it dangerous to drive with water in bilge (lowest chamber of the boat)?
• What are the rules for disposing of the water in the Bilge?

Sea License Possibilities

There are several possibilities for driving a motorboat in sea, especially in Europe. In some places, you can get to drive a boat without even a license requirement. For example in Croatia, a lot of people will rent you a motorboat of say 60-80HP without any previous boating experience. Also in Italy, you can rent a motorboat with 40HP without a license. Although it might be okay in fair weather, it can get rapidly dangerous with winds and summer storms. However, these rentals advise their clients to stay not more than 1-2km from the base location. However, I have my doubts about these dubious practices. Authorities in Croatia are cracking down on these unlicensed boat rental companies. Funnily though, it is possible to obtain a Croatian boating license within half a day without rigorous training, see here . This license is however not valued in other places in Europe for example in the Netherlands or France.

Enough of ranting…

A Swiss resident realistically has four possibilities for a license which allows them to drive a powerful enough motorboat on the sea.

• Swiss, Hochseeschein (High Sea license). More Info
• German, Sportbootführer-Küstenschein (Sports Boat License – Coastal). More Info .
• French, Permis Plaisance (Pleasure boat license). Info .
• UK, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper. More Info .

The deal breaker for me with the above license, except the RYA one is that the theory exam for it is done only in German and French language respectively. There is no possibility to do it in English. Further, the Swiss high sea license has a 1000 nautical-miles requirement which might take a couple years at least for a working person. The German SBF can be done in Zurich and might take 1-2 more lessons after you have your Swiss inland license (6-8 lessons if you have no previous experience). However, I don’t like the idea of training in the lake for sea. I feel I need to really train in the sea for a sea-worthy license. Nevertheless, the German SBF is a well-respected document. The French license is also similar to German requirements but training needs to happen on the sea. The French language is a major deterrent for me. Also for sailboats, there is no license needed in France. But realistically no one will rent you a sailboat with a good amount of sailing experience.

The RYA courses are of course in English (both the theory and practical), which is good for me and many more expats in Switzerland. Further, you can also get a UK ICC (international certificate of competence) if you complete the RYA course. RYA day skipper course is well respected and is sufficient to rent sailboats in most places in Europe at least (see here). This course is available in sailboats and also for motorboats. It is done only on the sea and is 5 days long. The sailboat variant needs some previous sailing experience. But the good part about it is that it also lets you drive a motorboat at sea (in addition to a sailboat) which is less than 10m (more info). If you wish to drive a longer motorboat than 10m (very unlikely for me at least, but never say never) you need to do the RYA day skipper (motor).

Boat Vacation Ideas

There are several cool vacations one can do with a motorboat license. Of course you can explore little towns by the Swiss lakes like the Beautiful lake Lucern, Majestic lake Geneva, the Huge Lake Constance, all of which we wish to explore on the water. With an inland license, you can rent a houseboat in Belgium and Netherlands. Some companies even rent a license-free version of the house boats. Also the canals of France, especially Canal-du-midi is very popular amongst boaters. You can go through many river locks and river canal bridges. There are also several inland water possibilities in Scandinavia. leboat.com and clickaboat.com are some excellent websites to search for boat rentals in Europe.

The crown jewel of them all, the Mediterranean Sea will become accessible and is abound with many many many awe-inspiring cruising grounds.

On my Own on Water in Switzerland

You might even get or be interested in owning a motorboat (or a sailboat) in Switzerland. https://www.boat24.ch/ is a website to look for used boats. There are several boat vendors if you are looking for brand-new boats. New boats cost between 80K CHF to several hundred CHF. A secondhand boat depending on its condition be purchased for 10-30K CHF.

The biggest challenge in Switzerland’s boating scene is however a mooring place on the lake. Based on some forums online and some hearsay it takes 15-25 years to get a mooring place in Switzerland. There are reports of people getting a place after 35 years on Lake Zurich.

So if you really want to own a boat your option is to trailer it to the lake. You will have to secure a trailer parking place on the land somewhere, which is relatively easy to do. Also for it, you will need a car trailering license (category BE). Keep in mind that a boat is an expensive car and costs several thousand a year to maintain.

Another possibility is to rent boats. Renting in Zurich is rather expensive typically 500 CHF a day. Lake Geneva is much better with clickaboat.com for about 250 CHF/day.

My Boating Journey so far…

In the end, I managed to pass my theory exam and then moved on to complete my training in Lake Zurich for the Category A License. In August of 2023, I passed my driving test and am now a proud holder of the category A License. In September 2023 I even rented an 80 HP motorboat with obersee-boating on Lake Zurich a couple of times. It was super fun and opened new possibilities and new learnings. In a future post, I will describe what I learned in my motorboat lessons, so stay tuned.

Next, I went on to do a week-long sailing course with neuhaus segel schule in Interlaken on Lake Thun. After having completely immersed myself in sailing for a week, I successfully passed my Category D (sailboat) license. I will highly recommend neuhaus segel schule. Hopefully, in the future years, I can rent more motor and sailboats on Swiss lakes and have many enjoyable days. I am looking forward to sharing more blogs on it soon…!

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Search results for: "{{ searchquery }}"., the boating license’s ultimate guide for sailing abroad.

The international boating license question

Thinking of taking sail across Europe? Depending on your situation, you may need a boating licence to do so.

A boating licence is generally not a requirement when renting a vessel along with a guide. The guide (skipper) is certified and will handle all navigational demands while on board. However, in the case of a bareboat rental, no guide is present on the vessel, and some sort of certification is then necessary.

The type of certification may vary from country to country. Generally, however, the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, also known as the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is recognized by multiple jurisdictions and is sufficient for bareboat charters.

In this quick guide, we’ll get you acquainted with the regulations applicable across Europe’s most popular sailing destinations.

Do you need a boating license to rent a boat?  

If you wish to rent and sail abroad, here is a list to help you find your way around the different regulations in the most popular countries for yachting.

To drive a sailboat, no license is required in France even if significant experience is required.

On the other hand, a coastal license is required to use a motorboat with a power greater than 6 horsepower.  License extensions are required to navigate offshore (hauturier) or on lakes and rivers (fluvial). The ICC is also recognized by French authorities.

Boating licenses issued by the EU Member States are automatically valid and accepted in Greece. Those outside the European Union are accepted if they meet EU standards. Finally, licenses in languages other than English or Greek must be translated. To rent a boat in Greece , a license is required for sailing boats and motorboats with more than 30 horsepower. In addition to the ICC, Greece recognizes the American International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) and the International Sailing Licence and Credentials (SLC) by NauticEd.

Below 30 horsepower, a boat license is not required for motorboats. 

A license is required to drive a sailboat beyond 6 miles from a shelter. Regarding motorboats, there is no need for a boating license if the power is less than 40 horsepower. 

Italy accepts the ICC for use within its territory as a certificate of boating competence.

Croatia has the highest concentration of sailboats for rent in Europe, and safety is therefore paramount. This is why it is mandatory to have a VHF radio license (CRR) in addition to a boat license in order to be able to sail, regardless of the flag of the boat. The ICC is recognized by Croatian authorities.

Licence-free boat rentals are possible in Spain , provided the vessel is up to 5 metres in length, has a maximum of 15 Horsepower, covers a distance of less than 2 nautical miles from the coast, and is used only on a daytrip. Licence requirements are then dependent on the size of the boat, and are issued by Spanish authorities.

If in possession of a boating licence issued outside Spain, it is necessary to consult relevant authorities to establish if an exception can be issued. This is usually possible with an ICC, the UK Yacht Master Certification, and the US Coast Guard Licence. 

Regardless of the category of sailboat or motorboat, a license will be required. Similar to the way boats are rented in Greece, licenses issued by the EU Member States are automatically valid and accepted in Portugal. The ICC is generally accepted but prior confirmation is recommended.

A certificate of competence (Amatör Denizcilik Belgesi) is required to navigate for sports or leisure purposes. It cannot be used for commercial activities and is valid for the following boats:

• All motorboats 
• Vessels between 2.5 m and 24 m in length and up to 50 tonnes gross weight.

The ICC is also recognized for use in Turkey.

Similar to that in France, a nautical license is not required to use a sailboat. However, it will be necessary to have one if you want to rent a motorboat with a power greater than 15 horsepower, where in addition to local licencing, the ICC is recognized.

Netherlands

On Dutch inland waters, a small vessel licence ( klein vaarbewijs) is required for vessels longer than 15 metres in length, or shorter than 15 metres but capable of speeds above 20 kilometres per hour. A different licence ( groot pleziervaartbewijs) is required for vessels between 25 and 40 metres in length. The international equivalents of these licences, including the ICC, are recognized by Dutch authorities.

Local authorities do not require a permit to operate on coastal and inland waters. However, it is strongly recommended to have the necessary skills and experience to navigate safely. 

To rent a boat in Norway, it is necessary to have a licence if the vessel is longer than 8 metres or has more than 25 Horsepower. Licences issued by EU member states are recognized, as well as the ICC provided it includes coastal navigation.

United Kingdom

A licence is not required to operate a vessel on offshore waters of the UK. However, prior registration is required for sailing on inland waterways. A Boat Safety Scheme Certificate (BSSC) and boat insurance are required, as well as registration with the Environment Agency responsible for the specific inland waterway.

A pleasure craft can be operated licence-free if less than 12 metres in length and 4 metres in width. The Swedish licences (Förarintyg (Inshore Diploma) and Kustskepparintyg (Coastal Diploma)) are otherwise required. The ICC is not recognized by Swedish authorities, who instead recognize the Coastal Yachtmaster Diploma.

Switzerland

If you wish to sail in Switzerland, a boat license will be required if: 

• Engine power exceeds 8 horsepower
• The surface area of the sails is more than 15m2 

To drive a boat with a motor exceeding 8 horsepower, a Class A motor license will be required. For sailboats above the 15m2 boat’s sail limits, it is the category D sailing license that is required.

Swiss nationals wishing to sail at sea will be able to pass the sea license. The ICC is recognized only for non-Swiss residents.

For the rental of a boat in Monténegro, a license will be required, regardless of the type of boat. Locally and internationally-issued licences are recognized for use in Montenegro.

Can you rent a boat without a license?

Do you want to enjoy a boat rental but do not necessarily have a boat license? Don’t panic, several solutions exist: 

• You can decide to rent a boat without a license. Some boats are so small that they do not require a license . Again, this differs from country to country.
• Renting a boat with a skipper is an excellent solution if you want a complete and stress-free sailing experience.

You might like these articles

37th america’s cup 2024 in barcelona: the much-awaited sailing event is here, sail into safe waters: a guide to national safe boating week, top 10 christmas destinations for boating enthusiasts.

Your boat rental on Lake Lucerne

We are the first electric boat rental service on Lake Lucerne and strive to make your boating experience unforgettable. Therefore, you are in the right place with us if you want to experience your boat rental in an uncomplicated, fair, professional, and friendly manner. Whether you are heading for Lucerne with one of our pontoon boats or soaking up moments of leisure with friends and family, you are warmly welcome with us on Lake Lucerne!

Offer and Prices

2h for 220.– or 190.–

3h for 300.– or 260.–

4h for 380.– or 330.–

5h for 460.– or 400.–

The prices apply for a license-free boat rental for up to eight people, including VAT, insurance, electricity, and cleaning. A lower rate applies from Monday to Friday, except on federal or Nidwalden public holidays, when the standard rate applies.

At our Lake Lucerne boat rental, you can be your own captain even without a license. Rent top-of-the-line electric motorboats and experience Central Switzerland from its most beautiful side. Swim in the Bay of Horw or admire the natural scenery and the mountains. You can find ideas, as well as sights and interesting information on our blog.

License-free rental boats.

All rental boats in our fleet are of the same size and offer the same amenities. They are electrically powered pontoon boats with generous space, comfortable lounge seating, and room for up to eight people. The boats are easy to operate, and anyone, regardless of having a driver’s license, is allowed to take the helm, provided they are at least 18 years old.

Prepare a special surprise and give a voucher for a license-free boat rental to admire Lucerne from the lake. Or to sail around Mount Bürgenstock or to view Meggenhorn Castle. The voucher comes stylishly packaged and is freely redeemable for three years.

Reach out to us with any questions at [email protected] or on the number 078 671 01 32. Have you already booked? Then you’ll find our boat rental on the premises of Glasi Hergiswil, just a 3-minute walk from the S-Bahn station ‘Hergiswil’. Free parking spaces are generally available for your car.

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Business and License

Collections, entity registration, human resources, motor vehicle, property tax, sales and use, tax incentives, memo 2024-004 redesigned license plate.

TO:  Licensing Plate Issuing Officials SUBJECT:  Redesigned License Plate (MVD Memo 2024-004) DATE:  August 27, 2024

The Talladega College license plate has been redesigned and will be available for issuance beginning September 1, 2024. A supply of prenumbered license plates based on the number of current registrations in each country has been ordered and should be arriving soon. Personalized license plates may be ordered on demand through the ALVIN system. You may also place additional license plate orders using the ALVIN system.

The tag numbering scheme for the license plate may be found at https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/division/motor-vehicle/ under “License Plate and Registration Information” then “Fee Schedule” then “Registration File Information.”

Please contact the Motor Vehicle Division at 334-242-9000 if you have any questions.

Download a pdf of this memo .

View All Motor Vehicle News

Memo 2024-003 new and retained design license plates, memo 2024-002 new license plate.

Watch CBS News

Californians can now add digital driver's licenses, ID cards to Google Wallet

By Tim Fang

Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 2:09 PM PDT / CBS San Francisco

California residents with Android smartphones can now add their driver's licenses and ID cards to Google Wallet, the state's Department of Motor Vehicles announced Friday.

In a statement , the agency said California joins four other states in offering a digital driver's license on Google's platform.

"By bringing this capability to Android users in California, we're excited to provide yet another way for people to move seamlessly throughout their day," said Jenny Cheng, vice president and general manager of Google Wallet.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said, "It's never been easier to keep a digital driver's license and identification card in California. The state continues to work to offer convenience for those opting into the mobile driver's license program."

Last week, Newsom announced that mobile driver licenses would be coming to Apple Wallet soon .

'Meeting people where they're at'

The announcement builds off the agency's mobile driver's license (mDL) pilot program , which was launched last year and uses an app from the DMV. Officials said more than half a million Californians have added a mobile driver's license to their phones as part of the program, which is limited to 1.5 million residents.

"This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians, meeting people where they're at and with technology people use every day," the governor said last week.

According to the DMV, the digital licenses and ID cards are accepted as a valid form of ID at select retail locations and  TSA checkpoints at select airports across the United States .

As of Friday, California airports that accept digital identification are San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Physical IDs still required

While the DMV is adding digital options for licenses and ID cards, officials stressed that drivers are still required to carry their physical cards while driving. The agency said acceptance and use of mobile licenses will continue to evolve.

"We continue to expand the availability and acceptance of digital licenses and identification cards," said DMV Director Steve Gordon.

• Gavin Newsom
• California DMV

Tim Fang is a digital producer at CBS Bay Area. A Bay Area native, Tim has been a part of the CBS Bay Area newsroom for two decades and joined the digital staff in 2006.

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Labor Day weekend approaches. Here's how to save $1 per gallon at certain California gas stations.

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Everything you need to know about the Swiss sailing exam

Sailing licence cat. d.

On this page, you will find information on the following topics:

Sailing in Switzerland

Sailing abroad on inland waters, sailing at sea, how to get the licence cat. d, how much does the sailing exam cost, the costs for the sailing exam in the overview.

If you are sailing a boat in Switzerland, you must have a category D sailing licence if the sail area is 15 m2 or more. On Lake Constance, the licence requirement already applies from a sail area of 12 m2. If the sailing boat has a higher motorisation than 6 kW (Lake Constance 4.4 kW), the motorboat examination cat. A or the special motorboat test for sailing vessels under motor is required. This special sailing examination under motor makes sense if you don't want to take on the somewhat more elaborate motorboat examination. However, you won't have the possibility to drive motorboats with a higher propulsion power.

To obtain the sailing licence, a theory exam and a practical sailing exam must be taken. The theory exam is identical for motorboats and sailing boats. The exam is taken on a computer or tablet. If you already have a category A motorboat licence, you only have to take the practical exam. Once you have passed the theory test, you must demonstrate your sailing skills in the practical exam. Approximately 15 to 20 sailing lessons are required for optimal preparation for the exam.

The Swiss boat master's licence does not come in credit card format. The boat master's licence is issued on paper in A5 format.

If you want to sail abroad on inland waters, you should first clarify what the legal requirements are in the respective country. However, with the Swiss sailing certificate cat. D sailing certificate, you are in a good position and can sail on most lakes throughout Europe. Nevertheless, we recommend that you request an international skipper's licence from the shipping office in your canton of residence. These international skipper's licences are issued based on ECE Resolution No. 40. Countries that have signed ECE Resolution No. 40 recognise the international boat master's certificates issued by the cantons. All relevant information, in particular the list of countries that have signed ECE Resolution No. 40, can be found under the following link: ECE-Resolution Nr. 40

If you want to operate a motorised sailing vessel or a motorised sailing yacht at sea, then a Küstenschein , such as the German Sportbootführerschein See or the Hochseeausweis für Segelschiffe , is required.

If you would like to obtain the sailing licence cat. D, an application must first be submitted. In addition, a theoretical and a practical examination must be passed. For holders of the category A motorboat licence, the theoretical examination is not required.

Application for a boat master's licence

To obtain a sailing licence, an application must be submitted to the shipping office of the canton of residence for the issue of a skipper's licence for sailing vessels.

If you wish to take the practical examination in a canton other than your canton of residence, you must submit a justified application to the shipping office in your canton of residence. The theory examination is always taken in the canton of residence. The application form can be found on the website of the relevant navigation office. A separate application must be submitted for each category of licence.

The application must be accompanied by the following:

• Copy of the residence permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung)
• Eye test (not older than 24 months, issued by an authorised optician or ophthalmologist)
• Coloured passport photo
• A medical certificate is mandatory for applicants over 65 years of age

After the application has been processed, you will receive a permit with a photo. This permit must be presented at the theory and practical examination. The application is valid for two years.

Theoretical examination The theoretical motorboat examination for the cat. A licence is identical to the theoretical sailing exam cat. D and is taken on a computer or tablet and is taken at the responsible shipping office. In the exam, you have to answer a questionnaire with a total of 60 questions within 50 minutes. One or two answers can be correct. Each incorrect answer results in one demerit point.

If all three answers are ticked or if none of the three possible answers are ticked, three demerit points are awarded. To pass the theoretical motorboat exam, you must achieve at least 165 points out of a total of 180 points. We recommend that you use BoatDriver's tried and tested online course to prepare for the theory exam, as this will guarantee your success. We offer a money-back guarantee on your exam success!

Practical exam The practical sailing examination can only be taken after passing the theory examination. The practical sailing examination determines whether the applicant can safely navigate a vessel according to the traffic regulations, as well as under special circumstances. The practical sailing examination usually lasts 60 minutes.

The following topics will be examined:

• To belay and to leave/push off
• Various sailing manoeuvres
• Course and location determination
• Man-over-board manoeuvre

In addition, the candidate can be questioned orally on the basics of ship handling at the practical sailing examination.

To be optimally prepared for the sailing exam, you need an experienced sailing school. As practical training requires about 15-20 hours of sailing lessons, we recommend that you choose a sailing school near you. Tips on how to find a suitable sailing school can be found on the page "Boat schools in Switzerland".

If you want to sail a boat with a sail area of more than 15 m² in Switzerland, you need a cat. D. On Lake Constance, you need a licence for boats with a sail area of 12 m² or more.

The sailing exam consists of a theoretical and a practical exam, whereby the theory test, as with the car test, must be passed before the practical test.

The question arises as to how much the complete sailing exam costs. We have compiled the costs for you using the example of the canton of Zurich.

The costs for registration and eye test If you want to take the sailing exam, you must apply to the shipping office in your canton of residence for a category D boat master's licence and submit an eye test. The requirements for the eye test are included directly in the application form. In the canton of Zurich, no costs are due for processing the application. The cost for the eye test amount to approximately CHF 20.–.

The cost of the theory test For the theory exam containing just under 500 questions, you can prepare yourself with various learning materials. We at BoatDriver have been offering learning materials for over 15 years. Thanks to years of experience, we have made exam preparation easier than any other provider. And because we are convinced of the solution, we guarantee exam success with the money-back guarantee. The cost of the online course for the theory exam is just under CHF 30.–. The examination fee for the theory exam at the shipping office is CHF 40.–.

If you already obtained a motorboat licence cat. A, it's not necessary to take the theory exam again, you can start with practical training right away. However, please note that you should still study the theory, as the theory may also be tested during the practical exam.

The costs for practical sailing training For the practical sailing training, you usually need between 15 and 25 sailing lessons. One lesson costs on average about CHF 100.–. Thus, the entire practical training costs between CHF 1,500 and 2,000. For the boat rental at the practical exam, you still have to calculate about CHF 80.–. The exam fee for the practical sailing exam costs about CHF 140.–. The exam fee for the practical sailing exam is about CHF 140.–. Finally, you have to pay about CHF 50.– for the issuing of the skipper's licence.

* Canton of Zurich

Please note that the costs for the motorboat examination can vary. Depending on the canton you take the exam in, there are different processing and examination fees. In addition, the costs for the practical training depend on the respective candidate and the corresponding boating school. The information is to be understood as an example.

Questions and answers: Sailing licence cat. D

What is the minimum age for the sailing licence cat. d, how much does the boating exam cost, how much horsepower is a sailing boat allowed to have without a licence in switzerland, is the sailing exam difficult, how does the sailing exam work, can i take the sailing licence exam online, how long does the training for the boat licence (sailing) take, how long does the boating exam take, how many hours of boating do i need to pass the sailing exam, which category is sailing, from what age am i allowed to sail, what does the practical sailing exam look like, what knots do you need to know for the boat exam, how do i prepare for the sailing exam, why do i need to take the sailing exam, where is the sailing licence valid, where do i have to take the boat exam.

To obtain the Cat. D sailing licence, you must be at least 14 years old. You can find more information about the sailing licence at the top of this page.

Information on the costs of the sailing exam can be found in the section "How much does the sailing exam cost?" ?

In Switzerland, a sailing vessel under motor may be operated without a licence up to a maximum engine power of 6 kW (Lake Constance 4.4 kW). This corresponds to about 8 hp (Lake Constance approx. 6 hp). The minimum age is 14 years.

From an engine power of more than 6 kW (Lake Constance 4.4 kW), you need a category A motorboat licence or the special motorboat test for sailing boats under power. The minimum age is 18 years.

The sailing test consists of a theory exam and a practical exam, like the driving exam.

The theory exam consists of just under 500 questions. Since up to two answers can be correct, you have to read the questions and answers carefully. As we know all the official exam questions, we recommend that you use BoatDriver's online course to prepare for the theory exam because then your exam success is guaranteed. We offer a money-back guarantee on your exam success. You can find more information about the theory exam in the section "How to get the licence cat. D" .

The practical exam is demanding and takes a full hour. This is also the reason why 15 to 20 sailing hours are necessary until you are ready for the exam. To shorten the training time, it makes sense to study the knots and sailing manoeuvres before the practical training.

The best place to start is with theory preparation. We recommend the proven BoatDriver online course. When you are ready to take the exam, you can register for an exam at the shipping office in your canton of residence. However, you must first submit an application for a boating licence to the shipping office.

Even if you have not yet taken the theory test, you can start with the practical lessons. You can find tips on how to choose a suitable boat driving school on the page "Boat driving schools in Switzerland".

Preparation for the theory test can be done completely online. We recommend the tried and tested online course for the theory exam. However, the exam itself can only be taken on site at the shipping office of the canton of residence. Preparation for the practical exam can be done using the online course for sailing practice.

For the preparation for the theory exam, you have to reckon with about 15 to 20 hours.

15 to 20 sailing lessons are usually needed to ready yourself for the practical exam. We recommend, if time permits, to complete the entire training within three months.

The theory exam lasts 50 minutes, the practical exam lasts one hour.

You can find more information on this in the section "The way to the sailing certificate cat. D" .

15 to 20 sailing lessons are usually needed to ready yourself for the practical exam.

Sailing boat is category D and entitles the holder to drive sailing boats with a sail area of up to 15 m 2 (Lake Constance 12 m 2 ). If the sailing vessel has more than 6 kW (Lake Constance 4.4 kW), the motorboat licence cat. A or the special licence for sailing vessels under motor is also required.

There is no minimum age for sailing vessels of less than 15 m 2 sail area (Lake Constance 12 m 2 ). However, if you want to sail vessels of more than the sail area mentioned above, you must have a sailing certificate. The minimum age is 14 years.

The practical sailing test lasts one hour and the following can be tested:

• To belay and to leave/push off/

In addition, the candidate can be questioned orally about the basics of ship handling.

What knots do you need to know for the boat exam? The following knots must be mastered at the practical examination:

• Clove hitch
• Round turn with two half hitches
• Figure of eight knot
• Anchor bend
• Bitter/li>

We recommend that the knots are practised before the practical training. That way, you won't have to spend your sailing lessons practising knots.

The BoatDriver learning kit already includes a knot set that comes with ropes and a cleat.

Preparing for the theory exam can be done in self-study, ideally with BoatDriver's proven online course. The course contains all the official theory questions and if you get stuck, a BoatDriver expert is available to help you free of charge.

When preparing for the practical sailing exam, it is recommended that you learn the nautical knots. Mastering these when you get on the boat will save you time and money. A knot set with detailed instructions is included in the sailing learning kit.

It can also be helpful if you familiarise yourself with the manoeuvres before the practical lesson, as this will make manoeuvring easier during the lesson. With the online sailing practice course, you can study the manoeuvres in advance.

If you want to sail a vessel with a sail area of more than 15 m 2 (Lake Constance 12 m 2 ) in Switzerland, you need a cat. D boat licence.

The category D sailing licence is valid in Switzerland on all waters authorised for navigation. Except for the stretch of the Rhine between Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen, the licence is also valid on the border waters.

The theoretical examination must be taken at the shipping office in your canton of residence. The practical examination should also take place in your canton of residence. However, it is also possible to submit a justified request for the practical examination to be taken in another canton. The practical examination starts at the examination jetty of the respective body of water.

Stand 31.01.2023 (MN)

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