BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Getting the French coastal license: price, duration, and what it really unlocks

The permis côtier in practice: about €350, one day of training, no power limit on rentals — boating's best investment.

One RIB rental a year is enough to pay it back: the French coastal license is boating's cheapest master key. Here is what to expect, and what it concretely changes for your rentals.

The format

Expect about €350 (€250-450 depending on the school), a 30-question theory exam (the 'code of the sea', revisable online over a few evenings) and a mandatory 2-3 hours at the helm. Many schools wrap it all in a weekend. It is valid for life, no medical required.

What it unlocks

Any recreational motorboat, with no power limit, up to 6 miles from shelter — in other words the entire day-rental market: powerful RIBs, motorboats, day-cruisers. Beyond 6 miles, the offshore extension (charts and navigation) can be added later if cruising calls.

What it does not cover

Sail requires no license in France (operators ask for a sailing résumé instead), and boats under 6 hp rent with nothing at all. Abroad, the French license is widely recognised (Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia accept it for standard rentals) — carry the original.

The tip

Take it off-season (January-April): schools are available, rates sometimes discounted, and you are ready for summer. Once it is in your pocket, the rental field widens at a stroke — and day prices beat the 'mandatory skipper' formulas clearly.

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Also worth reading

• How much does it cost to rent a boat in 2026? Real prices
• License-Free Boat Rental in France: Rules, Prices & Where to Book
• Renting with or without a skipper: how to choose