Boat insurance without a license
When you purchase boat insurance, you will be asked if you have a boating license. If you do not have a boating license, this is not immediately a problem. You do not need a license for every boat. Whether you need a license depends on the maximum speed and length of your boat. Do you not need a boating license to drive your boat? Then you can simply insure your boat even without a boating license.
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So when do you need a boating license?
So whether you need a boating license depends on two factors:
- The maximum speed of your boat
- The length of your boat
Anyone may drive a sailboat, rowboat, paddleboat or canoe, provided it is smaller than 7 meters. There is no age restriction on this. For boats between 7 meters and 15 meters, the driver must be at least 16 years old. For all boats longer than 15 meters, you need a boating license. In addition, the driver of the boat must be at least 18 years old. The maximum speed of the boat is also considered. If a motorboat can go faster than 20 km/h, it is a fast motorboat and you need a license. A dinghy with more than 5 HP, can usually go faster than 20 km per hour. Therefore, you will still need a boating license for that. Thus, when insuring a boat, it does not matter if you do not have a boating license, provided you do not need one for your boat either.
Is boat insurance mandatory?
In the Netherlands it is not mandatory to insure your boat. However, in some situations a WA boat insurance is mandatory. This is for example at competitions, in a marina, in a boat shed or on (part of) the waterways. With a third-party boat insurance you are insured for damage you cause to another person with your boat. Are you going to sail your boat outside Dutch waters? Then it is important that you check what the rules are in the country where you are sailing. In some countries boat insurance is legally required. This is often the case in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia.
Frequently asked questions about insuring a boat
Do I need a boating license for my boat?
You do not need a boating license for every boat. In the Netherlands: can the boat go faster than 20 km/h, or is the boat longer than 15 meters? Then you need a boating license. These rules vary by country.
Can I insure my boat with only Boating License 1?
Certainly, when insuring a boat, it does not matter whether you have Boating License 1, Boating License 2 or no boating license. The number only indicates in which you are allowed to sail. Sailing license 1 allows you to sail on rivers, canals and lakes. This license is suitable for (smaller) inland waters. Sailing License 2 also allows you to sail on larger waters or coastal waters.
What should I look for when buying boat insurance?
In general, there are a number of factors that determine a boat insurance premium. Each insurer has different policy terms and conditions, making boat insurance cheaper with one insurer than another. When comparing boat insurance policies, it is therefore important that, in addition to the differences in premium, you carefully analyze the policy terms. Read more.
Boat insurance without a boating license? Calculate the premium immediately!
Even without a boating license, you can insure your boat on Alpina.nl The first step is to compare boat insurance. To do this, you enter some data, in our online comparison tool. These are some details about your boat, such as the type of vessel, engine power and fuel type. You will also be asked whether you have a boating license, what your desired sailing area is and how many claim-free years you have accumulated with your vessel. You will also of course choose the coverage for your insurance. Based on this information, the premiums are then calculated. Once you have found a boat insurance that suits your needs, you can take out your insurance directly online.
Calculate your boat insurance premium right away!
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