Living onboard a luxury canal boat is what we all dream of. Especially when the weathers are on your side and you can truly enjoy the beautiful scenery and nature the UK has to offer.
However, in order to use your canal boat on the inland waterways of the UK, you will need to pay a mandatory licence fee to the authority, which is The Canal and River Trust.
Why do we need a boat licence?
One of the main reasons the trust charges a licence fee is to upkeep and maintain the over 250-year-old water transport system. The iron aqueducts, tunnels and other areas would need considerable resources to keep them in a condition whereby boaters are able to use them easily and safely.
Estimated costs from The Canal & River Trust suggests that the maintenance bill comes up to be more than £140 million each year to which the Government contributes to half of the value. This shows how much the system relies on the boaters contributions to fund the upkeep.
Different types of licences
The Canal & River Trust offers different licences that are suitable for different canal uses.
Pleasure licence – Home mooring
Please licences (Standard Boat Licences) are the most popular licence boaters pay. This covers the majority of the inland waterways that narrow boaters will use during their time on the water. The fee would depend on the location, size and usage of your boat.
Long term licences are also issued for those who are using their boat as a home. Prices are reviewed annually, so its best to check The Canal & River Trust website for updates.
Continuous cruiser licence
If you don’t want to home moor in a location for a long time, then a continuous cruising license is what you need. You’ll need to have either a six months or twelve months long term license. With this licence, you can move around every 14 days and explore different areas of the waterways.
Gold Licencing
The Gold licence gives you the best of both worlds. If you regularly use your boat in both the Canal & River Trust waterways and others that are owned by the Environment Agency (EA) then this is the licence you need. Find out more information about Gold Licences here.
For more information on costs, the different licences and their term and conditions, please visit the Canal & River Trust website.
