# Boat Rental in Corfu: Hiring a Boat Without a Licence > Boat rental in Corfu without a licence: the 30 hp rule, age and documents, where to go on the north-east and west coasts, safety and practical tips. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/boat-rental-corfu/ Last updated: 2026-10-21 --- Yes, you can hire a boat in Corfu without a licence. Greek rules allow anyone to drive a small motorboat with an outboard engine of up to 30 hp (up to 15 hp for an inflatable RIB) without a boating licence, and Corfu’s sheltered north-east coast is one of the best places in Greece to do it. Expect to show a passport or ID card, be at least 18 to sign the hire agreement, and stay within the area the hirer marks on your map. ## Quick facts - **Licence-free limit:** engines up to 30 hp on a conventional boat, up to 15 hp on an inflatable; jet skis above 15 hp need a licence - **Age:** hirers generally require the person signing and driving to be 18 or over - **Documents:** passport or national ID card; a deposit is normally taken - **Best area:** the north-east coast between Kalami and Kassiopi, for calm mornings and many small coves - **Season:** roughly May to October, depending on weather and demand - **Time needed:** half a day (about four hours) is enough for most first-timers; a full day for confident drivers ## The rules: what you can drive without a licence Greek rules on recreational craft set the licence threshold by engine power, not by boat length. In plain terms: - **Conventional boats** (fibreglass or wooden) with an outboard engine up to **30 hp** can be driven without a licence. Above 30 hp outboard (or above 40 hp inboard-outboard, or 70 hp diesel inboard) you need a Greek speedboat licence or a recognised foreign equivalent. - **Inflatable boats and RIBs** have a lower threshold: up to **15 hp** outboard without a licence. - **Jet skis** with engines over 15 hp require a licence, which in practice means virtually all of them. Holiday jet ski rides on Corfu beaches are run with an instructor or a licensed operator for this reason. The rules apply nationwide and are enforced by the Hellenic Coast Guard (Limeniko Soma), which runs patrols around busy coasts in summer. A 30 hp boat is no speedboat, but it is plenty to explore the coves of the north-east coast at a relaxed pace. It will feel noticeably slower with five or six people aboard, so allow extra time for the return leg. ### Age, documents and deposit Hire firms in Corfu almost always require the person signing the contract and driving the boat to be at least 18. Some ask that every adult who will take the helm is named on the agreement. You will need a passport or EU national ID card. Most operators take a deposit, by card or in cash. If you plan to hire anything above 30 hp, bring your original licence (not a photo); hirers generally accept Greek licences and recognised foreign equivalents such as the ICC, but check in advance. ### Insurance and what you are liable for Ask to see what the boat’s insurance covers and what it does not. Damage to the propeller, the hull from hitting rocks, and running aground are common exclusions or carry an excess. Ask for the excess amount in writing before you set off. ## Where to hire and where to go in Corfu ### The north-east coast This is the classic licence-free boating coast. Between Nissaki and Kassiopi, the island faces the Albanian mainland across a narrow strait, so the sea is usually calm in the morning and the coastline is cut into [dozens of pebble coves](https://theauthenticgreece.com/best-beaches-in-corfu/), many reachable only by boat or by steep paths. Small hire bases operate from beaches and harbours at places such as Nissaki, Kalami, Agios Stefanos Sinion and Kassiopi. A typical half-day from the Kalami area might take in the coves of Kerasia and Agni, a swim off the rocks near Kouloura, and a lunch stop at [a taverna with its own jetty](https://theauthenticgreece.com/corfu-food/). Kalami is the bay where the writer Lawrence Durrell lived in the 1930s in [the White House on the waterfront](https://theauthenticgreece.com/things-to-do-in-corfu/), and it looks especially fine from the water. One serious point: at its narrowest the strait is only about 3 km wide, and the sea border with Albania runs down it. Crossing into Albanian waters on a hire boat is not permitted, and hire contracts set clear boundaries. Stay on the Greek side of the channel and well within the area marked on your map. ### Paleokastritsa and the west coast Boats also hire out from [the bays of Paleokastritsa](https://theauthenticgreece.com/paleokastritsa/) and from some west-coast bays such as Agios Georgios Pagon. The scenery is more dramatic, with cliffs, sea caves and bays below Angelokastro, but the west coast faces the open Ionian and is far more exposed. The summer north-westerly wind, known locally as the *maistros*, often builds through the afternoon, and the swell can make small boats uncomfortable or unsafe. Here a morning hire is strongly recommended, and many first-timers prefer to join an organised trip to the caves instead. ### The south and east Boats can also be found at resorts such as Benitses, Messonghi and Lefkimmi, as well as near [Gouvia marina north of Corfu Town](https://theauthenticgreece.com/where-to-stay-in-corfu/). The coastline here is gentler and less spectacular, but it is sheltered and suits a relaxed day of swimming stops. ## On the water: safety and etiquette - **Get a proper briefing.** A good hirer will explain the controls, the kill cord, how to anchor, where fuel is, and the area you may use. Ask questions until you are comfortable. If the briefing is rushed, that tells you something. - **Wear the kill cord.** It stops the engine if the driver falls overboard. - **Count the life jackets.** There must be one for every person aboard, including children’s sizes if you have children. Check before leaving. - **Keep clear of swimmers.** Port regulations keep motorboats out of marked swimming zones and restrict speed close to the shore. Approach beaches at walking pace, never drive through areas marked with buoys, and watch for snorkellers, who are hard to see. - **Anchor carefully.** Drop anchor on sand, not on seagrass or rocks, and make sure the boat swings clear of others. Do not tie up to private jetties without asking. - **No alcohol at the helm.** Drink-driving rules apply at sea, and the coast guard does check. - **Watch the time and the fuel.** Most hire boats come with a set amount of fuel. Leave a margin to get back, and return early if the wind picks up. - **Carry a phone in a waterproof pouch.** Save the hirer’s number. In an emergency, the European number 112 works, and the coast guard’s own emergency number in Greece is 108. ## What to bring Sun protection matters more on a boat than on a beach: there is reflection off the water and often little shade, although many hire boats have a small canopy. Bring hats, high-factor sun cream, plenty of drinking water, snorkels and masks, water shoes for rocky landings, a dry bag for phones and wallets, and a light top for the ride back. Food can be picked up at a taverna on the way, but a picnic gives you more freedom to stop wherever you like. ## Choosing a hire company We do not recommend specific operators, but a few checks help. Look at the condition of the boats on the beach: clean hulls, tidy ropes and working canopies are good signs. Ask what the price includes (fuel, snorkelling gear, a cool box, insurance excess) and whether there is a cancellation policy for bad weather. Reputable hirers will refuse to send boats out in strong winds, even if it costs them business, and that is the attitude you want. ## Practical tips - **Book a morning slot:** seas are calmer, the coves emptier and the light better for swimming. In July and August, book a day or two ahead. - **Check the forecast:** avoid days with strong north-westerly winds on the west coast, or strong southerlies on the east coast. Your hirer will advise. - **Prices:** rates vary by season, boat size and hours, and they change each year. Fuel may be included or charged separately. Compare two or three hirers locally. - **Children:** small children must wear life jackets at all times on the water. Plan short legs between swimming stops. - **Not confident?** A boat with a skipper (a captain provided by the hirer) costs more but takes away all the worry, and skippers know the best coves. Licence rules and local port regulations can change. Before you go, confirm the current requirements with your hire company or the Corfu port authority. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do you need a licence to rent a boat in Corfu? Not for small boats. In Greece you can drive a conventional boat with an outboard engine up to 30 hp, or an inflatable up to 15 hp, without a licence. Anything more powerful requires a Greek speedboat licence or a recognised foreign equivalent. ### How old do you have to be to hire a boat in Corfu? Hire companies generally require the person signing the contract and driving the boat to be at least 18. Younger passengers are welcome but must wear life jackets. ### What documents do I need to rent a boat without a licence? A passport or EU national ID card is normally enough, plus a deposit. If you hire a boat above 30 hp, you also need your original boating licence. ### Where is the best place to rent a boat in Corfu? The north-east coast between Nissaki and Kassiopi is the most popular area because it is sheltered and full of small coves. Paleokastritsa on the west coast is more dramatic but more exposed to wind and swell, so go in the morning. ### Can I take a rental boat to Albania from Corfu? No. The sea border with Albania runs down the narrow strait off the north-east coast, and licence-free hire boats must stay in Greek waters within the area set by the hirer. To visit Albania, take one of the scheduled ferries from Corfu Town. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do you need a licence to rent a boat in Corfu? Not for small boats. In Greece you can drive a conventional boat with an outboard engine up to 30 hp, or an inflatable up to 15 hp, without a licence. Anything more powerful requires a Greek speedboat licence or a recognised foreign equivalent. ### How old do you have to be to hire a boat in Corfu? Hire companies generally require the person signing the contract and driving the boat to be at least 18. Younger passengers are welcome but must wear life jackets. ### What documents do I need to rent a boat without a licence? A passport or EU national ID card is normally enough, plus a deposit. If you hire a boat above 30 hp, you also need your original boating licence. ### Where is the best place to rent a boat in Corfu? The north-east coast between Nissaki and Kassiopi is the most popular area because it is sheltered and full of small coves. Paleokastritsa on the west coast is more dramatic but more exposed to wind and swell, so go in the morning. ### Can I take a rental boat to Albania from Corfu? No. The sea border with Albania runs down the narrow strait off the north-east coast, and licence-free hire boats must stay in Greek waters within the area set by the hirer. To visit Albania, take one of the scheduled ferries from Corfu Town.