Can I drive a boat or jet-ski without a licence?
No above the power limits — and jet-skis always need a licence. Under General Port Regulation 20, you need a speedboat-operator licence if the boat has an outboard >30 HP, a petrol inboard >40 HP, or a diesel inboard >70 HP (inflatables: 15/30/50 HP). Any jet-ski and water-jet craft over 15 HP is a speedboat and always needs a licence. Minimum age 18. Banned within 100 m of swimmers' buoys (200 m unbuoyed), with a 5-knot limit within 200 m of any shore. Jet-skis need registration, safety gear and a dead-man cut-off. In short: no without a licence above the limits; jet-skis never without one.
📋 The rules
- Licence if: outboard >30 HP, petrol inboard >40, diesel >70
- Jet-ski and water-jet >15 HP: always a licence
- Minimum operator age: 18 (valid to 65)
- Banned within 100 m of swimmers' buoys
- 5-knot limit within 200 m of the shore
🔓 Exceptions
- Traditional wooden inboard boats: exempt
- Craft below the power limits: no licence
- No operation above Beaufort 5 or at night
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Operating without a licence is fined €50 to €60,000 (Art. 157 of the Maritime Code, replaced by Art. 24 of Law 4532/2018), plus suspension up to 60 days and vessel detention. Renting craft without approval is fined €2,000–€30,000. Beware myths: "minimum age 16 for jet-skis" — wrong for operating (16 applies only to a towed-activity passenger); the operator is 18; the "300 m from shore" rule is a local Port Authority overlay — the baseline is 100/200 m; and the flat "€1,500 fine" isn't in the law. To stay compliant: get the operator licence if you exceed the limits, register the jet-ski, wear a life jacket and keep your distance from swimmers.
📎 Official sources
- General Port Regulation 20 (Gazette 444/B/1999) →
- Art. 157 Maritime Code (Law 4532/2018) →
- gov.gr — speedboat-operator licence →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a licence to drive a boat?
It depends on the power. You need a speedboat-operator licence if the outboard engine exceeds 30 HP, a petrol inboard exceeds 40 HP or a diesel one exceeds 70 HP (for inflatables the limits are 15/30/50 HP). Below those limits you can drive without a licence.
Do I need a licence for a jet-ski?
Yes, always. Every jet-ski and any water-jet craft over 15 HP is a speedboat and needs an operator licence. In addition, the jet-ski must be registered, carry safety gear and have a dead-man cut-off switch.
What's the minimum age?
The minimum age for the speedboat-operator licence is 18. It's a myth that the age for operating a jet-ski is 16 — the 16 applies only to a passenger in towed activities. The licence is usually valid up to 65.
Where am I banned from going?
Operating is banned within 100 metres of swimmers' buoys, or 200 metres where there are no buoys. In addition, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 200 metres of any shore, for the safety of swimmers.
What fine do I risk without a licence?
Operating without a licence is fined from €50 to €60,000 depending on severity, plus possible suspension up to 60 days and detention of the vessel. Renting craft without approval is fined separately, €2,000–€30,000.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “speedboat licence power limits”
- “jet-ski operator licence”
- “boat without licence fine”
- “speedboat licence age”
- “jet-ski distance from shore”
- “renting boat fine”