You Cannot Rent a Boat in Croatia Without a Licence: How the Skipper Option Works

24 August 2026 · 6 min read

A speedboat approaching the cliffs of Biševo near the Blue Cave

You cannot take a rental boat out yourself without a valid licence, full stop. What you can do without one is rent the same boat with a skipper aboard. Here is how that actually works, and what a self-drive rental involves if you do hold one.

Key takeaways

  • •A valid boat licence, and a VHF radio certificate, are a legal requirement to operate a rental boat in Croatia. We check it at handover, not on trust.
  • •Without a licence, the boat still goes out, but only with a licensed skipper aboard, arranged at an additional fee agreed separately from the rental price.
  • •A refundable security deposit is due on collection, from €500 to €1,500 depending on the boat, and returned in full if the boat comes back on time with the same fuel level.
  • •Fuel is never included in the rental price. Each boat burns 20 to 60 litres an hour depending on size, and you return it with what you took out.
  • •You are responsible for the boat during the rental and liable for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear, which is what the deposit is there to cover.
  • •A day rental starts at 08:00 and needs at least 12 hours notice, so a booking after 20:00 rolls to the following day.

This is the one rule on the whole site with no workaround: you cannot take a rental boat out yourself in Croatia without a valid boat licence. It is a legal requirement, not a house policy, and we check it when you collect the keys. What you can still do without one is rent the exact same boat with a licensed skipper aboard.

What counts as a valid licence

A recognised boat licence for the category of vessel you are renting, plus a VHF radio operator certificate, both checked at collection. The specific requirement is listed on each boat's own page, since it scales with the size of the boat: a small day boat and a 1,200-litre-tank cruiser are not governed by the same category.

No licence? The boat with a skipper

This is not a downgrade, it is the same boat. Without a licence, we still rent it to you, but a licensed skipper comes aboard and takes the boat out. The skipper is arranged and priced separately from the rental itself, agreed when you book, and is not something bundled invisibly into the day rate. If you plan to bring your own licence holder in the group, that also satisfies the requirement, so long as they are the one named as operating the boat and their licence is what gets checked.

If you do have a licence: what self-drive involves

A refundable security deposit is due when you collect the boat, and it varies by vessel, roughly €500 on the smaller boats up to €1,500 on the larger ones. It is returned in full provided the boat comes back on time and with the same fuel level it left with. Fuel is never included in the day rate on any boat; consumption runs from around 20 litres an hour on the smallest boat in the fleet to 60 on the largest, so it is worth checking the figure on your specific boat's page before you plan a long day trip to Hvar and back.

You are responsible for the boat and its equipment for the whole rental period, and liable for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear. That liability is exactly what the deposit exists to cover, which is also why it is refundable rather than a fee: nothing changes hands if the boat comes back the way it left.

Booking a rental

A rental day starts at 08:00, and we ask for at least 12 hours notice measured against that start, so a request made after 20:00 rolls to the next available day rather than the same morning. Multi-day rentals are discounted the longer you keep the boat. Full details, including exact skipper fees and the deposit for a specific boat, are on the boat rentals page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a boat in Croatia without a licence?
Not to drive it yourself, that is a legal requirement checked at handover. Without a licence we still rent the boat, but only with a licensed skipper aboard, arranged for an additional fee agreed separately.
What licence do I need to rent a boat in Trogir?
A valid boat licence for the category of the vessel plus a VHF radio certificate. The specific requirement is listed on each boat's own page.
Is a security deposit required for a boat rental?
Yes, a refundable deposit is due on collection, roughly €500 to €1,500 depending on the boat, returned in full if the boat is returned on time with the same fuel level.
Is fuel included in the boat rental price?
No. Fuel is never included; you return the boat with the same fuel level you collected it with. Consumption runs 20 to 60 litres an hour depending on the boat.
What happens if I damage the rental boat?
You are responsible for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear during the rental period. This is what the security deposit covers.
Can I rent a boat for just half a day?
Rentals are priced per day. Contact us if a shorter arrangement would work for what you have planned.
How much does a skipper cost on a boat rental?
It is arranged and priced separately from the rental itself, agreed with you at booking, since it depends on the boat and the length of the rental.

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