Boating regulation · Tenerife
Do you need a licence to rent a boat in Tenerife?
Yes, from 1 October 2026. Skippering a rental boat yourself requires a nautical licence.
The exemption that allowed certain small boats to be skippered without a licence now applies only to private use (Royal Decree 1188/2025). It is a national change and applies across Spain.
What does not change
The change is about who is at the helm, not about going out to sea. A private charter still requires no licence from the customer, because a skipper comes on board: you enjoy the day and we take care of the helm.
Your options
- With a skipper. A private charter, no paperwork.
- With your own licence. If you already hold one, you take the helm. You declare it when booking, and the contract records its type and number.
- By getting the licence. We are preparing a course in Los Gigantes. Dates and price have not been published yet: there is a waiting list so we can let you know as soon as places open.
Where we operate
AD Boat Rental operates from the Los Gigantes marina, in south-west Tenerife: self-drive boats and skippered private charters. Durations and day-by-day availability are on the fleet page.
Calle Poblado Marinero, s/n · 38683 Los Gigantes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Phone and WhatsApp: +34 685 455 535 ·
info@adboatrental.com