What you can rent without a boat licence
Italian rules allow you to drive a small motorboat without a licence when the engine stays under a defined power threshold — commonly quoted as 40 hp — and you remain within limits on distance from shore and boat size, with no night navigation [VERIFY current regulations]. In practice this means the 5–6 metre open boats and inflatables you see lined up in every harbour, doing 8–15 knots, comfortable for four to six people.
Above that threshold you need a patente nautica, and no reputable rental company will hand over a bigger boat without seeing one. Anyone who offers to is exposing you to an uninsured incident, which on a coast with this much boat traffic is a bad bet. If you want a larger, faster or more comfortable vessel, hire it with a skipper — the skipper carries the licence.
Ticket comparison: rental formats and real costs
| Format | Capacity | Day rate (before fuel) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small dinghy, no licence | 4–5 | €180–€280 | Half-day options common |
| 6 m open boat, no licence | 5–6 | €250–€400 | Sunshade, cooler, ladder |
| Traditional gozzo, no licence | 5–6 | €300–€450 | Slow, comfortable, shaded |
| Boat with skipper | 6–8 | €450–€900 | No licence needed, local knowledge |
| RIB with licence | 6–8 | €400–€700 | Fast, reaches Capri legally if permitted |
| Yacht with crew | 8–12 | €1,500+ | Full-day charter category |
The honest total is not the day rate. Add fuel (€40–€150 depending on how hard you run the engine), a mooring or beach-club fee if you tie up anywhere serviced, and the Emerald Grotto or reserve fees if you visit. A €280 boat often becomes a €400 day. Compare that with a skippered private tour before you assume self-drive is cheaper — for four people it frequently is not.
Fuel is usually charged on consumption, not a flat fee. Ask how it is measured before you leave, and photograph the gauge at handover and return.
Timing is everything
- Collect the boat at opening time, around 09:00. Morning sea is flat; by 15:00 a westerly chop makes a 6-metre boat uncomfortable and slow.
- Plan to be heading home by 16:30, not at 18:00. Most contracts require return before sunset and charge for late arrival.
- Half-day morning slots are better value than half-day afternoons for exactly this reason.
- Check the forecast for wind, not rain. Anything over roughly 15 knots turns a pleasant day into a wet, tiring one on a small hull.
- Rental season runs broadly April to October; outside it, availability drops to a handful of operators [VERIFY].
- August requires booking days ahead. In May or October you can often walk up and negotiate.
Insider entry: how to run a self-drive day well
- 1Go west first, come back with the windHead out towards Positano and Li Galli early while the sea is flat, then let the afternoon westerly push you back east towards Amalfi. Doing it the other way means a wet return.
- 2Anchor on sand or gravel, never seagrassPosidonia meadows are protected. Look for the pale patches; if the bottom is dark green, move. Fines exist and so does the ecological reason for them.
- 3Take twice the water you think you needThere is no shade on an open boat and no shop between coves. Two litres per person minimum, plus a cooler if the rental supplies one.
- 4Save the fjord for the calmest hourFurore and the sea caves near Conca dei Marini need flat water to enter safely. Do them at 10:00, not after lunch.
- 5Photograph everything at handoverHull, propeller, fuel gauge, existing scratches. Deposit disputes are the commonest complaint in boat rental, and photos end them in one message.
How to save
- Split a no-licence boat between five or six people: it undercuts almost every shared tour on a per-head basis.
- Book a half-day morning rather than a full day — the last two hours are usually spent motoring home anyway.
- Run at cruising revs rather than full throttle: fuel is the variable cost you control, and it can halve.
- Bring your own snorkel gear, cooler and towels instead of paying add-on rates.
- Rent from Amalfi or Praiano rather than Positano, where the same boat typically costs more [VERIFY].
- Pack lunch. Anchoring off a beach club and swimming ashore for a sandwich costs a fraction of a table with a mooring fee.
Where to rent and how to reach the base
| Base | Good for | How to get there |
|---|---|---|
| Amalfi harbour | Central position, biggest choice | Ferry from Salerno or SITA bus |
| Positano | Li Galli and the western coast | SITA bus or seasonal ferry |
| Praiano | Quiet water, lower prices | SITA bus from Amalfi or Positano |
| Sorrento | Capri side, larger boats | Circumvesuviana train |
| Marina del Cantone (Nerano) | Punta Campanella reserve | Bus or taxi from Sorrento |
| Salerno | Cheap base, long transit | High-speed train |
Choose the base by where you want to swim, not by where you sleep. A 6-metre boat covers less ground than you expect: from Amalfi, Positano and back with three swim stops is a full day, and Capri is normally outside both the contract range and the sensible range.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a boat on the Amalfi Coast without a licence?
Yes, within limits: engines up to a defined power threshold (commonly quoted as 40 hp), daylight hours, restricted distance from shore, and no larger vessels. Rules can change, so confirm the current regulation with the operator [VERIFY].
How much does a boat rental cost per day?
Roughly €180–€400 for a self-drive boat without a licence and €450–€900 with a skipper, before fuel [VERIFY]. Budget an extra €40–€150 for fuel depending on distance and speed.
Is fuel included?
Almost never. Most operators charge actual consumption on return, some sell a fixed fuel package. Ask which model applies and photograph the gauge before departure.
Can I take a rental boat to Capri?
Usually not on a no-licence boat — the crossing is outside typical contract limits and exposed to afternoon wind. Skippered rentals and licensed RIBs can, if the contract permits it.
Do I need experience to drive one of these boats?
No formal experience, but you should be comfortable judging wind, anchoring and reading a chart on your phone. If that sounds like work, a skipper for a few hundred euros more buys you the whole day back.
What deposit will I be asked for?
Commonly €300–€1,000 as a card hold or cash, released on return if the boat is undamaged and fuel is settled. Photos at handover are your protection here.
Is renting cheaper than a private tour?
For five or six people, usually yes. For two or three, a shared tour or a short skippered trip normally wins once fuel, deposit risk and your own effort are counted.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-03 · We link to GetYourGuide. If you book through our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.