From 1 October 2026, small rental boats in Spain will no longer be allowed to be operated by customers without a valid navigation licence.
- The change applies throughout Spain, including Mallorca.
- The former exemption for boats up to 5 metres and 15 HP will only apply to certain private uses.
- For rental boats, customers will need an appropriate boating qualification, such as the Navigation Licence.
- MaksyBoats will continue offering boat hire and skippered options, with the same personal service and local expertise as always.
From 1 October 2026, the rules governing the hire of small boats without a boating licence will change. This new regulation will affect Mallorca, as well as the rest of Spain, and will mark the end of the well-known model of renting small boats of up to 5 metres and 15 HP to customers who do not hold a licence.
At MaksyBoats, we want to explain clearly what is changing, how it will affect people looking to hire a boat in Mallorca and, above all, how we will continue working to ensure that enjoying the sea and the stunning coastline of Mallorca remains a simple, personal and memorable experience.
What will change on 1 October 2026?
Until 30 September 2026, Spanish regulations allow adults to operate certain small recreational motorboats without a boating qualification, provided the vessel remains within the established legal limits for length and engine power and the relevant navigation restrictions are respected.
This is what has made it possible over the years to offer the popular licence-free rental boats, simple and easy-to-handle boats that have allowed many people to enjoy the experience of being at the helm for the first time.
However, from 1 October 2026, this situation changes. The exemption from the requirement to hold a boating qualification for motorboats of up to 5 metres and 15 HP will apply only to private use.
In other words, the exemption may still exist in certain private circumstances, but it will no longer apply to commercial boat hire.
A boating qualification will be required to hire and drive a boat yourself
In practical terms, the main change for customers is easy to understand: from 1 October 2026, it will no longer be possible to hire one of these small boats and operate it without holding a valid and appropriate boating qualification.
One of the most basic qualifications available in Spain is the Navigation Licence, which allows the holder to operate recreational boats of up to 6 metres in length within its permitted limits. Higher qualifications may also be used where their scope is appropriate for the hired boat.
This means that having a boat of up to 5 metres with a 15 HP engine will no longer be enough for it to be commercially offered as a boat that anyone can hire and drive without a licence.
Why has the regulation changed?
This amendment forms part of a broader update to Spanish maritime legislation and safety rules.
The reason behind the change is linked to safety. According to the legislation itself, the aim is to reduce the number of incidents and accidents associated with the hire of small boats operated by people without previous qualifications. The intention is to ensure that anyone taking command of a hired boat has at least a basic level of nautical knowledge and safety awareness.
Mallorca is one of the destinations where the impact of this change will be especially noticeable, as small boat hire is a very popular way to discover the coastline during the summer season.
What does the new regulation mean for MaksyBoats?
For many years, we have offered small boats from Port de Sóller that could be hired without a licence, making it easy for couples, families and groups of friends to discover special places such as Cala Deià, Sa Foradada, Cala Tuent and Sa Calobra from the sea.
From 1 October 2026, like the rest of the sector, we will have to adapt to the new regulation. This means that we will no longer be able to rent out a boat to be operated by someone who does not hold the appropriate qualification, even if that same type of boat could still be used without a licence in certain private circumstances.
For us, this is an important change, but it does not change the way we understand boat hire.
MaksyBoats will remain MaksyBoats
We have been helping our customers enjoy the sea in Mallorca for more than 10 years, and during that time we have learned that hiring a boat is about much more than simply handing over the keys and pointing towards the harbour exit.
We are a local company with a real presence in Port de Sóller, and we believe in genuinely personal service. We like to speak with each customer, answer questions, explain the features of each boat and help them choose the option that best suits their experience and the kind of day they want to enjoy in Mallorca.
We also know this coastline well. We can recommend places to visit, explain which routes are best depending on the conditions of the day and help our customers enjoy their time at sea in a comfortable and safe way.
The law may be changing, but our commitment to personal attention, safety and excellent service remains exactly the same.
What options will still be available for customers?
If you hold a valid boating qualification, such as the Navigation Licence or another suitable certificate, you will still be able to hire a boat and enjoy the freedom of exploring the coast on your own, always within the limits of your qualification and the characteristics of the vessel.
In addition, MaksyBoats offers different charter options, including boats with skipper, which are an ideal alternative for customers who do not hold a licence or who simply prefer to relax and enjoy the day without having to take the helm themselves.
View boats with skipper / Sailing charters
Our team will continue to help every customer find the option that best suits their plans.
A new stage for boat hire in Mallorca
The 1st of October 2026 will mark an important turning point for the hire of small recreational boats in Spain. The so-called licence-free rental boats will no longer be available for customers without the relevant qualification, even though the exemption may still exist for certain types of private use.
At MaksyBoats, we are facing this change by adapting to the new regulation while maintaining what has defined us for more than a decade: well-kept boats, in-depth knowledge of Mallorca’s coastline and, above all, friendly and personal service before, during and after every hire.
Because regulations may change, but the way we welcome our customers and help them enjoy the Mediterranean will remain exactly the same.