CRT boat licence calculator 2026/27
The exact Canal & River Trust licence fee for your boat, including the continuous cruiser and widebeam surcharges most calculators miss.
Figures verified 5 July 2026 · 2026/27 prices, effective 1 April 2026Sources
Your 2026/27 licence fee
£1,404.46 /year
£117.04 a month over 12 months
- Base fee (16.5–17.4m (54–57ft))
- £1,404.46
12-month Canal & River licence, for licences starting on or after 1 April 2026. Verified against the official CRT licence calculator, July 2026 (discounted totals can differ by a penny due to rounding). Not affiliated with CRT.
How the fee is worked out
CRT prices 12-month licences by boat length band, then applies percentage surcharges: +15% if the boat has no home mooring (a continuous cruiser), +19% for beams over 2.16m, and +38% for beams over 3.24m. Surcharges add together, so a broad-beam continuous cruiser pays +53% in 2026/27. Electric propulsion earns 25% off and registered historic boats 10% off, applied after surcharges.
These surcharges are still being phased in: the continuous-cruiser surcharge reaches +20% in April 2027 and +25% in April 2028, and the widebeam surcharges reach +25% and +50% by April 2028. For the full background, and what the 2025 licensing Commission might change, read our licence fees guide. For the rest of your budget, the running costs calculator covers mooring, insurance, heating and maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is a canal boat licence in 2026?
- A 12-month Canal & River Trust licence for a narrowbeam boat with a home mooring costs from £768.05 (under 5.5m) to £1,670.08 (71–73ft) for licences starting on or after 1 April 2026. A typical 57ft narrowboat is £1,404.46. Continuous cruisers pay 15% more, and widebeam boats pay 19% or 38% more depending on beam.
- Do continuous cruisers pay more for their licence?
- Yes. Since April 2024, boats licensed without a home mooring pay a surcharge that is being phased in: 15% for 2026/27 licences, 20% from April 2027, and 25% from April 2028. On a 57ft narrowboat that's £210.67 extra in 2026/27.
- How is the widebeam surcharge calculated?
- Boats with a beam over 2.16m (7ft 1in) pay +19%, and boats over 3.24m (10ft 8in) pay +38%, for licences starting on or after 1 April 2026. These rise to +25% and +50% by April 2028. The surcharge adds to the continuous-cruiser surcharge if you have no home mooring, so a broad-beam continuous cruiser pays +53% in 2026/27.
- Are there any licence discounts?
- Electric-propulsion boats get 25% off and registered historic boats get 10% off, applied after any surcharges. There are also prorated shorter licences, and river-only licences cost 60% of the full canal-and-river price.
- When do licence fees change?
- CRT announces new fees each autumn, effective 1 April. The 2026/27 rise was 4.85%. Surcharge steps for continuous cruisers and widebeams continue each April until 2028. We re-verify this page against official CRT prices every April.