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 2 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 — 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 — 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.