Australia · Boat licenceHow much does a boat licence cost in NSW?
| Licence | Boat | PWC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $82 | $260 |
| 3 years | $233 | $701 |
| 5 years | $372 | $1,104 |
| 10 years | $720 | $2,077 |
| Replacement card | $25 | $25 |
These are Transport for NSW’s fees from 1 July 2026, including GST. A longer licence costs less per year: the 10-year licence works out at $72 a year, by our sum. If you’re under 16, or hold an eligible concession card such as a NSW Pensioner Concession Card, the licence fee is half, rounded to the nearest dollar: $41 for a 1-year boat licence and $360 for 10 years.
NSW knowledge test fees
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| Boat licence test | $44 |
| Boat and PWC tests together | $66 |
| PWC test only, to upgrade | $22 |
You pay again for each attempt at a service centre. With an Authorised Training Provider, the provider sets its own fees and conditions.
What a boat licence costs in other states
| Licence or fee | Fee |
|---|---|
| Queensland recreational marine licence | $132.40 |
| Queensland PWC licence | $132.40 |
| WA RST recording fee | $36.90 |
| WA replacement RST card | $26.75 |
| Victoria marine licence, 12 months or 5 years | Set by VicRoads |
| Tasmania motor boat licence | Depends on days left to 30 June 2027 |
| Tasmania duplicate licence | $5 |
Queensland lists its fees as at 1 July 2026, and you pay once because the licence is for life. WA’s RST has no renewal fees. Tasmania’s licence fee changes with the number of days left to the common expiry date of 30 June 2027, and applicants under 17 pay only the application fee. MAST’s fee calculator works it out for your date of birth and payment date.
Victoria’s handbook sends you to VicRoads (vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences) for current marine licence and PWC endorsement fees. You choose a 12-month or 5-year licence.
Course and assessment fees
Training providers set their own prices. Transport for NSW says its ATPs set their own fees, and Safe Transport Victoria and WA’s Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure both say they don’t regulate them. In WA you pay the provider for the RST assessment, and you may pay again for each attempt.
Sources: Transport for NSW · Queensland Government · TransportWA and 7 more. Checked October 2026.
- Transport for NSW: Fees for boat or PWC licence ↗
- Transport for NSW: Practise and book knowledge tests ↗
- Queensland Government: Licence fees ↗
- Queensland Government: Boat and personal watercraft licences ↗
- TransportWA: Get a Recreational Skipper’s Ticket ↗
- TransportWA: Update or replace Recreational Skipper’s Ticket ↗
- MAST: Forms and fees ↗
- MAST: How to obtain a motor boat licence ↗
- Safe Transport Victoria: Licensing and registration ↗
- Safe Transport Victoria: Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook, December 2024 (PDF) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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