With a boat licence, course prices are only half the story: the official exam fee of €130.78 (inland waters), €148.38 (sea) or €178.61 (combined) is the same nationwide and is not included in the course price at any of the compared schools. When comparing, also check whether practical lessons and the exam trip are included.
Prices: course prices according to provider websites, exam fees according to DMYV/DSV, as of October 2026. Promotional and group prices may differ – check the price for your location before booking.
What does a boat licence really cost?
The price is always made up of three blocks: the boating school's course fee, the official exam fee and additional costs such as a certificate of fitness and a certificate of good conduct. Only if you add up all three are you comparing fairly.
| Cost block | SBF Binnen (inland) | SBF See (sea) | Combined sea + inland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boating school course fee (online theory up to package incl. practical) | approx. €80–335 | approx. €80–350 | approx. €80–395 |
| Practical training, if not included | approx. €50–150 | approx. €50–150 | approx. €50–150 |
| Official exam fee | €130.78 | €148.38 | €178.61 |
| Eye & hearing test / fitness | approx. €20–40 | approx. €20–40 | approx. €20–40 |
| Certificate of good conduct (only without a car licence, on request) | €0–13 | €0–13 | €0–13 |
| Navigation instruments & materials | – | approx. €25–40 | approx. €25–40 |
| Realistic total | approx. €280–520 | approx. €320–590 | approx. €350–670 |
The official exam fees are identical nationwide and are charged by the German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) or the German Sailing Association (DSV) – no boating school can change that. Differences arise solely in the course fee and the amount of practical training.
The lower end applies to a pure online course plus a single practical lesson, the upper end to a full package with practical training at a classroom school. For comparison: sportbootfuehrerschein.de calculates its total costs with €150 for practical training and arrives at €396 (inland), €439 (sea) and €469 (combined).
Inland, sea or both?
SBF Binnen applies on inland waterways – i.e. rivers, canals and most lakes. SBF See applies on maritime waterways and at sea up to 3 nautical miles off the coast. Both are compulsory for combustion engines with more than 11.03 kW (15 hp), and for electric motors from more than 7.5 kW (Section 5 SpFV).
The combined training is almost always worthwhile: the theory sections overlap to a large extent, and at €178.61 the combined exam fee is well below the €279.16 that both licences would cost separately. At Nautigo, the combined course even costs exactly the same as SBF See alone; at Bootsschule1 it is €45 more than the sea course.
If you only ever boat on an inland lake, SBF Binnen is enough. As soon as the Baltic Sea, the North Sea or a charter holiday in the Mediterranean come into play, there is no way around SBF See – and then you should book the combined licence straight away.
The price traps with a boat licence
- Exam fee not included in the course price – the case at all compared schools. A €299 course quickly becomes a €430 package with the €130.78 exam fee. You pay the fee directly to the examination board when you register.
- Practical lessons charged separately – some schools only sell the theory cheaply and charge for practical training extra. sportbootfuehrerschein.de quotes €50 to €75 per lesson; how many you need depends on your experience and ranges from one to several.
- Exam trip extra – boat hire for the practical exam day is not included everywhere and otherwise costs €60 to €120.
- Re-sitting the exam – if you fail only the theory or only the practical part, that part is charged again. Providers with a pass guarantee cover this.
- Medical certificate – an eye and hearing test costs €20 to €40 at an optician or doctor; at some schools the test is included.
- Certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis) – not needed if you submit a copy of your valid car driving licence. Only without one can the examination board request it (€13 at the citizens' office).
Weekend course, online course or evening course?
An online course (from approx. €80) is the cheapest option for the theory. You learn the official question catalogue at your own pace and book the practical training separately on site. It makes sense for anyone who studies with discipline and wants to stay flexible.
A compact weekend course (approx. €250–400) packs theory and practice into two to three days, usually with the exam straight afterwards. This is the fastest route to the licence, but requires preparation: you should already have worked through the theory questions beforehand.
An evening course over several weeks (approx. €250–350) is the classic route – more relaxed, but taking six to eight weeks.
Theory and practice do not have to come from the same school: since 1 January 2023 you may take a partial exam with another association or examination board after admission. You submit the application for admission at least one week before the exam date – in writing or online via the federal administration portal (Section 7 SpFV).
Group size also affects the price: Bootsschule1 reduces the combined price from €395 to €345 per person from four participants, and BootsschuleX offers €265 per person in its group deal. Booking with a partner or friends saves €30 to €50 per head.