New registration costs for boats confirmed by Environment Agency

THE Environment Agency is to increase Navigation Boat Registration charges by 9% from 1st January 2025.

These updated charges will cover the Thames, Anglian Waterways and the Medway Navigation.

Public consultation

This was confirmed yesterday, Wednesday 27th, that charges for registering boats which are kept or used on its waterways will increase for 2025/26 following a 12 weeks public consultation with boat owners.

This applies to boats on the Thames, with boats kept or used on Anglian Waterways and Medway Navigation seeing the change come into force on 1st April 2025, with the agency telling:

Income gained through charges will contribute towards maintaining and operating key assets, including locks and weirs, and facilities such as moorings and towpaths. It also covers the cost of providing vital services such as the lock keeping service, managing water levels and keeping the main navigation channel clear, as well as compliance activity and communication and engagement with customers.

The increase in charges will address the rising cost of the service provided by the Environment Agency, due to the level of inflation seen in the last three years.

Charges depend on the boat size and whether it has an engine. The average increase will be £42 for the River Thames, £29 for the Anglian Waterways and £17 for the Medway Navigation. At the lowest end, customers with unpowered boats will see a £4.37 increase taking their annual charge to £52.97. A full list of the revised charges is available online.

For subsequent years the charges will be increased in line with inflation using Consumer Price Index to reduce the chances of costs exceeding income in the future.

Providing best service

Andrew Pearce, Deputy Director of Asset Management Systems at the Environment Agency, explained:

“We are committed to providing the best service we can with the resources we have to meet our customers’ expectations and the consultation has made it clear that there is more to do.

“Increased energy and construction costs in recent years are making it harder to meet the cost of these challenges.

“These updated charges will address the issues raised through the consultation and will go towards maintaining and improving the waterways for people, wildlife and the environment.”

The second largest navigation authority in the UK, the Environment Agency is responsible for managing 1,010 kilometres of inland waterways, plus Rye and Lydney Harbours, and registers approximately 26,000 boats each year.

Visitor licences

There is no information concerning visitor license increases, but it is expected that these too will also be subjected to the 9% increase. 

At present, depending of the area of the boat, these are from £15 to £191 weekly or £55 to £514.20 monthly. The costs depend on the boats' square metres.