Boat insurance · third-party only
Third-party boat insurance: the legal minimum in Mediterranean waters
DigiCare Insurance, a licensed Cyprus insurance agency based in Paphos, sets out what each Mediterranean country asks of a boat owner. That means who must insure, how much cover the law wants and which certificate goes on board. Then we check whether we can issue yours.
From €25 a year for a small motorboat up to 25 hp kept in Cyprus
Cyprus passed Law 4(I)/2026 in February 2026. It will make third-party cover compulsory from a date the Council of Ministers sets; as of 24 October 2026 no date has been published.
€25
From, a year
2451
ICCS licence
2009
In Cyprus since
5.0
Rating on Google
Third-party boat insurance pays other people for injury, damage or pollution your boat causes, never for your own boat. Greece requires it for boats over 7 m and every speedboat. Croatia requires it of foreign boats over 15 kW, and yachts, entering its waters, and Spain of motorboats and unpowered boats over 6 m. DigiCare Insurance arranges it from €25 a year for a small motorboat kept in Cyprus.
See whether we can cover your boatCountry by country
Where is third-party boat insurance compulsory, and what minimum does each country set?
Greece, Croatia and Spain write a third-party duty into law, with fixed minimum sums and fines. Cyprus has passed one that is not yet in force. Poland and the UK have no general law for private boats. In the UK, a waterway licence or registration can still require cover.
Greece
Which boats the law catches · Recreational boats over 7 m, and every speedboat as defined by Port Regulation 20, jet skis included
Minimum cover · Injury: €150,000 per person, €700,000 per incident, €2,100,000 in total per policy period. Property: €150,000 per incident, €450,000 in total. Pollution: €150,000 per incident, €450,000 in total
Penalty · Owner €150 per metre of length, skipper €100 per metre, €50 if the certificate is not on board. For a boat over 7 m without cover, the port authority can also stop it leaving port
Law · Law 4926/2022, articles 17, 20 and 74
Croatia
Which boats the law catches · Foreign boats with more than 15 kW of engine power, and yachts, entering Croatian waters, unless another adequate guarantee exists
Minimum cover · At least €464,520 per event, for death or injury of third persons
Penalty · €660 to €6,630 for an owner or user without cover
Law · ZOOP, articles 41(3), 42(2) and 65, as amended in 2023
Spain
Which boats the law catches · Motorised craft, jet skis included; unpowered boats over 6 m; foreign boats entering or leaving a Spanish port
Minimum cover · Injury: €120,202 per victim and €240,405 per event. Property and economic loss: €96,162 per event
Penalty · Sailing without cover is a serious infringement under Spanish shipping law
Law · Real Decreto 607/1999
Cyprus
Which boats the law catches · Law 4(I)/2026 (article 57) will cover every owner of a boat in its scope, owners of foreign boats entering Cyprus included. Not in force: as of 24 October 2026 no start date has been published
Minimum cover · The law sets no amount
Penalty · None yet. Until then, your marina's berthing terms may ask for third-party proof
Law · Law 4(I)/2026, articles 57 and 99 what the Cyprus law will ask of you
Poland (home market)
Which boats the law catches · Polish law has no general compulsory liability insurance for a privately used yacht or boat. Registration is compulsory over 7.5 m or over 15 kW
Minimum cover · No legal minimum
Penalty · None for missing cover
Law · Polish compulsory insurance act and yacht registration act
United Kingdom (home market)
Which boats the law catches · We found no general law that requires a private leisure boat to be insured
Minimum cover · Canal & River Trust licence: at least £2,000,000. Environment Agency Thames registration, powered boats: at least £1,000,000
Penalty · No Canal & River Trust licence or Thames registration without cover
Law · Canal & River Trust; GOV.UK, Environment Agency
Greek fines are counted per metre, so a 10 m boat without cover costs its owner €1,500. In Croatia, people aboard your own boat, or aboard another boat, are not "third persons" under the law.
Italy, Malta, Türkiye and other countries are not in the table yet. We add a row only after we have read the law at source. If yours is missing, ask us.
For the berth and licence side, read who requires boat insurance where your boat is kept.
Or get the short answer for Cyprus, Greece and Malta.
Primary sources for the table (checked 24 October 2026)
- Greece: Law 4926/2022, consolidated text (e-nomothesia.gr)
- Croatia: ZOOP amendment, Narodne novine 155/2023
- Spain: Real Decreto 607/1999, consolidated text (BOE)
- Cyprus: Law 4(I)/2026 on recreational navigation (CyLaw PDF)
- UK: Canal & River Trust, boat insurance for a licence
- UK: Environment Agency, River Thames boat registration requirements (GOV.UK)
One policy, several countries
Sailing through several countries on one policy: which minimum does it have to meet?
A season that crosses borders on one policy has to meet each country's figure, limit by limit. In practice the highest figure on your route sets the floor. The three laws measure in different ways: per person, per event and per year.
Take a 9 m motorboat cruising from Corfu to Dubrovnik and on to Mallorca. The three minimums line up like this.
Injury, per person
Greece · €150,000
Croatia · Not set
Spain · €120,202 per victim
Highest on the route · €150,000
Injury, per event
Greece · €700,000
Croatia · €464,520
Spain · €240,405
Highest on the route · €700,000
Injury, total per policy period
Greece · €2,100,000
Croatia · Not set
Spain · Not set
Highest on the route · €2,100,000
Property, per event
Greece · €150,000
Croatia · Not covered by the duty
Spain · €96,162
Highest on the route · €150,000
Pollution, per incident
Greece · €150,000
Croatia · Not covered by the duty
Spain · Not listed
Highest on the route · €150,000
On this route Greece sets every floor. This is arithmetic on the three statutes, not legal advice. Your certificate shows the limits your policy carries, and insurers often write them higher than any statute.
What this means for you: Tell us every country on the season's route before we quote, so we can check the limits against each one.
The certificate
What does the certificate on board have to show?
A port officer checks the certificate, so it has to be on board, in a language the law accepts, with limits at least as high as the waters you are in. Each of the five checks below comes with the rule behind it.
On board
Greek law requires the certificate on board (articles 17 and 74 of Law 4926/2022); the fine is €50 if it is missing. Cyprus's Law 4(I)/2026 will require the same once article 57 starts.
In an accepted language
Greece accepts Greek or English. Cyprus's law will accept an official language of the Republic or English; otherwise a certified translation by a sworn translator.
Limits at least the statute's
The limits must meet the minimum of the waters you are in (see the route comparison above).
The right dates
The period of insurance must cover every day you are in those waters.
The right boat
The boat's name, registration number, length and engine should match your papers. This one is our practical advice, not a line in the statute.
Who asks to see it: in Greece, the port authority. For a boat over 7 m without cover, it can stop the boat leaving until the certificate is produced. In Croatia, the duty starts when a foreign boat enters Croatian waters. In Spain, it applies when a foreign boat enters or leaves a Spanish port. In Cyprus, the law will let the police check it once article 57 starts.
We usually issue the certificate in 1 to 2 days, depending on flag, residence and cruising area.
Start your certificate requestPrice
What does third-party cover cost, and when does it stop being enough?
Third-party cover with DigiCare Insurance starts from €25 a year for a small motorboat up to 25 hp kept in Cyprus. For other boats and waters, the price depends on length, engine, cruising area and the limits you need, so we quote it. See what a policy costs in euros.
From €25 a year
What it covers · Third-party cover for a small motorboat up to 25 hp kept in Cyprus
1% to 3% of the insured value a year
What it covers · Hull cover, if you add insurance for the boat itself
1 to 2 days
What it covers · Typical time to issue the certificate, depending on flag, residence and cruising area
Premiums outside the Cyprus basis are priced at quote, so we publish no other "from" figure. The €25 price is also not a statement that the policy meets Greek, Croatian or Spanish minimums. We check the limits against your waters when we quote.
Third-party cover pays other people for injury, damage or pollution you cause. Damage to your own boat needs hull cover.
When to add hull cover:
- • The boat is financed. The loan agreement decides what you must insure.
- • Your berth contract asks for more than liability.
- • The boat is worth more than you would accept losing.
Who we can cover
Who can we issue third-party cover for, and who can't we?
Where you live decides whether we can place your cover; where the boat sails comes second. Check your row before you fill in the form.
You live in the UK, the EU or EEA, Switzerland, a Crown dependency or Gibraltar, and the boat sails in Mediterranean or other EU waters
Can we arrange it? · Yes. We can arrange this cover.
Next step · Send the quote form with your residence, the boat and the route.
The boat is kept in Cyprus
Can we arrange it? · Yes. This is where our from €25 price applies.
Next step · Send the quote form with the boat's length and engine.
It's a jet ski
Can we arrange it? · Not yet. We are still confirming a route.
Next step · Greek law still requires cover for jet skis. We cannot quote one at present.
You live in the US, or the boat flies the US flag
Can we arrange it? · No. We cannot arrange this cover.
Next step · Ask a US-licensed agent.
You live in Australia
Can we arrange it? · No. We do not arrange cover for Australian residents.
Next step · In the official NSW and WA licensing guidance we read we found no insurance requirement; marinas, clubs and events may still ask for cover.
For a larger yacht, read yacht cover by residence, flag and waters.
Check if we can issue your certificateWho we are
Who arranges your cover, and who pays a claim?
DigiCare Insurance is a licensed Cyprus insurance agency (ICCS licence 2451), in Cyprus since 2009, with its office in Paphos. We arrange cover with licensed insurers. Claims are handled by the insurer named in your policy documents.
ICCS licence 2451
A licensed Cyprus insurance agency, registered with the Insurance Companies Control Service.
In Cyprus since 2009
More than 15 years arranging cover in Cyprus.
Paphos office
You can visit us or call.
English, Greek and Russian
Talk to us in any of the three, on the phone or in writing.
5.0 on Google
Our rating from client reviews.
Small craft are placed through a UK specialist scheme or a London-market facility, depending on the boat and where you live.
Claims are handled by the insurer named in your policy documents.
Your certificate is usually issued in 1 to 2 days, depending on flag, residence and cruising area.
Ask us to issue your certificate
Costas Matheou — Licensed insurance agent, DigiCare Insurance, Paphos, Cyprus
Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
Licensed Cyprus insurance agency, ICCS licence 2451
We check the Cyprus Official Gazette every month for the start date of Law 4(I)/2026.
DigiCare Insurance is a trading name of Costas Matheou Insurance Agent, a licensed Cyprus insurance agency registered with the Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS licence 2451). DigiCare is not an insurer, does not carry risk and does not handle claims; claims are handled by the insurer named in your policy documents. The firm that arranges your cover is named in the documents you receive.
FAQ
FAQ: third-party boat cover by country
Get the certificate the port will ask for
Tell us the boat, where you live and every country on your route. If we can't place it, you'll know before you give us your phone number.
Licensed Cyprus insurance agency, ICCS licence 2451 · In Cyprus since 2009 · English, Greek and Russian