When it comes to places to boat, Ontario is nothing short of a premier destination. The reason for this is pretty simple: it is home to a ton of lakes. More specifically, Ontario has more than 250,000 lakes within its borders. In fact, if you were to total them up, it would account for nearly one-fifth of the entire world’s freshwater supply. With this in mind, you could theoretically take your boat out onto a different lake every day and never hit the same one twice. Whether you are an Ontario resident, or you plan to visit the province with your boat, you are sure to find the ideal location to launch your vessel. Before you do so, however, you will want to make sure that your boat is clean, well-stocked, and in good working order. There may also be some paperwork matters to address, particularly those regarding licensure with Transport Canada. You may also be wondering, do boating licenses expire in Ontario? Well, at the National Vessel Registry Center, we have the answers you need.
Boats can be large, powerful vessels. They can also come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be used for a number of different things. With that said Transport Canada issues several types of licenses and registrations to boat owners across the country. As the transportation agency concerned with managing water infrastructure concerns all over the nation, you will likely need to work with Transport Canada on occasion throughout your time as a boat owner. The good news is, by working with a private service such as ours, you can fill out the bulk of your paperwork online, which can save you valuable amounts of time, and time that can be better spent on your boat. Read on to learn more about boat licenses in Ontario and whether or not they expire.
Do Boating Licenses Expire in Ontario: Explained
While a boating license and a boat license sound similar in name, they actually serve very different means. A boating license, which is officially called a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC), is a document demonstrating that you can safely operate a motorized vessel. You can get a PCOC free of charge from Transport Canada by taking an educational course and passing a required exam. PCOCs do not have an expiration date, so you can be one and done.
A boat license, known officially as a pleasure craft license (PCL), applies to your vessel. A PCL is required in Ontario (and throughout the country) for any boat with an engine of 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) or more. PCLs are valid for a period of 10 years, at which point they can be renewed.
Get Your License Online with Our Help
If you need a boat license, we have got you covered. You can apply online with just a few clicks by using our simplified web forms. To learn more about our services and how we can help you, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page today.
