Renew, replace or update a boat or PWC licence

When to renew your licence

Transport for NSW will send you a renewal notice 6 weeks before your licence expires. It’s your responsibility to renew it on time.

You can renew your licence in person up to 3 months in advance.

If your licence is not renewed within 5 years of its expiry date, you’ll need to complete the entire licence process again – including training and tests.

How to renew

For a general boat licence you’ll need:

• the renewal notice
• payment of the licence fee.

You can renew it online, by phoning 13 12 36  or in person at a service centre.

For a personal watercraft licence, you’ll need:

• the renewal notice
• payment for the licence fee
• a completed Application for Personal Watercraft Driving Licence and 2 passport-acceptable photos.

You can renew it in person at a service centre.

Replace a licence card

If your general boat or personal watercraft licence card is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement.

For a general boat licence you can do this in person at any service centre or by phoning 13 12 36.

You’ll need to:

• provide proof of identity
• provide a completed Application for Replacement Product form
• pay the replacement licence fee.

For a personal watercraft (PWC) licence you can do so in person at a Service NSW Centre.

You'll need to:

• provide proof of identity
• provide a completed Application for Replacement Product form
• provide a completed Application for Personal Watercraft Driving Licence and 2 passport-acceptable photos
• pay the replacement licence fee.

Update your name, address or contact details on a boat or PWC licence

If any of your personal details change, you must notify us within 14 days.

You can change your address, email address or contact number on your boat or PWC licence online, by phoning 13 12 36 or update it in person at any service centre.

If you need to update details for your driver licence or photo ID, you can also do this at a service centre.

It’s a separate transaction to updating your maritime licence.

Changing your name

To change your name, complete a Change of Maritime Records form and provide original or certified copies of:

• a full or primary identity document showing your original name and
• a secondary identity document showing your original or new name and
• one of the following documents evidencing your name change:
  • Marriage certificate – issued by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or interstate equivalent (Commemorative certificates are not acceptable)
  • Divorce decree – bearing the name being reverted to
  • Change of name certificate – issued by NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
  • Deed Poll – registered with the relevant authority
  • Document showing evidence of change of name – registered in the Land Titles Office
  • Birth certificate – showing the name at birth and your new name (Commemorative certificates are not acceptable).

You can change your name by attending a service centre in person.

If you would also like to update your name on your driver licence or photo card, you’ll need to attend a service centre in person. See changing your personal details to find out what to do.