When you start researching the German boating license, you’ll quickly hit the key question: inland (Binnen) or coastal (See)? Both licenses cover motorboats – but on different waters. Here’s everything you need to decide.
What does each license cover?
SBF Inland (Binnen)
Valid on all German inland waterways – rivers, canals, and lakes officially classified as federal waterways:
- Rhine, Elbe, Mosel, Danube, Weser
- Havel, Spree, Müritz, Chiemsee
- Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, Elbe-Lübeck-Kanal
Best for: Houseboat trips in Germany, river cruising, lakes in Brandenburg or Bavaria.
SBF Coastal (See)
Valid on German coastal waterways and coastal waters internationally:
- North Sea: Wadden Sea, Helgoland
- Baltic Sea: Kiel Fjord, Rügen, Usedom
- International: Croatian coast, Greek islands, Mallorca
Best for: Coastal sailing holidays, chartering boats in Mediterranean or Baltic destinations.
Important: The two licenses do not substitute for each other. SBF Inland only covers inland waterways; SBF Coastal only covers coastal waters.
Exam differences
| SBF Inland | SBF Coastal | |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | 30 questions, 45 min | 30 questions + 9 navigation tasks, 60 min |
| Pass threshold | 5/7 base + 18/23 specific | 5/7 base + 18/23 specific |
| Key topics | Waterway rules, light signals, sound signals | Chart navigation, compass work, tidal calculations |
| Practical exam | Yes | Yes (on coastal waters) |
The key difference: SBF Coastal includes a written navigation task – you plot courses on a nautical chart and work with compass bearings. This makes the coastal exam significantly more demanding than the inland exam.
Cost comparison
| SBF Inland | SBF Coastal | Combined | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMYV exam fee | ~€131 | ~€148 | ~€179 |
| Course fee (typical) | ~€265–299 | ~€370 | ~€470 |
| Total | ~€400–430 | ~€520 | ~€650 |
(Source: DMYV, Nautigo, as of 05/2026 – prices vary by exam committee and provider)
The combination tip
If you want both licenses long-term: do them together. A combined exam costs only ~€179 in exam fees instead of ~€279 (€131 + €148) separately – saving €100 on the exam fee alone.
Most instructors recommend starting with SBF Coastal (harder), then the inland exam becomes much easier – because the 72 base questions that appear in both exams are already well-practiced.
Which should you get?
Only planning to boat on German inland waterways? → SBF Inland is sufficient
Planning coastal holidays in Croatia, Greece, or the Baltic? → SBF Coastal
Want flexibility for both? → Combined exam saves money and preparation time
Still unsure? → Start with SBF Inland (cheaper, easier) and add coastal later
Summary
The key difference is coverage: inland for German rivers and lakes, coastal for sea and international waters. Anyone planning to boat flexibly long-term should consider the combined exam – it’s cheaper than taking them separately.