DAFN and restricted jet skis

Are you planning to buy a jet ski (or personal watercraft)? To navigate with complete peace of mind with your new motorized watercraft, administrative procedures are essential. To ensure you don't forget anything, Bateau-immatriculation.com explains everything about PWC registration.

In France, any new or used pleasure boat over 2.5 meters in hull length must be registered with the DDTM (Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea). The procedure is also mandatory for any PWC with an actual engine power equal to or greater than 90 kW. It must be at least 50% owned by an EU national (natural person or legal entity).

By issuing you a unique registration number, the maritime administration ensures that your vessel complies with safety regulations and is identifiable by rescue services. This number must be visible on the jet ski's hull.

As of January 1, 2022, there is no longer a need to carry out the francization and registration procedures separately, as the procedures merge into a single one: the registration of a jet ski. This is done with the DDTM (registration district).

Navigation rights also changed in 2022. Until now, anyone sailing under the French flag had to pay the DAFN (Annual Francization and Navigation Fee), the annual amount of which varies according to the type of pleasure craft and its age. If you sailed under a foreign flag as a foreign national tax resident in France, or as a French national who had chosen another flag (Dutch, Belgian, British, Polish flag, etc.), the Passport Duty applied, with an amount identical to the DAFN.

Since January 1, 2022, there is no longer any distinction, as the DAFN and Passport Duty have been merged into a single annual tax on maritime personal watercraft. The amount will remain unchanged and can only vary in the event of an engine change on your PWC and according to the age rebate, without being progressive. The tax is payable to the Directorate of Maritime Affairs.

They will now be registered based on their actual power. If it is greater than 90 kW, you will have to pay the annual tax (new DAFN).

If you purchase a used PWC previously registered according to its restricted power, the file update related to the transfer of ownership must take into account the actual power. This will generate an annual tax if the PWC displays power greater than 90 kW.

Nevertheless, article L423-7 of the Code of Taxes on Goods and Services and the Ministry of the Sea note dated January 24, 2022 provide clarification for pleasure boating professionals. If, and only if, you have official approval for supervised PWC initiation and nautical excursions, in accordance with the decree of April 1, 2008, you will be exempt from the annual navigation tax. You will apply for the exemption when registering the PWC, by providing the approval decision and the written declaration of conformity attesting to the jet ski's power limit by the manufacturer. Since the approval is only valid for one year, you will need to quickly communicate its renewal or termination.

Do you want help with registering a jet ski or other motorized watercraft? The Bateauimmatriculation.com team offers personalized support with all navigation management administrations.