Italian finance police seize manipulated rental boats on Lake Garda

In July 2026 Italy’s Guardia di Finanza carried out inspections of outboard motors on Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, focusing on boats registered with a maximum power of 40 hp – the threshold that exempts them from licensing requirements. Technical checks showed that roughly one‑third of the examined vessels had engines altered to deliver considerably higher power. Four boats on Garda and one on Iseo were seized, and fines totaling more than €22,000 were levied, with criminal proceedings opened against the operators.

The police also inspected rental boats at Lake Como, where 40 % of the 15 boats checked showed irregularities, leading to the seizure of five additional vessels. Authorities warned that the undisclosed power increase creates safety hazards for inexperienced tourists and other water‑sport participants.