Do I Need a License to Rent a Boat in Florida?

If you’re thinking of traveling to Florida, it’s natural that you’d be interested in spending some of your holiday on a boat. Florida’s reputation as a seafaring destination is, after all, indisputable both in the states and abroad. The Sunshine State is known for its world-class beaches, its emerald swamps, national parks, and popular cities (e.g. Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America”) which have made Florida synonymous with boat life. Find out more about whether or not you need a boat license to rent a boat in Florida.

However, getting on a boat isn’t as easy as hopping on a bumper car at a local carnival (though, it’s honestly just as, if not more, fun).

Here, we’ve outlined everything you need to know if you’re interested in renting a boat, including whether you need a license, how to get one, and every other frequently asked question you may have on the topic of getting a license to rent a boat in Florida. 

“Do I need a license to rent a boat in Florida?”

The answer is a little ambiguous: Yes and no. The State of Florida doesn’t have classic “boating licenses,” but offers Boating Safety Education Identification Cards. These are absolutely mandatory for anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who wants to rent a boat of 10 horsepower or more.

If you are 18 years of age or younger, then tough luck — in Florida, it’s illegal to lease, hire, or rent a personal watercraft to anyone under the age of 18.

“How do I get a Boating Safety Education Identification Card (aka, a ‘boating license’)?”

To get a Boating Safety Education Identification Card, you have to complete an approved Boating Safety Course. There are several classroom AND online courses you can choose from. Browse this list published by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to find a suitable course for you. The cost of the courses ranges from completely free to up to $50. 

Excluding the time for mandatory quizzes and exams, the course should take you just a few hours to complete. Don’t worry if you fail on your first try: You can retake the exam as many times as you need.

Once you pass and complete the course, you have up to 90 days to obtain a FWC-issued Boating Safety Education Identification Card (which, as mentioned, is Florida’s equivalent of a boating license and what people actually refer to when speaking about their boating license there), which you can easily get by sending in your proof of completion along with some additional identification documents. Read about all the details on how to obtain your card in this article.  

Once you get the card — congratulations! You can now legally rent a boat in Florida. This card won’t ever expire but just to reiterate, this is NOT a boating license, and simply proof that you’ve successfully completed the required boating safety course. Thankfully, that’s all the state of Florida requires for you to rent and operate a boat.

And by the way, you’re also allowed to rent a boat in the interim period between completion of the course and the arrival of the card. Just make sure your course completion certificate has your first and last name, your date of birth, and the date you completed the course written on it. The certificate can be used for up to 90 days as a temporary substitute for the Boating Safety Education ID card. After that, you better ensure you carry your card with you at all times. 

“What is the legal minimum age to have a boating ‘license’ and rent a boat in Florida?”

You must be at least 14 years of age to obtain a boating “license” and operate a personal watercraft in Florida. That number goes up to 18 years of age if you want to rent one. The age requirement differs from state to state, but Florida’s is pretty much on the average side.

“Well, is anyone exempt from these rules?”

There ARE several exceptions, but for the most part, it’s safe to say that most people do need a Boating Safety Education Identification Card to rent a boat. Read on to find out if you’re one of the chosen few who falls into any of the following exemption categories. 

• A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.
• A person operating on a private lake or pond.
• An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is at least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
• An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
• A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.
• A person is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.
• A person operating a vessel within 90 days after completing an approved boating safety course, as required in Chapter 327.395(1), and has a photographic I.D. and a boater education course completion certificate showing proof of having completed the required boating safety education course. The course completion certificate must provide the student’s first and last name, date of birth, and the date the course was successfully completed.  (Effective Oct. 1, 2011.)

“Can I drink and drive a boat in Florida? Can I drink as a passenger on a boat in Florida?”

If you’re of legal drinking age, then it IS legal (though honestly, not recommended) for you to operate a motor boat while drinking in Florida. This might come as a shock to anyone who’s been educated on the dangers of driving while under the influence.

It is NOT legal, however, to operate a motor boat while drunk, or with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. And legal officers will make sure this is enforced, especially in Florida, where there are more registered boats than in any other state. Boating under the influence, or BUIs, pose a serious problem here. If an officer finds that you are boating under the influence, you may be fined, jailed, have your boat impounded, and possibly lose your boating privileges for life. All of those punishments come second to the shame you should feel for having possibly put someone else’s life in danger!

While we’re on the subject of boating while drinking, take note that many of the effects of alcohol feel a bit blunted when you’re on the water. Your boat’s rocking sensation combined with the feeling of wind, splashes, and a running motor can all dull the sensation of inebriation, while dehydration and sunny weather can intensify it rather quickly. So, if you do choose to drink on a boat in Florida, be even more vigilant than average for how alcohol might be affecting your cognitive functions. 

If you’re simply a passenger, it is also legal for you to drink on a boat in Florida. However, take note that inebriation can prove dangerous even if you’re not the one doing the actual boating. Drunken boat passengers can distract a skipper, fall offboard, or even into the gear. For this and many other reasons, it’s always safer to abstain or remain on the very conservative side of your usual drinking habits. Another tip: Always bring more drinking water than you think you’ll need!

So, do you really need a license to rent a boat in Florida?

The waters may not be outfitted with stoplights and highways, but there are rules you must adhere to to guarantee the general safety of everyone out there, including your own. 

• In Florida, anyone who is 18 years of age or older must obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a watercraft aka a boat of 10 horsepower or more. 
• This card is basically Florida’s version of a boating license, and you can get by passing a boating education course. 
• You CAN legally drink and drive on a boat, but you should exercise extreme caution both for your safety and for others’. 
• You are NOT allowed to be drunk and operate a watercraft. 

If you want to be a responsible boat holidayer, you can always rent a Borrow A Boat boat with a skipper in the Caribbean. Start planning your holiday by filling out the request form on the right sidebar, or browse all our boats with skippers directly on our site!