Boating is a fun activity to do with your kids and family, but till now, you haven’t got into boating and wondering that I don’t have a boating license, and is it possible to drive a boat without a license or do I need one? OKAY, let’s find out whether you can drive a boat without a license or not.
You cannot drive a boat without a boat license, but in some states, you can drive the boat without a license; instead, you need to complete a boating safety course and should carry the completion certificate (boater education card in some states). So, it depends on the place where you live.
So, it depends on the place where you live because some states accept a boater education card instead of a boating license, but some states may only accept a boating license. Each state has its own version of rules, but generally, either a boat license or boater education card is sufficient, and you no need to have both.
However, after successfully completing a boating safety course, then only you can apply for a boating license. But in some states, a boating safety course completion certificate (boater education card in some states) is also accepted rather than a boating license.
An essential thing to note here is a boater education card or certificate that shows that you have completed an approved boating safety course is not the same as a Boating license; they are different.
A state’s Boater Education Card is proof that you have successfully completed an approved boating safety course. Since the boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called a Boating License.
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And suppose you often go boating in other states other than where you live. In that case, you need to complete a boating safety course from an institute or organization that has been approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Otherwise, you can’t drive the boat in other states.
NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. And one of the organization’s jobs is maintaining national boating education standards to make sure you’re learning the most vital information to stay safe. By taking a boating safety course approved by NASBLA, you can drive the boat in all the states.
By taking a boating safety course from Boat-ed or Ilearntoboat, etc., which are approved by NASBLA. Your boater education card is welcome in every state that requires mandatory boater education. Remember when you’re operating a boat, make sure you carry your card with you.
What boats can you drive without a license?
Now that you have got some idea about you can drive a boat without a license or not. We will now see what boats you can drive without a license?
For driving, non-motorized boats such as kayak, canoe, rowboats, paddleboats, etc. don’t need a boat license, but a few states require a license for non-motorized boats based on its length and the place you go for boating. Generally, a license is not required for non-motorized boats in most states.
Most states in the USA don’t require a boating license for driving non-motorized boats such as kayak, canoe, rowboats, paddleboats, etc. with few exceptions (go below for exceptions). If you are thinking of buying or already using non-motorized boats, then most probably, you don’t need to worry about a boating license.
You can’t drive a boat without a boating license in a state where it requires one, and if you are living in the state where it requires one, then you need to have a boating license to operate a boat; otherwise, it against the law (rule) and you may need to pay the fine if coast guard stops you.
In some states, one more thing can stop you from driving a non-motorized boat; that is, you need to have some boating knowledge prior to using any boat in the waterways. Meaning you need to take a boating safety course before driving any type of the vessel in that particular state.
To check the boat education requirements for each in the USA, check this article written by the American boating association click here (link opens in a new tab). And essentially, don’t forget that the boater education card and a boating license are the same, there are different.
A state’s Boater Education Card is proof that you have successfully completed an approved boating safety course. Since the boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called a Boating License.
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So, you should check that as well because some states allow the boaters to use a motorized boat without a boating license but instead, you need a boater education card. And by taking a boating safety course approved by NASBLA, your boater education card is welcome in every state that requires mandatory boater education.
But, if you have completed a boating safety course form an agency that is not approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), then you may not be able to drive the boat in other states. So, if you often go boating in other states, make sure to complete a boating safety course approved by NASBLA.
Finally, there are some exemptions to that as well. Meaning, in some states, a license is required for a non-motorized boat as well, but don’t worry, very few states require a license for a kayak and canoe based on the length; if they exceed that length, it requires a license. And all states require a license to a kayak and canoe if you add a trolling motor to it, and adding a motor to a kayak or canoe will turn it into a motorized boat.
Related post – Check my article on Boating license requirements for a kayak and canoe (link opens in a new tab) to know all the license requirements for a kayak and canoe in the USA (all 50 states info).
What type of boats requires a boat license?
Now that you have got some idea about what boats you can drive without a license. We will now see what type of vessels require a boating license to operate in general.
A boating license is required to drive motorized boats (any boat with a motor) such as Jetboat, Personal watercraft, Pontoon boat, Jon boat, etc. There are a few exceptions; some states are OK with boater education card. But generally, most states require a boat license to operate a motorized boat.
If you are using a motorized boat, most probably, you may need a boating license or boater education card is acceptable in some states instead of a boating license. Without those two, you can’t drive the boat in the water, especially motorized boats. But some states such as Alaska, Guam, South Dakota, etc. don’t require boating education.
If you live in a state where you don’t need a boating education, you don’t have to take one. Otherwise, if you live in a state where it requires every boater to take a boating safety course, you have to take one; otherwise, you don’t have any rights to use the boat in the water.
Sailboats can be an exception because some states require a boating license to drive a motorized boat. Whereas all sailboats won’t have motors, only some have motors, but generally, sailboats also require a license to operate since they are big in length, and some sailboats will have motors.
Related post – Check my article on Do sailboat have motors? (link opens in a new tab) to know why do they have a motor even though they have sails, and where the motors are used in general.
Do you need a boating license to rent a boat?
Now that you have got some idea about what boats you can drive without a license and what boats require a license to operate. We will now see whether do you need a boating license to rent a boat?
A boating license is not required for renting a boat. Most states will accept if you have completed a boating safety course and carrying the completion certificate. Sometimes it depends on the place where you are renting the boat as well, but often, a license is not required for renting a boat.
Mostly, you need to complete an approved boating safety course to rent a boat. But, some states are required to complete a boating course in their state to rent a boat. Meaning if you are migrated to some other state, then you need to complete a small boating safety course to rent a boat in the state you have migrated.
Still, it depends on boat rentals as well. Some boat rentals may accept to rent a boat without a boat license, and some rentals may not allow renting a boat without a boat license (due to some policy or any other). The essential thing is you should be educated as well to rent a boat.
If you don’t have any prior knowledge of boating, it is tough to rent a boat. Suppose if you often go boating in different places (other states). In that case, it is highly recommended you to complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating safety course.
NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. And one of the organization’s jobs is maintaining national boating education standards to make sure you’re learning the most vital information to stay safe. By taking a boating safety course approved by NASBLA, you can drive the boat in all the states.
By taking a boating safety course from Boat-ed or Ilearntoboat, etc., which are approved by NASBLA. Your boater education card is welcome in every state that requires mandatory boater education. Remember when you’re operating a boat, make sure you carry your card with you.
Related post – Check my article on Do you need a boating license to rent a boat (link opens in a new tab) to know the license requirements for renting a boat in the USA (all 50 states info).
Six benefits you may miss without having a boating license
Now that you have understood the boating license requirements for different purposes. We will now see some of the benefits you may miss without having a boating license. There are some good benefits of having a boating license.
- A boating license can be used in all the states.
- You may get boat insurance offers.
- A boating license serves as an identity.
- You can save money (by not paying fines).
- You will get to know about the boat and safety equipment.
- You can drive PWC with a boating license.
Those six are the major benefits you may miss if you don’t have a boating license. Just a reminder that a boating license is not the same as a boater education card. So, those six benefits may not be applicable for a boater education card.
A state’s Boater Education Card is proof that you have successfully completed an approved boating safety course. Since the boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called a Boating License.
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Related post – Check my article on Why do I need a boating license (link opens in a new tab) to know all those six benefits in a detailed way. That being said, we will now quickly go through those six benefits of having a boating license.
1. A boating license can be used in all the states
- This would be the main advantage of having a boating license; you can drive the boat in all the states of the USA without worrying about anything. And you can rent whatever boat you want (including the personal watercraft) as well if you have a boating license.
- But you may need to apply for a boating license after completing a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in order to drive the boat in other states other than where you live.
2. You may get boat insurance offers
- If you have a boating license and a boat, then you may get insurance offers. As a bonus, many insurance companies will give you a discount on your boat insurance rates if you prove that you have completed a boating safety course through somewhere that’s accredited.
- According to Bankrate.com, having a boating license can save you five percent or more on your insurance policy each year. So even if your state doesn’t require you to have a boating license, it’s still a smart idea – for both your well-being and your wallet (source).
3. A boating license serves as an identity
- A boating license serves as an identity because it will display your information, such as contact details, and it can sometimes be used as an identity to prove that you are you. If you have a wreck, you are badly injured in a boating accident and cannot communicate with others.
- The first responders will search your wallet for your boating license to identify who you are. A name and address will help them locate and contact family members to inform of your injuries. Hospital staff can use the information on your boating license to begin the admission process.
4. You can save money (by not paying fines)
- On average, people are paying around $200 as a fine due to not having a boating license (boater education card in some states) (source). You can avoid expensive boating without license fine by making sure you keep your license and registration paperwork in a safe place on board.
- For example, operating a boat in New Jersey without a New Jersey boating safety certificate (boating license) may be subject to a minimum of $100 fine or a maximum of $500 fine. Like that, every state has different penalties, and it unnecessarily takes a huge amount of fines.
5. You will get to know about the boat and safety equipment
- Even though if you have less experience in boating, you can overcome that by taking a boating safety course, such as an In-Person Classes. Where one person will guide you on how to operate the boat, and he will explain to you how to use the safety equipment.
- By taking a boating safety course (after that, you will get a boating license), you will get to know about the boat, the terminology used in the boats, how to use the safety equipment in the boat, what to do in different situations, how to communicate to others during an emergency, etc.
6. You can drive PWC with a boating license
- If you have a boating license, you need not worry about driving or renting a boat or PWC, such as jet ski, WaveRunner, Sea-doo, etc. A boating license will give you a way (permission) to use all types of crafts, either propelled by an outboard motor or jet-powered engines.
- Although you can’t ride a massive boat with the boating license, you can ride all the small boats and jet skis (PWCs). And many states will accept even if you have completed an approved boating safety course and carrying a completion certificate with you.
Those are some of the significant benefits of having a boating license, and you may miss all those benefits if you don’t have a boating license. To know all those things in detail, check my article on Why do I need a boating license click here.
Key takeaways
A boating license is an essential thing to have, but mostly you don’t need a boating license to operate non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoe, rowboats, paddleboats, etc. with few exceptions along with it. If you have a motorized boat, you definitely need one, and it will give all those benefits along with it.
For a few states, boater education is an alternative for a boating license. So, it depends on the place where you live. And if you completed a boating safety course from an agency that is not approved by NASBLA, then you may not be able to use the boater education card in other states.
Meaning you may not be able to drive or rent a boat in other states since the agency you got the boater education card is not approved by NASBLA. So, make sure to take a boating safety course that is approved by NASBLA. Remember that a boating license is not the same as a boater education card.
A state’s Boater Education Card is proof that you have successfully completed an approved boating safety course. Since the boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called a Boating License (source).
By having a boating license, you need not worry about anything, and wherever you want to go boating, you can go no one will stop you from doing that. You can go boating in other states and all over the country as well. So, a boating license is crucial if you often go boating in other states.