If you're planning to rent a motorized vessel in Virginia, you may need a Boat Safety Card. It's required for anyone operating a motorboat with an engine of at least 10 horsepower, and for personal watercraft (PWC) operators age 14 and older. To satisfy this requirement, you'll need to complete a safety course and get your Virginia boating license.
Boat rental companies generally offer safety orientations for that specific rental. But they won't substitute for your safety card if you rent a boat elsewhere or plan to buy your own. The rental exemption also differs for 14- and 15-year-olds, who can't use the rental company's checklist and need proof they completed the course.
Do You Need a Boat Safety Card for a Boat Rental in Virginia?
The short answer is maybe not, as long as the rental company has the state-required safety checklist and you complete it before leaving the dock. This dockside checklist exemption covers motorboats with 10 hp or higher, as well as personal watercraft.
The checklist includes Virginia boating laws and boating safety basics, along with how to operate the boat. You'll need to review the checklist and initial it before you take the boat, and the list (and its exemption) is only for that rental.
It won't cover you for a different boat or a different time, and isn't the same as the official Virginia Boat Safety Card. If you plan to rent again or buy a boat, a state license is more convenient.
Do You Need a License to Rent a Boat in Virginia?
Question
Quick Answer
Boat Safety Card required to rent a motorboat 10 HP+?
Not if the rental company provides the dockside safety checklist and you complete it. This satisfies the requirement for that rental only.
Boat Safety Card required to rent a PWC/jet ski?
Same dockside checklist exemption applies for renters 16+. 14– 15 year old renters must show an actual completed course instead.
Does the checklist count for future rentals or your own boat?
No. It only covers the specific rental agreement it's tied to
Minimum age to rent a PWC in Virginia?
No one under 14 may ever operate a PWC. 14–15 year olds need proof of a completed course specifically
What Does the Dockside Safety Checklist Cover?
When you rent a boat, the dockside checklist is part of the process. The rental company provides the checklist, which covers important information about safe operation and Virginia boating laws.
You'll review and initial each item before you leave the dock with your rented boat, and keep the checklist and rental agreement with you on board. This helps protect you if law enforcement stops you on the water.
If you already have a Boat Safety Card, a Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), or a qualifying USCG license, you're exempt from the checklist. You've already met the requirements.
How to Rent a Boat Legally in Virginia
Renting a boat requirements depend on the vessel's horsepower. If you're renting a personal watercraft, your age also matters. To be prepared when you arrive at the dock, review the items below.
Check whether your rental boat's horsepower is 10 or higher, the certification threshold.
Confirm any minimum age requirements for renting a PWC (you must be 14 or older).
Ask the rental company whether their orientation meets the day's boating license requirement.
Keep your Boat Safety Card (or rental checklist) and ID with you at all times when on the water.
Take time to confirm these details before you head to the rental company. Then, you won't have any surprises at the rental counter. Getting your Boat Safety Card also makes it easy to rent again later.
Does the Requirement Apply to Jet Ski and PWC Rentals?
Yes, the same horsepower rule applies to PWC. They're classed as motorboats regardless of horsepower, and the dockside checklist exemption covers them the same way it covers standard motorboat renters who are 16 or older.
Renters who are 14 or 15 years old must show proof that they completed and passed a boating safety course to operate a PWC. The checklist isn't enough when stricter age requirements apply.
No one younger than 14 can operate a PWC on Virginia waters, whether at a boat rental company or on a private personal watercraft. You must be 14 to get a Virginia boating license and operate a PWC, but there's no minimum age to be licensed to operate a standard motorboat under 10 hp.
Requirements for Renting a Boat or PWC in Virginia
Requirement
Renting a Motorboat (10 HP+)
Renting a PWC/Jet Ski
Boat Safety Card
Not required if dockside checklist completed for that rental
Not required if dockside checklist completed for that rental (renters 16+)
Dockside safety checklist exemption
Yes, covers the rental period only
Yes, covers the rental period only (except 14–15 year old renters, who need a completed course instead)
Minimum age to operate (state law, non-rental)
No minimum age set by the state
14, with 14–15 requiring a completed course; 16+ is the general operator age
Typical outfitter minimum age to rent
Often 18+
Often 16+, sometimes higher
Should You Get Certified Anyway?
So, do you need a boating license to rent a boat? In some cases, yes; in others, no.
Sometimes, people get a Boat Safety Card even though they don't need a boating license to rent. The dockside checklist covers the rental, and they don't have to worry about it.
Still, anyone who plans to do the following should get a boater card:
Rent frequently
Buy their own boat
Rent a PWC at age 14 or 15
It's often easier to just get it, since you can do it completely online.
Frequent renters can skip the checklist review at the rental counter each time and reduce confusion about whether they qualify for the exemption. The course costs about $30 to $80, depending on the provider. You can also take Virginia's DWR course, called Boat Virginia, for no cost.
Once you have your Boat Safety Card, it's valid for life. It never expires, so you never have to worry about renewing it.
Rent a Boat With Confidence in Virginia (Know the Boat Safety Card Rules Before You Cast Off)
If you're renting a motorboat with 10 hp or more, you can use the rental company's dockside checklist instead of a Virginia boating license. The checklist applies only to that vessel during your rental period, and you can't use it for future rentals. If you plan to own your own boat, it's generally simpler to get licensed.
If you're 14 or 15 years old and want to rent a PWC, you can't use the dockside rental checklist. The law requires you to actually take and pass the boater education course before you can rent a personal watercraft.
Getting certified in advance can speed up the paperwork at the rental counter and make it easier to buy your own boat or PWC if you decide you want to. Certification through the Boat-Ed course for Virginia takes only a few hours, so you can spend an afternoon or evening taking the course and then get out on the water with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do you need a Boat Safety Card to rent a boat in Virginia?
A: Not necessarily. If you're renting a motorboat with an engine of 10 horsepower or greater, the rental company can provide a Virginia-approved dockside safety checklist instead. You'll need to review and initial each item before operating the boat and keep the checklist and rental agreement on board. This exemption applies only to that rental.
Q: Does the 10 HP rule apply to rental boats in Virginia?
A: Yes. The boating safety education requirement applies to motorboats with engines of 10 horsepower or greater, regardless of the operator's age. However, renters can use the rental company's approved dockside checklist instead of presenting a Boat Safety Card. The checklist requirement also applies to personal watercraft, regardless of horsepower.
Q: What's the minimum age to rent a jet ski in Virginia?
A: You must be at least 16 to operate a jet ski independently in Virginia. Operators aged 14 and 15 can operate one if they've completed an approved boating safety course and carry proof of course completion while on the water. Rental companies may have additional age requirements.
Q: Does rental company orientation count as a Boat Safety Card?
A: No. A rental company's orientation and dockside safety checklist don't substitute for an official Boat Safety Card. The checklist provides a rental-specific exemption from the boating safety education requirement. It covers basic boating laws and safe operation, but doesn't establish that you've completed an approved boating safety course.
Q: Is the requirement different for non-motorized rentals?
A: Yes. The boating safety education requirement applies to motorboats with engines of 10 horsepower or greater and personal watercraft, not non-motorized vessels such as kayaks and canoes. However, Virginia requires rental businesses to provide appropriate life preservers for passengers using rented non-motorized boats.
Q: Can a 14- or 15-year-old rent a PWC using the rental company's dockside checklist alone?
A: No. Virginia law requires PWC operators ages 14 and 15 to complete an approved boating safety course and carry proof of completion while operating. The rental company's dockside checklist doesn't satisfy this age-specific requirement. No one under 14 may operate a PWC in Virginia.
Q: Does the dockside safety checklist cover you if you rent again at a different company?
A: No. The dockside safety checklist applies only to the specific boat and rental period for which it was completed. You'll need to complete another checklist for a subsequent rental if you don't have an approved boating safety credential. A Boat Safety Card, on the other hand, can be used for future rentals and doesn't expire.
