Who Needs a Jet Ski License in Florida, and at What Age

In Florida, the card people call a jet ski license is the Boating Safety Education Identification Card, issued by FWC, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. If you were born on or after January 1, 1988, you need it, or a temporary certificate, plus photo ID to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) (s. 327.395). You must be 14 to operate one and 18 to rent one.

• Age to operate. Nobody under 14 may operate a personal watercraft in Florida (s. 327.39(5)).
• Age to rent. A rental business may not knowingly rent to a person under 18 (s. 327.54(6)). For riders 14 to 17 years old, ask us: it depends on the operator.
• Born on or after January 1, 1988. You need photo ID and a boater safety card, or a temporary certificate valid for 90 days (s. 327.395(1), (2)).
• Born before 1988. The card rule in s. 327.395 does not apply to you, but the age limits, the life jacket and the other regulations below do.
• Not a driver's license. The boater card is a separate document, and it is the one an operator may ask to see.

Prefer a private boat with a captain? The cards below show private boats with their price for 4, 6 and 8 hours, or answer 5 quick questions and an advisor writes back any day between 8 am and 10 pm.

Jet Ski Rules in Florida on the Water

Jet ski rules in Florida cover what you wear, when you ride and who is at the controls. Every person on board wears a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket, the operator wears the engine cut-off lanyard, and nobody rides from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise (s. 327.39(1)-(3)).

Life jacket

Every person on the personal watercraft wears a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.

Engine cut-off lanyard

The operator wears the lanyard that connects to the engine cut-off device. If the operator falls off, the engine stops, so the craft does not run on without anyone at the controls.

No riding after dark

Riding is not allowed from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Sunset moves through the year, so check the time for your date before you plan an evening ride.

Minimum age

Operators must be at least 14 years old, and a rental business may not knowingly rent to anyone under 18. If your group includes a 14 to 17 year old, tell us when you send your date.

Photo ID and card on board

If the card rule applies to you, carry your photo ID and your boater card or temporary certificate on the water (s. 327.395(2)).

The fine

Breaking the life jacket, lanyard, night, minimum age or boater card rules is a noncriminal infraction, and the default fine is $100 (s. 327.73). Amounts can change, so confirm the current figure on the FWC site.

For a guided ride, see jet ski tours in Miami, and to rent one, see jet ski rental in Miami.

Ask an Advisor

How to Get a Florida Boater Card and What Visitors Should Know

To obtain the card, take a boating safety course approved by FWC and pass the exam. The card does not expire (s. 327.395(5)), and while you wait for it, the temporary certificate covers you for 90 days. Approved courses are listed on FWC’s boating safety education pages.

1. 01
   Choose an approved course. Check that the boater safety course is approved by FWC before you pay a provider.
2. 02
   Take the course and pass the exam.
3. 03
   Keep your proof. The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days.
4. 04
   Carry it with photo ID. The two go together whenever you operate a vessel and the rule applies to you.

Visiting from another state? Florida law has a provision for non-residents who completed a boating safety course at the national NASBLA standard (s. 327.395(6)(d)). Whether it covers your ride is a question for the operator, and you should check the wording on the FWC site.

Planning a ride? Send your date and group; an advisor confirms the available operator, start point and final terms before you pay anything.

Ask an Advisor