How can I get my Virginia boating license? A. You can obtain your Virginia Boating Safety Education Certificate in 3 easy steps: Pay the one-time fee of $34.95 – free unlimited retries of chapter quizzes.
Do I need a boaters license in Virginia?
Do you need a Boating License in Virginia? Virginia law requires all motorized watercraft operators to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card. The term “boating license” refers to the “boater education card” that you receive after successfully completing a boater safety course.
What is required to operate a boat in VA?
All PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine need to take a boating safety course. Once you complete the course, the course completion certificate or card that is provided by the course provider is what is required to operate a vessel.
How long is a Virginia Boating License good for?
Print your boating card
Your certificate is good for life. You’ll receive a wallet-sized card within 4-6 weeks.
How much is a Boating License in VA? – Related Questions
Can you drink on a boat in Virginia?
Unlike the laws for cars and trucks, having an open container of alcohol on your boat is not illegal. Further, your passengers can legally drink alcohol while the boat is in motion. However, despite this discrepancy, Virginia’s BUI laws are just as strict for boaters as they are for drivers.
Who can drive a boat in Virginia?
Do I need a boating license to operate a boat in Virginia? All motorboat operators of 10 hp or greater, regardless of age, and all PWC operators 14 years old or older must take a boating safety course to get licensed. No one under the age of 14 may operate a PWC.
How often must you renew a boat’s certificate of number in Virginia?
Expiration and Renewal of Certificate of Number (Registration) The registered watercraft owner’s Certificate of Number (Registration) expires every three years. Renewal notices are mailed to the last known address of all watercraft owners 45 days before expiration.
Is a Virginia Boating License good in all states?
Yes. All states that have mandatory boater education requirements will accept the your state’s Boater Education Card. Likewise your state will accept boating education cards that are issued by states that meet NASBLA requirements.
How do I get a Virginia boater safety card?
Virginia Lifetime Boating Safety Education cards for any approved classroom courses or Virginia Challenge exams can be ordered by clicking this link (note, this will take you to www.ilostmycard.com who is managing boating safety certificates for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries).
How old do you have to be to drive a boat by yourself in Virginia?
Anyone who can reach the throttle, such as children under 14 years of age, may seem physically able to operate a personal watercraft. But, the law states that operators must be at least 16 years old, or 14 or 15 years old with proof of boater education carried onboard, to operate a PWC.
Can a 13 year old drive a boat in VA?
For a personal watercraft, the minimum operator age continues to be age 16, except those 14 or 15 year olds who have completed and passed a course can operate. This has been the law since 1999 and has not changed.
What size boat do you have to register in Virginia?
Sail-powered vessels (no motor) 18 feet in length & over are only required to be titled in Virginia (no registration needed). Boats used only on private waters do not require registration or titling. New watercraft must be registered before they may be operated on the public waters of Virginia.
What vessels are exempt from Virginia registration?
Exemptions for boat registration include: Vessels used only on private waters. Canoes and other manually or sail powered vessels(excludes sail powered vessels less than 18 feet in length even without propulsion) Vessels currently registered in another state and not kept in Virginia for more than 90 consecutive days.
Does a jon boat need to be registered in VA?
Yes, if you propel the john boat by any type of motor including electric, then you must register and title it if used on the public waters of Virginia.
What number goes on the side of your boat?
The boat registration number must be displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel. The number must be in a plain block font and no less than three inches in height. It is necessary that it is able to be read from left to right and be in contrast with the color of the background.
Do kayaks need to be registered in Virginia?
Virginia Boat Registration
Any non-motorized water vehicle (such as a kayak or canoe) up to 18 feet does. Any motorized vehicle of any length does need to be registered. You can register and pay your Virginia boating license.
Do you have to have a boating license to kayak in Virginia?
Do you need a license to kayak in Virginia? No. Boater Education is not required for any non-motorized vessel in Virginia.
What does a boat less than 20 feet must have?
Federal law mandates that boats of less than 20 feet in length must have a capacity plate in the steering or helm area.
What safety devices are required on a boat?
5 Must-Have Safety Equipment for Your Boat
- Life jackets and wearable personal flotation devices (PFDs) An accessible, wearable PFD (Type I, II, or III) is a life jacket that must be available for each person on board.
- Throwable flotation devices.
- Fire extinguishers.
- Visual signaling devices.
- Sound signaling devices.
Do you have to have a whistle on a boat?
Sound-producing Device (bell, horn, whistle, etc.)
Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft) in length must carry an efficient sound-producing device. The sound-producing device need not meet any particular specifications, as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.