Do you need a license to operate a boat in Virginia?

Asked by: Jill Hughes

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 are the boating laws in Virginia?

Beginning July 1, 2016, 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. No one under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Operators 14 and 15 years old must show proof of completing education.

What is the criteria to lawfully operate a motorboat in Virginia?

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 much is a boating license in VA?

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. Study the Virginia Boating Safety Course, and pass the end-of-chapter quizzes.

How old do you need to be to operate a boat in Virginia?

14

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.

Can you carry a gun on a boat in Virginia?

Any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vessel is not required to possess a CHP.

Do you need a boating license for a kayak in Virginia?

There is no minimum age to operate a kayak or other non-motorized vessel in Virginia. A minimum age of 14 applies only to Personal Watercraft (PWC). However, all operators of vessels with motors of 10 hp or greater are required to have completed a boating safety course. This applies to everyone, regardless of age.

What size boat do you have to register in Virginia?

18 feet

Do I need to register my boat in Virginia? The DGIF requires titling and registration for all: motorized vessels and. sail-powered vessels (without a motor) greater than 18 feet in length.

Is boat insurance required in VA?

Boat Insurance Requirements
Although the law in VA does not mandate that you carry boat insurance, it does require that you register your vessel with the state and take a boating safety course at the completion of which you will receive a certification.

What vessels are exempt from Virginia registration?

Virginia Boat 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)

Can a 12 year old drive a boat in Virginia?

Any person under the age of 12 can not operate a motor boat of more than 6 horse power. Must be 16 years of age or older and have a boating safety certificate.

Do you need a sailing license?

When it comes to recreational sailing, the USCG isn’t a legal requirement. It, however, remains one of the most popular qualifications for the sailor looking to advance their sailing skills, especially in terms of maritime rules and regulations.

What size of boat is considered a yacht?

Defining a Yacht
While there is no official point at which a boat becomes a yacht, anything over 40-feet in overall length could conceivably be considered a yacht. In addition, as you move bigger in size, you will probably get into “mega-yacht” or “superyacht” territory.

What license do you need to sail around the world?

The most accepted are the International Certificate of Competency (ICC) and the International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC). The ICC is recognized by the United Nations and used through much of Europe and the Mediterranean, and should qualify you for any charter.