AR · State boating guide
Arkansas
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- operators born on or after January 1, 1986, running any motorboat (including a personal watercraft or a boat with only a trolling motor) or a sailboat, residents and non-residents alike
- Operating age
- PWC: under 12 only with someone 21 or older on board who can take immediate control; 12 to 15 only with someone 18 or older on board; 16 and up on their own if they meet the education rule. Motorboats of 10 hp or more: under 12 must have completed boater education and be under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian or person over 17. PWC rental agencies may not rent to anyone under 18.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket at all times on any vessel, except inside the enclosed area of a houseboat or cruiser, or inside the railings of a party barge, cruiser or houseboat that is not underway.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC (0.02 for operators under 21)
- Registration fee
- $7.50–$105.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 3 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in Arkansas?
Arkansas Boater Education Certificate (optional AGFC hard card available) is required for operators born on or after January 1, 1986, running any motorboat (including a personal watercraft or a boat with only a trolling motor) or a sailboat, residents and non-residents alike.
Confirm with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) ↗Arkansas requires an approved boater education course for anyone born on or after January 1, 1986 who operates a motorboat or sailboat, including a personal watercraft. Every boat propelled by a motor (even a trolling motor) or by sail must be registered with the Department of Finance and Administration, and registration lasts three years. Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket on any vessel, and the legal limit is 0.08 BAC (0.02 under 21).
Before you operate
Boater education & operating age
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education required | Yes — see who needs a card below |
| Who needs a card | operators born on or after January 1, 1986, running any motorboat (including a personal watercraft or a boat with only a trolling motor) or a sailboat, residents and non-residents alike |
| Card or certificate | Arkansas Boater Education Certificate (optional AGFC hard card available) |
| Minimum operating age | PWC: under 12 only with someone 21 or older on board who can take immediate control; 12 to 15 only with someone 18 or older on board; 16 and up on their own if they meet the education rule. Motorboats of 10 hp or more: under 12 must have completed boater education and be under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian or person over 17. PWC rental agencies may not rent to anyone under 18. |
| Out-of-state cards | A valid boating education certificate issued by another state from a NASBLA-approved course is accepted. Proof of certification must be carried on board. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
Every boat propelled by sail or by any motor, including trolling motors. Exempt: boats with no engine or sail, boats registered in another state using Arkansas waters 90 or fewer consecutive days, and USCG-documented vessels. Register within 30 days of purchase at a state revenue office; PWC and boats over 50 hp also need $50,000 liability insurance. Registration is valid for three years.
- Less than 16 feet$7.50
- 16 to less than 26 feet$15.00
- 26 to less than 40 feet$51.00
- 40 feet and over$105.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 16 feet | $7.50 | 3 years | Official source: Less than 16 feet ↗ |
| 16 to less than 26 feet | $15.00 | 3 years | Official source: 16 to less than 26 feet ↗ |
| 26 to less than 40 feet | $51.00 | 3 years | Official source: 26 to less than 40 feet ↗ |
| 40 feet and over | $105.00 | 3 years | Official source: 40 feet and over ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone on board must wear a USCG-approved life jacket; inflatable life jackets are not approved for PWC.
- If the PWC has a lanyard engine cut-off, the lanyard must be attached to the operator, their clothing or life jacket.
- PWC may be operated only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- Stay at slow, no-wake speed within 100 feet of anchored or moored vessels, shoreline, docks, swim areas, swimmers, people fishing and paddlecraft.
- No jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of it.
- Operators under 16 may not run a PWC rated for fewer than two people; under 12 need someone 21+ on board, 12 to 15 need someone 18+ on board.
Towing & watersports
- An observer at least 12 years old must be on board besides the operator; boats (not PWC) with a wide-angle convex rear-view mirror are exempt.
- Everyone being towed must wear a USCG-approved life jacket.
- No towing from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, except in lighted areas designated for night skiing.
- A PWC towing a skier must be rated to carry at least three people: operator, observer and skier.
Life jacket rules
- Carry one USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a USCG-approved throwable device.
- Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket at all times on any vessel, except inside the enclosed area of a houseboat or cruiser, or inside the railings of a party barge, cruiser or houseboat that is not underway.
- Everyone on a PWC and everyone being towed must wear one.
Boating under the influence
Published limit: 0.08 BAC (0.02 for operators under 21). Read the linked official guidance for the full rule and any age-specific provisions.
At a glance
- Boater education applies to anyone born on or after January 1, 1986.
- Even a boat with only a trolling motor must be registered.
- Registration lasts three years and starts at $7.50 for boats under 16 feet.
- PWC and boats over 50 hp need $50,000 liability insurance.
- Kids 12 and under wear a life jacket on any boat.
Plan your day
Before you launch
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Sources and last checked
Sources
Official guidance is the final reference. Rules and fees may change after this guide’s verification date.
- Boater Education ↗Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Motor Boat Registration ↗Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
- Handbook of Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilities, 2026 Edition ↗Arkansas Game and Fish Commission / Kalkomey
- Frequently Asked Boating Law Questions ↗Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
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