NM · State boating guide
New Mexico
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 who operates a motor-propelled vessel (gas or electric) or a sailboat
- Operating age
- No one under 13 may operate a motorboat unless an adult is on board supervising.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while underway unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC
- Registration fee
- $25.00–$180.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 3 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in New Mexico?
New Mexico Boater Education Card is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 who operates a motor-propelled vessel (gas or electric) or a sailboat.
Confirm with New Mexico State Parks Division (Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department) ↗New Mexico requires a boater education card for anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 who operates a motorboat or sailboat. Children under 13 may operate a motorboat only with an adult supervising on board. Motorboats and sailboats are registered for three years at a time, with fees from $60 to $180 by length. Since January 1, 2025, everyone on a PWC, paddle craft or other human-powered boat, and everyone boating on a river, must wear a life jacket.
Before you operate
Boater education & operating age
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education required | Yes — see who needs a card below |
| Who needs a card | anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 who operates a motor-propelled vessel (gas or electric) or a sailboat |
| Card or certificate | New Mexico Boater Education Card |
| Minimum operating age | No one under 13 may operate a motorboat unless an adult is on board supervising. |
| Out-of-state cards | Nonresidents with a valid boater education card from another state are exempt. New residents with another state's card have 45 days to get a New Mexico card. Renters who get the rental agent's safety instructions and dockside checklist are exempt, and new boat buyers have 30 days with proof of purchase. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All boats propelled by machinery and all sailboats (except sailboards and windsurf boards) need a registration card and validation decal, renewed every three years (through December 31 of the third year). Boats 10 feet or longer that must be registered also need a title from the Motor Vehicle Division. Out-of-state registered or USCG-documented boats may use New Mexico waters for up to 90 days.
- Vessel under 16 feet (3 years)$60.00
- 16 to under 26 feet (3 years)$75.00
- 26 to under 40 feet (3 years)$120.00
- 40 to under 65 feet (3 years)$150.00
- 65 feet or longer (3 years)$180.00
- Duplicate registration$25.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel under 16 feet (3 years) | $60.00 | 3 years | Official source: Vessel under 16 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| 16 to under 26 feet (3 years) | $75.00 | 3 years | Official source: 16 to under 26 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| 26 to under 40 feet (3 years) | $120.00 | 3 years | Official source: 26 to under 40 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| 40 to under 65 feet (3 years) | $150.00 | 3 years | Official source: 40 to under 65 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| 65 feet or longer (3 years) | $180.00 | 3 years | Official source: 65 feet or longer (3 years) ↗ |
| Duplicate registration | $25.00 | Not published | Official source: Duplicate registration ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone on a personal watercraft must wear a USCG-approved life jacket.
- A PWC may tow a skier only if it has manufacturer seating for at least three people, a vacant seat for the skier and an observer on board besides the operator.
- A PWC that tows must also display a skier-down flag when the person is in the water.
- No one under 13 may operate a motorboat, including a PWC, without an adult supervising on board.
Towing & watersports
- Everyone being towed on skis, a tube, a wakeboard or similar device must wear a USCG-approved life jacket approved for the activity.
- No towing from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
- No towing within 150 feet of public docks, mooring lines, launch ramps, boats, anglers, swimmers or others not doing the same activity.
- The towing boat must show a red or orange skier-down flag (at least 12 by 12 inches) when a skier is down or starting.
- A motorboat that tows must have either a wide-angle rearview mirror or an observer besides the operator.
- Towing a person so they become airborne is illegal, except parasailing.
Life jacket rules
- Carry one USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats other than PWC, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and rubber rafts must also carry one throwable device.
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while underway unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
- Everyone on a PWC, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, rubber raft or other human-powered craft must wear a life jacket (since January 1, 2025).
- Everyone boating on a river or in a boat race must wear a life jacket.
- Anyone using a sailboard, inner tube, air mattress, float tube or other inflatable must wear a life jacket or flotation aid.
Boating under the influence
Published limit: 0.08 BAC. Read the linked official guidance for the full rule and any age-specific provisions.
At a glance
- Boater education card required if born on or after January 1, 1989.
- Kids under 13 can drive a motorboat only with an adult aboard.
- Registration lasts three years and costs $60 to $180 by length.
- Paddlers and PWC riders must wear life jackets since 2025.
- Engine cut-off switch link required on plane for most boats under 26 feet.
Plan your day
Before you launch
- 01
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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.
- Boating in New Mexico ↗New Mexico State Parks
- Registrations ↗New Mexico State Parks
- Boating Education ↗New Mexico State Parks
- Boating Regulations and Law Enforcement ↗New Mexico State Parks
- Life Jackets ↗New Mexico State Parks
- 18.17.2 NMAC Boating Operation and Safety ↗New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
- Boating Rule Changes 2025 (flier) ↗New Mexico State Parks
Last verified
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