WV · State boating guide
West Virginia
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- anyone born on or after December 31, 1986 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft
- Operating age
- Under 12: may not operate a motorboat or PWC. Ages 12-15: may operate a motorboat or PWC only with someone over 18 aboard, except a motorboat of 10 hp or less. Rental businesses may not rent a PWC to anyone under 18.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC
- Registration fee
- $10.00–$75.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 3 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in West Virginia?
West Virginia Boater Education Card (certificate of boating safety education) is required for anyone born on or after December 31, 1986 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft.
Confirm with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources ↗West Virginia requires a boating safety education certificate for anyone born on or after December 31, 1986 who operates a motorboat or PWC. Kids under 12 may not operate a motorboat or PWC, and kids 12 to 15 need someone over 18 aboard unless the motor is 10 hp or less. Motorboats are titled and registered through the Division of Motor Vehicles for three years at a time, $30 to $75 by class. PWC may not run between sunset and sunrise.
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 December 31, 1986 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft |
| Card or certificate | West Virginia Boater Education Card (certificate of boating safety education) |
| Minimum operating age | Under 12: may not operate a motorboat or PWC. Ages 12-15: may operate a motorboat or PWC only with someone over 18 aboard, except a motorboat of 10 hp or less. Rental businesses may not rent a PWC to anyone under 18. |
| Out-of-state cards | A certificate of boating safety education from any other state is accepted, as are NASBLA-approved courses taught in any state. Renters without a certificate must receive the livery's boating safety orientation. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All motorboats operating on West Virginia waters must be numbered, and motorboats bought after July 1, 1989 must be titled, through the Division of Motor Vehicles. Registration is valid for three years, through the last day of March. Motorboats with motors under 3 hp, or electric motors under 70 pounds of thrust, must register but pay no fee. Boats without a motor need no title or registration. Boats validly numbered in another state are exempt if that is their state of principal operation. Renewals require proof of personal property tax payment.
- Class A: under 16 feet, and all PWC (3 years)$30.00
- Class 1: 16 to under 26 feet (3 years)$45.00
- Class 2: 26 to under 40 feet (3 years)$60.00
- Class 3: 40 feet or longer (3 years)$75.00
- Duplicate boater education card$10.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A: under 16 feet, and all PWC (3 years) | $30.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class A: under 16 feet, and all PWC (3 years) ↗ |
| Class 1: 16 to under 26 feet (3 years) | $45.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class 1: 16 to under 26 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| Class 2: 26 to under 40 feet (3 years) | $60.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class 2: 26 to under 40 feet (3 years) ↗ |
| Class 3: 40 feet or longer (3 years) | $75.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class 3: 40 feet or longer (3 years) ↗ |
| Duplicate boater education card | $10.00 | Not published | Official source: Duplicate boater education card ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone on or towed behind a PWC must wear a USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II, III or V with that performance); inflatables do not count.
- If the PWC has a lanyard engine cut-off switch, the operator must attach it to their person, clothing or life jacket.
- No PWC operation between sunset and sunrise.
- No weaving through congested traffic or jumping another boat's wake within 100 feet.
- A PWC that tows must carry a rear-facing observer at least 12 years old (mirrors do not count), within the maker's passenger limit.
- Rental businesses may not rent a PWC to anyone under 18.
Towing & watersports
- No towing skiers, surfboards or tubes between sunset and sunrise.
- A towing boat needs an observer at least 12 years old besides the operator, or a wide-angle rearview mirror (mirrors not allowed for PWC).
- Anyone being towed must wear a USCG-approved life jacket, except barefoot skiers who may choose a barefoot wetsuit.
- On government-owned reservoirs, towing is allowed only in the unlimited speed zone.
Life jacket rules
- Carry one properly sized USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet and longer must also carry one Type IV throwable device; canoes and kayaks are exempt from the throwable rule.
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
- Everyone on or towed behind a PWC must wear a non-inflatable life jacket.
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 required if born on or after December 31, 1986.
- Out-of-state boater education certificates are accepted.
- Registration lasts three years and costs $30 to $75 by length.
- No PWC riding between sunset and sunrise.
- Kids under 13 must wear life jackets while underway.
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.
- Boating ↗West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
- A Synopsis of West Virginia Boating Rules and Laws ↗West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
- Get Your WV Boater Education Card ↗West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
- West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles ↗West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
Last verified
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