Virginia boating laws
What you need before you launch in Virginia: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
All operators of motorboats 10 hp or more and all PWC operators need a boating safety course. Official course info
Who can drive a boat
PWC operators must be 16, or 14 and 15 with a course.
Life jackets
Starting Jan 1 2027, children under 13 must wear a life jacket (federal rule adopted).
Required safety gear
Federal U.S. Coast Guard minimums apply:
- A wearable life jacket for each person aboard, plus a throwable cushion or ring on boats 16 feet and longer
- A fire extinguisher on most motorboats with an enclosed engine or fuel tank
- A whistle or horn
- Navigation lights if you are out between sunset and sunrise or in poor visibility
- Visual distress signals (flares or a flag) on coastal waters and the Great Lakes
Registration
Motorboats must be registered.
Boating under the influence
It is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.
Before you launch in Virginia
Links go to official Virginia agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official Virginia source before you go. This is not legal advice.