West Virginia boating laws
What you need before you launch in West Virginia: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
Anyone born after Dec 31 1986 needs a boating safety course. Official course info
Who can drive a boat
Check with the West Virginia boating agency for age limits.
Life jackets
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while underway.
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
All motorized boats must be titled and registered with the DMV. Boats with no motor are exempt.
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 West Virginia
Links go to official West Virginia agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official West Virginia source before you go. This is not legal advice.