Boater Card Rules

All states

Boating license rules in Indiana

To operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower you need a valid driver's license, or be at least 15 with a Boater Education Course and BMV identification card.1

The details

Engine size covered
Over 10 horsepower1
Minimum age to operate
15, with a passed Boater Education Course and BMV identification card, for motorboats over 10 hp. Drivers license holders qualify.1

The official pages we read do not say: personal watercraft (jet skis), card and course cost, cards from other states, exemptions. Ask the agency.

The rules are set by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division.

Sources

  1. At what age may a person operate a motorboat?, State of Indiana (IN.gov FAQ, Indiana DNR), checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.