Boating in Florida
Renting a Boat or Booking a Charter in Florida
Renting a boat or booking a charter in Florida: livery rules, the boater education requirement, what to check before you leave the dock, and charter tips.
Renting a boat or booking a charter is the easiest way to get on Florida's water without owning a boat. This page explains how Florida regulates boat rental businesses, what you need to show before you can take a rental out, what to check at the dock, and how charters with a licensed captain work.
At a glance
- Florida calls a business that rents boats without a captain a "livery," and it needs a no-cost FWC livery permit renewed every year.
- Renters born on or after January 1, 1988, need boater education proof to run a boat with 10 hp or more.
- A temporary certificate from an FWC-approved exam is valid for 90 days.
- Liveries may not rent motorized boats, including personal watercraft, to anyone under 18.
Renting from a Florida livery
Section 327.54 of the Florida Statutes regulates liveries. A livery is a person or business that advertises and offers a boat for use by others in exchange for payment without also providing (or requiring) a captain licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. An owner who lends a boat to someone they know, without advertising it, is not a livery.
What the law requires of the rental business
A livery must hold a no-cost FWC livery permit, renewed annually. To qualify, it must keep enough Coast Guard-approved life jackets on site for the capacity of every rental boat, carry the required safety equipment and display boating safety information where renters can see it. The law also says a livery may not knowingly rent a boat:
- with more people aboard than the capacity plate allows, or with a motor over the boat's horsepower rating;
- without the safety equipment required by Florida law;
- that is not seaworthy, meaning the engine, bilge pumps, kill switch and other parts are working and fit for use;
- without first giving you pre-rental or pre-ride instruction;
- without a written rental agreement.
The instruction must cover the boat's handling, safe operation and right-of-way, your responsibility as operator, local hazards such as restricted areas and shallow water, and emergency procedures for capsizing, falls overboard, taking on water and accidents. You will be asked to sign a statement confirming you received each part.
Insurance
Florida requires liveries to carry insurance with coverage of at least $500,000 per person and $1 million per event, and to give you the carrier's name and policy number. The livery must either insure renters at the same levels or offer you the chance to buy that coverage. If you decline, you sign a written acknowledgment that you may be personally liable for damage or injuries you cause. Read it carefully before you sign.
The boater education requirement for renters
Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who operates a boat with a motor of 10 horsepower or more must carry photo ID and proof of boater education. A livery may not knowingly rent to someone who needs that proof and cannot show it. Acceptable proof includes:
- a Florida boating safety identification card, valid for life;
- a temporary certificate from passing an FWC-approved exam, valid for 90 days;
- a boating safety card or certificate from another state, a U.S. territory or Canada that meets national standards, or an International Certificate of Competency;
- a course completion certificate, accepted for 90 days after you pass a Florida-approved course.
Exemptions exist, including for Coast Guard-licensed captains and for operators accompanied by a card holder 18 or older who is responsible for the boat. See Boater Education for how to get a card, and get it before your trip if you can.
Operating without the required boater education proof is a noncriminal infraction under Florida law. More important, the person at the helm is responsible for the safe operation of the boat and for any violation, whether the boat is rented or owned.
Before you leave the dock
The livery's briefing is required, but you are the operator. Use the checklist below, and don't take a boat you are not comfortable with.
Check before you go
- Life jackets for everyone, in the right sizes, and a throwable device; see Required Safety Equipment.
- The engine cut-off switch lanyard works and you know how to wear it.
- Fuel level, how to refuel and whether fuel is included.
- The capacity plate, and that your group fits it.
- Bilge pump, navigation lights, horn or whistle and fire extinguisher.
- A marked chart or map of the area, with no-wake, manatee and shallow zones pointed out.
- Your return time, and what happens if you are late or the weather turns.
- How to reach the livery, and that you know VHF channel 16 for emergencies.
- Photos of existing damage, taken before you leave.
Florida law requires the livery to notify law enforcement if a rental is unnecessarily overdue by more than 4 hours past the contracted time, and to report accidents. Tell the livery right away about any problem. Read Boating Basics in Florida for channel markers and first-trip tips, and check Florida Marine Weather before you go.
Personal watercraft rentals
Personal watercraft (PWC) rentals are common at Florida beaches and marinas. The same livery rules apply: pre-ride instruction, a written agreement, safety equipment and the boater education requirement. Florida law prohibits liveries from renting a motorized vessel, including a PWC, to anyone under 18.
PWCs are fast and turn sharply, but many lose steering when you let off the throttle. Stay clear of swimmers, divers and anchored boats, follow posted speed zones and keep your distance from other riders. Learn more in Personal Watercraft.
Peer-to-peer and private rentals
Online platforms now let private owners list their boats for rent, either on their own or with a captain. Florida's livery definition turns on advertising: a person who advertises a boat for rent without providing a Coast Guard-licensed captain fits the statute's definition of a livery. Before you book, ask:
- Does the owner hold an FWC livery permit, or will a licensed captain operate the boat?
- What insurance covers you, the boat and other people, and what are the limits?
- Who provides the safety briefing and equipment?
- What are the deposit, damage and cancellation terms?
If the answers are vague, or the arrangement seems built to avoid the rules, choose another boat.
Renting a kayak, canoe or paddleboard instead? See Kayaking and Paddleboarding in Florida for life jacket, lighting and safety rules for paddlers.
Booking a charter
On a charter, a captain runs the boat and you ride as a passenger. Popular options in Florida include:
| Charter type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Fishing (inshore, offshore, freshwater) | Captain supplies gear and local knowledge; ask what licenses cover you. See Fishing. |
| Sightseeing and sunset cruises | Short trips with a set route; good for groups and families. |
| Dive and snorkel | Crew handles the flag, moorings and pickups. See Diving and Snorkeling. |
| Sandbar and island trips | Plan for sun, shallow water and wading. |
What a licensed captain means
A captain who carries passengers for payment needs a credential from the U.S. Coast Guard, called a Merchant Mariner Credential, with an endorsement that matches the vessel and waters. One common endorsement for small charter boats is Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV). It is reasonable to ask to see the captain's credential and to ask how many passengers the boat may carry.
Tipping and expectations
Confirm what the price includes: fuel, bait, tackle, fishing licenses, cleaning your catch, food and drinks. Ask about cancellation for weather; good captains cancel or shorten trips when conditions are unsafe. Tipping the captain and crew is customary in Florida, based on the service and effort. Ask the operator what is usual if you are unsure.
Official source
Read the full text of s. 327.54 (liveries) (opens in a new tab) and s. 327.395 (boating safety education) (opens in a new tab) on the Florida Legislature's website, and check current boater education options with FWC (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a boating license to rent a boat in Florida?
If you were born on or after January 1, 1988, and the boat has a motor of 10 horsepower or more, you need proof of boater education, such as a Florida boating safety identification card or a temporary certificate, plus photo ID. The rental business may not rent to you without it unless you qualify for an exemption.
What is a temporary certificate?
It is a certificate you get by passing an FWC-approved temporary certificate exam. Under Florida law it is valid for 90 days from issue, which makes it a common option for visitors who rent a boat.
How old do I have to be to rent a boat or personal watercraft in Florida?
Florida law prohibits a livery from renting a motorized vessel, including a personal watercraft, to anyone under 18. Human-powered boats such as kayaks are not covered by that age rule.
Do I need a boater education card to go on a charter?
Not as a passenger. On a charter, a Coast Guard-licensed captain operates the boat. The education requirement applies to the person operating the vessel.
