Guide
Boating license and registration in Florida
The essentials from the official sources, read on October 13, 2026. Rules and fees can change: follow the links to check.
Do I need a boating license?
Florida has no boating license as such, but a Boating Safety Education ID Card. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must have it, with a photo ID, to operate a vessel powered by 10 hp or more.
- You get it by passing an approved boating safety course; the card does not expire.
- Exemptions include holders of a U.S. Coast Guard master license, boating on a private lake or pond, and operating with an adult aged 18 or over aboard who holds the card and is responsible for the boat.
- Lost cards are replaced by the FWC.
Source: myfwc.com, Boating Safety Education ID Card, FWC FAQs.
Boat registration fees
Motorized vessels are registered and titled at your county tax collector's office. State registration fees by length, as published by the FLHSMV:
| Class | Length | State fee |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Under 12 ft | $5.50 |
| A-2 | 12 to under 16 ft | $16.25 |
| 1 | 16 to under 26 ft | $28.75 |
| 2 | 26 to under 40 ft | $78.25 |
| 3 | 40 to under 65 ft | $127.75 |
| 4 | 65 to under 110 ft | $152.75 |
| 5 | 110 ft or more | $189.75 |
A service fee and other state and county fees are added on top, so the amount you pay varies by county: ask your tax collector.
Source: flhsmv.gov/fees, FLHSMV vessel titling and registration.