What if I don’t have a boater card yet?

Use FWC’s Temporary Certificate Program. You take an online exam from an FWC-authorized vendor: 25 questions, and you need 19 correct answers to pass. The certificate is valid for 90 days and only in Florida. Carry it with a photo ID; a livery may inspect it before renting to you.

🪪 Know before you go

Florida boater card and temporary certificate: a guide for Clearwater renters

The paperwork part, made painless.

Before you drive one of our mini boats, it helps to know Florida's boater education rules. Here's who needs a boater card, how the FWC temporary certificate works and what to bring on the day.

Who needs a Florida boater card?

Florida requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a boat with 10 horsepower or more to have a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, or proof of a NASBLA-approved boating course from another state.

Our mini boats have 30 hp engines, so this rule applies to every driver born in 1988 or later. Born before 1988? The boater education requirement doesn't apply to you, but you still need to meet the age rule below and bring a photo ID.

No card yet? The FWC Temporary Certificate Program

If you don't have a boater card, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) runs a Temporary Certificate Program. Here's how it works:

You take an online exam from an FWC-authorized vendor.
The exam has 25 questions, and you need 19 correct answers to pass.
The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days, and only in Florida.
Carry it with a photo ID. A livery (a boat rental business, like us) may inspect it before renting to you.

Read the FWC Temporary Certificate Program details ↗

Do it before the day of your ride. Showing up with the certificate already in hand is the easiest way to get on the water on time.

Drivers must be 18 or older

Florida statute §327.54 does not allow a livery to rent a motorized vessel to anyone under 18. That means every driver of a Clearwater Escapes mini boat must be 18+, with a photo ID. Before every rental we give pre-rental instruction: a walkthrough of the controls and the safety basics.

Your checklist for the day

Driver is 18 or older, with a photo ID
Driver born on or after January 1, 1988: Florida boater card, NASBLA-approved course card from another state, or FWC temporary certificate
No more than two people per boat
Life vests are provided, and the safety briefing is included

Riding with a group? Every boat in the convoy needs its own driver who meets these rules. See group outings for how convoys work.

Boater card FAQ

Do I need a Florida boater card to drive?

If you were born on or after January 1, 1988, yes. Florida requires anyone born on or after that date who operates a boat with 10 hp or more to carry a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, or proof of a NASBLA-approved boating course from another state. Our mini boats have 30 hp engines, so the rule applies to every driver born in 1988 or later.
What if I don’t have a boater card yet?
Use FWC’s Temporary Certificate Program. You take an online exam from an FWC-authorized vendor: 25 questions, and you need 19 correct answers to pass. The certificate is valid for 90 days and only in Florida. Carry it with a photo ID; a livery may inspect it before renting to you.
- FWC Temporary Certificate Program
How old do you have to be to drive?

Drivers must be 18 or older. Florida statute §327.54 does not allow a livery to rent a motorized vessel to anyone under 18, so every driver needs to be 18+ and bring a photo ID.