Indiana boat rental laws
3 rules for boat and jet ski rental businesses in Indiana, from one official source.
General boating law onlyWe could confirm only Indiana's general operator rules, from the boating handbook the Indiana DNR links: motorboat and PWC operators need a valid driver's license (or, at 15, an approved course and a BMV ID), and no one under 15 may operate a motorboat over 10 hp or a PWC. Rental-specific rules are listed as not confirmed.
Boater education card for renters
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All motorboat and PWC operators on Indiana public waters must have a valid driver's license; 15-year-olds may operate only after an approved boater education course and with a BMV ID card aboard.
Show the official wording
Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities (official handbook linked by the Indiana DNR, © 2024 Kalkomey)“All motorboat or personal watercraft (PWC) operators must have a valid driver’s license to operate on all Indiana public waters.”
Age limits
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No one under 15 may operate a motorboat over 10 hp or a PWC.
Show the official wording
Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities (official handbook linked by the Indiana DNR, © 2024 Kalkomey)“No one under 15 years of age may legally operate a motorboat greater than 10 horsepower or a PWC.”
Jet ski (PWC) rentals
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Everyone on a PWC wears a life jacket at all times; a PWC needs an engine cut-off lanyard attached to the operator, or a self-circling feature.
Show the official wording
Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities (official handbook linked by the Indiana DNR, © 2024 Kalkomey)“Those on PWC must wear a PFD at all times.”
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the agency before you assume anything here.
No Indiana statute or regulation specific to boat or PWC rentals was confirmed from an official source; Indiana Code 14-15 (including the PWC chapter 14-15-12) and 312 IAC 5 were not read. Reported PWC rental rules are not confirmed.
The handbook is a summary published with the DNR; the law itself is in the Indiana Code and Administrative Code.
Federal rules still apply
On top of Indiana law, the federal rules apply to every boat you rent out:
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Under federal law a boat leased, rented or chartered to someone else for their pleasure is a “recreational vessel” — so the federal recreational boating rules apply to your rentals.
Show the official wording
46 U.S.C. § 2101 — General definitions“"recreational vessel" means a vessel— (A) being manufactured or operated primarily for pleasure; or (B) leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's pleasure.”
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Every recreational vessel needs at least one wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for each person, used as its approval label says; boats 16 ft or longer also need one throwable device.
Show the official wording
33 CFR § 175.15 — Personal flotation devices required“At least one wearable PFD is on board for each person; … No person may use a recreational vessel 16 feet or more in length unless one throwable PFD is onboard”
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A child under 13 aboard a recreational vessel under way must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket unless below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Where a state has its own child life jacket law, the state age applies on its waters instead.
Show the official wording
33 CFR § 175.15(c) and § 175.25“No person may operate a recreational vessel under way with any child under 13 years old aboard unless each such child is either— ( 1 ) Wearing an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard; or ( 2 ) Below decks or in an enclosed cabin.”
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If the state has a statute requiring children of a certain age to wear a life jacket, that state requirement applies on the state's waters instead of the federal under-13 rule.
Show the official wording
33 CFR § 175.25 — Enforcement of State requirements for children to wear personal flotation devices“If the applicable State statute establishes any requirement for children of a certain age to wear an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard, then that requirement applies on the waters subject to the State's jurisdiction instead of the requirement provided in § 175.15(c) of this part .”
Official agencies
Who makes and enforces these rules in Indiana.
Questions rental operators ask
Does a renter need a boater education card in Indiana?
All motorboat and PWC operators on Indiana public waters must have a valid driver's license; 15-year-olds may operate only after an approved boater education course and with a BMV ID card aboard. Source: assets.kalkomey.com, checked October 18, 2026.
How old must a renter be in Indiana?
No one under 15 may operate a motorboat over 10 hp or a PWC. Source: assets.kalkomey.com, checked October 18, 2026.
What are the rules for jet ski rentals in Indiana?
Everyone on a PWC wears a life jacket at all times; a PWC needs an engine cut-off lanyard attached to the operator, or a self-circling feature. Source: assets.kalkomey.com, checked October 18, 2026.
For your renters
Free boating-law page for Indiana on VesselSOS — link it from your booking confirmation.
Indiana boating laws for boatersFree tools for rental operators
Print a safety briefing card, a rental agreement and waiver template or a dock poster. Free, in your browser.
Safety briefing cardRental agreement & waiver templateDock poster All free toolsRun the rental day on one screen.
VesselSOS Fleet checks renters out in 30 seconds and shows every boat and jet ski live until it is back — your customers’ phones are the trackers.
Fleet is a pilot: we are building it with a small group of rental operators for next season. No prices yet.