Teen boat and jet ski drivers in Okaloosa County: Florida rules for ages 14 to 17
A teenager can drive a boat in Florida, but every driver born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, needs a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card or a temporary certificate from an FWC-approved exam to run a boat of 10 horsepower or more, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as of Nov. 1, 2026. Since every teen today was born after that date, the card applies to all of them. Jet ski drivers must be at least 14. Rental shops can’t rent a motorboat or jet ski to anyone under 18.
With families gathering around Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, here is who can take the wheel in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the rest of Okaloosa County.
Can my 14-year-old drive a jet ski in Florida?
Yes, if the teen is at least 14 and has a boating card or temporary certificate. Florida sets 14 as the minimum age to operate a jet ski, and everyone aboard or being towed must wear a non-inflatable life jacket (FWC). No one may ride a jet ski from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise; with daylight saving time over since Nov. 1, that cutoff now comes about an hour earlier on the clock.
Can my 17-year-old drive the family boat?
Yes, with a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, a NASBLA-approved card from another state, or a temporary certificate from an FWC-approved online exam, valid up to 90 days. Florida’s rule covers anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, operating a boat of 10 hp or more (FWC). The card must be carried with a photo ID.
| Driver | Own or family boat (10 hp+) | Jet ski | Rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 or 15 | With card or temporary certificate | Yes, with card | Can't rent; can't drive a rental |
| 16 or 17 | With card or temporary certificate | Yes, with card | Can't rent; may drive with card (pink band) or with a qualifying person aboard (yellow band) |
| 18 or older, born 1988 or later | With card or temporary certificate | Yes, with card | Can rent and drive with card |
| Born before Jan. 1, 1988 | No card required | Yes | Can rent and drive (green band) |
Can a teen drive a rental boat?
Florida liveries can’t rent a motorboat or jet ski to anyone under 18 (FWC livery rules). An adult has to sign for the rental.
In Okaloosa County, the county’s rental ordinance then decides who may drive, using wristbands (Ordinance 22-08):
- Pink: a 16- or 17-year-old with a NASBLA card or temporary exam may drive.
- Yellow: a driver 16 or older who may drive only with a qualifying person aboard.
- Green: an adult 18 or older born before Jan. 1, 1988.
The ordinance covers rented motorboats and jet skis everywhere in the county except cities with their own rules. Before leaving, every renter watches the “Okaloosa Boating and Waterway Safety Video” and gets an equipment briefing.
What rules apply to the kids aboard?
- Under 6: a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on a boat under 26 feet whenever it’s underway, which means any time it isn’t anchored, moored, tied to shore or aground (FWC).
- Jet skis: every rider and anyone being towed wears a non-inflatable life jacket (FWC).
Is there a different alcohol limit for young drivers?
Yes. Florida presumes a boat operator impaired at .08, and for anyone under 21 operating a boat the limit is .02 (FWC).
Where should a new driver slow down?
Okaloosa waters have zones that catch inexperienced drivers, and the rental shop has to explain them before you leave (Ordinance 22-08):
| Area | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crab Island emergency corridor | A 40-foot lane marked with buoys; no boat may enter it, only emergency vessels. Entering it is a second-degree misdemeanor. | Okaloosa County Ordinance 15-14 |
| Destin Harbor, East Pass and Sandpiper Cove | Restricted area set because of heavy boat traffic | Okaloosa County Ordinance 96-11 |
| Fort Walton Beach Yacht Basin fuel pumps | Idle speed, no wake within 500 feet; fine up to $500 | Okaloosa County Ordinance 19-06 |
A teen who drives the family boat to Crab Island should also know that the water there can’t be roped off by vendors and that shuttles must stay with their passengers; the full rules are in the county code.
What changes when a teen turns 18?
At 18, a driver can sign for a rental in Florida. The card rule doesn’t go away: anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, keeps needing the card or a temporary certificate for boats of 10 hp or more, at any age (FWC). The .02 alcohol limit stays until 21.
Where do teens get the card?
The FWC lists approved courses and the online exam for the temporary certificate on its boating education page. A card from another state counts if it is NASBLA-approved, so visiting cousins who took a course at home can bring theirs. In an emergency on the water, call 911.
More Auto & Marine guides and local services ›
Live in the Emerald Coast? Write for us as a Community Contributor and share what you see in your town.
Questions and answers
- How old do you have to be to drive a jet ski in Florida?
- 14, with a Florida boating card or temporary certificate, since anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, needs one for 10 hp or more (FWC).
- Can a 17-year-old drive a boat in Florida?
- Yes, with a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, an approved out-of-state card or a temporary certificate, for boats of 10 hp or more (FWC).
- Can a 16-year-old drive a rental boat in Destin?
- An adult must rent it. In Okaloosa County, a 16- or 17-year-old with a boating card or temporary exam can then drive, wearing a pink wristband (FWC, Okaloosa County Ordinance 22-08).
- What is the boating alcohol limit for under 21 in Florida?
- .02 for anyone under 21 operating a boat; .08 for adults (FWC).