Indiana - Boating Laws and Regulations
Do I need a boat license in Indiana?
Motorboat and PWC operators (powered by a motor greater than 10 hp) must have a valid driver’s license if they wish to operate on Indiana waters.
A person who has never held a driver’s license must complete a DNR-approved boater education course and carry on board an ID card issued by the Indiana BMV if they wish to operate a motorboat or PWC.
Indiana Boat Registration Requirements - Numbers and Stickers:
What boats must be registered in Indiana?
To operate any motorized vessel on Indiana waters it must be registered and display valid watercraft decals. Non-motorized must also display valid watercraft decals and pay any applicable taxes and fees.
You must display your boat number in the following manner:
-
- Painted on or permanently attached to each side of the bow;
- Using BLOCK letters at least three inches high and of one solid color contrasting sharply with the color of your boat;
- Be clearly legible from a distance of 100 feet
- To read from left to right; letters and numbers must be separated by a space or a hyphen, for example, IN 2234 AB or IN-2234-AB
- No other numbers may be displayed
Every vessel that is required to be registered must display decals issued by the BMV.
You must display your excise decals as follows:
- On both sides of the boat
- Within three inches and to the right of the registration number
- Expired decals must be removed.
How do I transfer ownership of a used boat in Indiana?
-
Obtain a bill of sale from the seller: The bill of sale should include the names and addresses of both the buyer and seller, the date of sale, a description of the boat (including the hull identification number), and the purchase price.
-
Obtain a certificate of title: If the boat is titled in Indiana, the seller should provide you with the original certificate of title. If the boat is not titled in Indiana, you will need to contact the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to find out what documentation is required to obtain a title.
-
Complete the transfer of ownership section on the certificate of title: The seller will need to sign the back of the title and provide their signature, printed name, and address. The buyer will also need to sign the back of the title and provide their signature, printed name, and address.
-
Obtain a new certificate of registration: If the boat is currently registered in Indiana, the buyer will need to obtain a new certificate of registration in their name. To do this, the buyer will need to complete an Application for Certificate of Registration and submit it, along with the bill of sale and the certificate of title, to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
-
Pay the transfer fees: There will be a transfer fee for transferring the ownership of the boat. The fee will vary depending on the value of the boat.
Age restrictions for boaters in Indiana?
-
Anyone under the age of 15 may not operate a motorboat or PWC unless accompanied on board by a person who is at least 18 years old.
-
Anyone between the ages of 15 and 17 may operate a motorboat or PWC if they have a valid Boater Education Card and are accompanied on board by a person who is at least 18 years old.
-
Anyone 18 years of age or older may operate a motorboat or PWC without any age restrictions, as long as they have a valid Boater Education Card if they were born after January 1, 1989.
Indiana PFD requirements
Vessels may only be operated in or on Indiana state waters if the vessel is carrying at least one US Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device (PFD) in good condition that is readily available, approved for the appropriate activity, and of the correct size for every person aboard.
Operating under the influence of drugs and alcohol in Indiana
In Indiana, it is unlawful to operate a vessel (including PWC) while under the influence of alcohol or another impairing substance.
Indiana law defines Boating under the Influence as operating a vessel or a PWC while having a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater.
Boating accidents in Indiana
In Indiana, boating accidents must be reported to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as soon as possible if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Someone is injured or killed
- There is property damage of more than $2,000
- A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate injury or death
The DNR should be notified immediately by calling 911 or the Indiana Conservation Officers Dispatch Center.
Complying with Officers
Any person operating a vessel on the waters of the state is required to bring their vessel to a stop after having been requested or signaled to do so by any officer. The operator must comply with the directives of that officer.
Personal Watercraft (PWC) in Indiana
In addition to the regulations and laws regarding power vessels, PWC are also subject to the following laws and regulations in the state of Indiana:
-
Operators must be at least 14 years old and possess a valid Boater Education Card, unless they are accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old and has a Boater Education Card.
-
PWCs must be equipped with a lanyard-style engine cut-off switch, which must be attached to the operator or a passenger at all times while the PWC is in motion.
-
It is illegal to operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise or during restricted hours in designated areas.
-
Each person on a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD at all times while the PWC is in motion.
-
PWCs must maintain a distance of at least 200 feet from shore, unless they are traveling at idle speed or preparing to dock.
-
PWCs may not be operated within 100 feet of another PWC or within 50 feet of another vessel or person in the water, unless the PWC is moving at idle speed or preparing to dock.
Water ski Regulations in Indiana
Anyone being towed behind a boat or PWC, in an activity such as water skiing, must wear a properly fitted Type I, II or III USCG-approved PFD.
No person under the age of 14 may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft (PWC) that is towing a skier.
There must be a person, other than the operator, on board who is at least 12 years old and who continually observes the skier.
The maximum number of skiers that can be towed behind a single motorboat or PWC is 3, and they must be at least 100 feet apart. Towing skiers with a rope or line that is longer than 75 feet is prohibited.
Towing people on water skis or similar devices is only permitted from sunrise to sunset.
Muffling devices in Indiana
Power vessels must be equipped with a functioning and effective muffler system in order to reduce the engine exhaust sound level. Muffler cutouts are prohibited.
