Starting in 2025 if you are hitting the water on your boat or personal watercraft you will need to have a California Boater Card. The new California Boater Card program is being rolled out over 8 years and starting this summer, if you are under 25 and operating a boat or personal watercraft, you will need a boater card.
According to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, the reason or the new program is all about safety. The boater card is to ensure that those on the water have taken and passed approved boater safety courses.
The card program is being phased in by age, with everyone operating a boat or personal vehicle being required to have a card by 2025. Below you can find the timeline for when you will need to have a boater card.
- Jan. 1, 2018 – Persons 20 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2019 – Persons 25 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2020 – Persons 35 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2021 – Persons 40 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2022 – Persons 45 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2023 – Persons 50 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2024 – Persons 60 years of age or younger
- Jan. 1, 2025 – All persons regardless of age