Anyone driving a powered recreational boat or jet ski in Victoria needs a marine licence, and the process is more straightforward than the paperwork suggests. Here is what it actually costs, who can apply, and the two ways to get there.
Do You Need a Marine Licence in Victoria?
Yes, if you are operating a powered vessel, including a tinnie with an outboard or a personal watercraft (PWC), you need a marine licence issued by VicRoads. There are three versions:
- Restricted marine licence, for anyone aged 12 to 15
- Marine licence, for anyone 16 and over, with no operating restrictions beyond the general rules
- Marine licence with PWC endorsement, required to ride a jet ski, only available from age 16
Neither VicRoads nor Safe Transport Victoria lists any extra size or power cap once you hold a full marine licence. The operating restrictions below apply only while you are on a restricted licence, aged 12 to 15.
A few vessels do not need a licence at all. VicRoads and Safe Transport Victoria exempt low-powered kayaks and canoes, provided the electric motor is no more than 750 watts (1 horsepower), the vessel cannot exceed 5 knots, and it has tapered ends with no transom. Anyone holding a commercial Certificate of Competency is also exempt from needing a marine licence, unless they intend to operate a PWC or their certificate carries a health or fitness condition.
How Much a Victorian Marine Licence Costs
These are the current fees published by VicRoads. New licences and interstate conversions can be taken out for either 1 or 5 years.
| Licence type | 1 year | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Marine licence | $43.20 | $216.00 |
| Marine licence with PWC endorsement | $48.30 | $241.50 |
| Restricted marine licence (12 to 15) | $24.10 | $120.50 |
On top of the licence fee, budget for the test fee of $33.70, which covers the knowledge test, the PWC endorsement test, or the combined test in a single sitting. A replacement licence costs $26.90, and a licence status report, the kind an employer or insurer might ask for, costs $6.60.
Renewals can usually be taken out for the same term as your current licence or switched to a 5-year term. Some renewal notices also offer a 3-year option: check what yours says before you pay. The easiest way to renew or order a replacement is through a myVicRoads account, though BPAY and phone payment (Visa and Mastercard, with a card fee) are also available.
How to Get Your Licence: Self-Study or a Course
Victoria offers two paths to a licence, and neither is compulsory over the other.
Self-study. Work through the Boating and Safety Handbook (2023 edition) at your own pace, try the marine licence practice test to check you are ready, then book the real test at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. Pass, and you can pay for and collect your licence on the spot, photo included.
An accredited course. A Safe Transport Victoria accredited training provider runs the course, tests you, and issues a certificate. You then take that certificate to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre within 12 months to register it and pay the standard licence fee from the table above. Course prices are set by each individual provider and are not published by VicRoads, so it is worth comparing a few if you would rather learn in a group than study alone.
Either way you will need to bring evidence of identity and a completed marine and boat licence application form, and pass a basic eyesight test.
The Knowledge Test and the PWC Endorsement
The marine licence knowledge test is 30 multiple-choice questions, and you need at least 26 correct to pass. If you also want to ride a jet ski, the PWC endorsement test adds another 15 multiple-choice questions, with a pass mark of 13. You can sit both in the one visit as a combined test, but you cannot sit the PWC component until you have turned 16, even if you already hold a restricted licence.
Licence Restrictions If You Are 12 to 15
A restricted marine licence lets a 12 to 15 year old drive a powered vessel, but with real limits attached. You cannot:
- Operate between sunset and sunrise
- Tow a person, another vessel, or any object
- Operate at a speed of 10 knots or more
You cannot get a PWC endorsement on a restricted licence at all. Once the holder turns 16, the restricted licence automatically becomes a full marine licence, with no need to reapply or resit the test.
Using an Interstate Licence in Victoria
If you already hold a valid marine licence from another state or territory, you can operate a boat in Victoria for up to three months on it. Stay longer than that, and you need to convert it to a Victorian licence. You can convert if your interstate licence is current, or has expired within the last 5 years, is not suspended, cancelled or disqualified, and you meet Victoria's basic medical and eyesight requirements. Conversion needs a VicRoads appointment (call 13 11 71), and you will need evidence of identity, payment, your interstate licence and a completed application form. Visiting vessels are also exempt from Victoria's safety equipment carriage rules. NSW boat owners weighing up whether to convert can see how NSW's own licence system compares, since the two states set different fees and rules.
Before You Buy a Boat
A licence and a boat are two separate purchases, and it is worth having the licence sorted, or at least booked, before you commit to a PWC over a standard tinnie: the endorsement only applies from age 16 and adds a second test on the day.
The licence is not the only thing you need to sort out. Any powered vessel on Victorian waters, including electric foils, has to be seaworthy and registered with VicRoads separately, renewed every 12 months. That is a different process with its own fee, so factor it in alongside the licence before you commit to a purchase.
Once you know what you are licensed to drive, browse what's currently listed for sale on Boattrader to see what fits your budget.
