• 83 questions

Louisiana Boating License Practice Test: State Law Questions

Louisiana's motorboat and personal watercraft statutes, state law only: answer, then read the rule and its Revised Statutes section.

Louisiana's boating safety education law applies to a person born after which date?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

Print covers the next 25 questions. Share this set copies a link to the same questions in the same order.

Exam mode: 25 questions, no time limit.

More options

Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Bank checked October 12, 2026.

Next step Another state's boating law bank

All 83 questions

Boating safety education 12

  • A Louisiana 15-year-old with no class operates a 40-horsepower boat. Which person aboard makes that lawful? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • A Louisiana minor is charged under the education section and then completes an approved class. What does the court do? La. R.S. 34:851.36(C)
  • A Louisiana renter finishes the livery's safety instruction. Within how many hours may he operate the rented motorboat? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • For how long after the rental ends must a Louisiana livery keep its copy of the rental contract? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • How old must a person be to operate a motorboat rented from a Louisiana livery under the rental exception? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • Louisiana's boating safety education law applies to a person born after which date? La. R.S. 34:851.36(A)
  • Louisiana's education rule covers a motorboat powered by a motor of what size? La. R.S. 34:851.36(A)
  • Under Louisiana's rental exception, which of these must the livery give the renter? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • What must a Louisiana boater who completed the class have while operating such a motorboat? La. R.S. 34:851.36(A)
  • What must the renter of a Louisiana livery motorboat keep with him while operating it? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
  • Which body must have approved the boating safety class that Louisiana's statute requires? La. R.S. 34:851.36(A)
  • Who is exempt from Louisiana's boating safety class by a federal license? La. R.S. 34:851.36(B)
Show all 83 questions (71 more)

Personal watercraft 8

  • A Louisiana livery may not rent a personal watercraft to, or for operation by, a person under what age? La. R.S. 34:855.4(A)
  • A Louisiana owner lets a 14-year-old operate the owner's personal watercraft. What does the law say? La. R.S. 34:855.3(F)
  • A Louisiana personal watercraft has a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch from the maker. What must the operator do with the lanyard? La. R.S. 34:855.3(B)
  • In Louisiana's Personal Watercraft Safety Act, what drives a personal watercraft? La. R.S. 34:855.2
  • What is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft on Louisiana waters? La. R.S. 34:855.3(E)
  • When may a personal watercraft be operated between sunset and sunrise in Louisiana? La. R.S. 34:855.3(C)
  • Who is exempt from Louisiana's personal watercraft regulation section? La. R.S. 34:855.5
  • Who must wear a personal flotation device on a personal watercraft in Louisiana? La. R.S. 34:855.3(A)

Life jackets 5

  • A child on a Louisiana bass boat is not wearing a life jacket while the boat is on plane. Who is held liable? La. R.S. 34:851.24(F)
  • For Louisiana's child life jacket rule, a boat is underway at all times except when? La. R.S. 34:851.24(F)
  • How many life preservers must a Louisiana motorboat carry? La. R.S. 34:851.24(F)
  • Louisiana's wear rule for those sixteen or younger covers boats of which classes? La. R.S. 34:851.24(F)
  • On a Louisiana Class A or Class 1 motorboat underway, a person of what age must wear a life jacket? La. R.S. 34:851.24(F)

Waterskiing 6

  • A Louisiana operator tows a skier alone, using a rearview mirror. How old must the operator be? La. R.S. 34:851.15(A)
  • During which hours may a Louisiana motorboat not tow a person on water skis? La. R.S. 34:851.15(B)
  • How many people must be in a Louisiana motorboat that tows a water skier, when no mirror exception applies? La. R.S. 34:851.15(A)
  • How must a Louisiana motorboat that is towing a skier be operated? La. R.S. 34:851.15(C)
  • What is the smallest rearview mirror that lets a Louisiana operator tow a skier without a second person? La. R.S. 34:851.15(A)
  • Which Louisiana boats are excepted from the two-person towing rule besides those with the mirror? La. R.S. 34:851.15(A)

No-wake zones and careless operation 17

  • A Louisiana parish no-wake zone covers the whole width of a waterway. How long may it be? La. R.S. 34:851.27(B)
  • A Louisiana parish posts a no-wake zone beside structures on a bayou bank. How far from a structure may the zone reach? La. R.S. 34:851.27(B)
  • Besides a public boat launch and its docking facility, what else has Louisiana's 300-foot statutory no-wake zone? La. R.S. 34:851.27(C)
  • Buoys mark a swimming area on a Louisiana lake. Which watercraft may enter it? La. R.S. 34:851.14
  • How far from a displayed diver's flag must a Louisiana vessel keep? La. R.S. 34:851.4(A)
  • In Louisiana's statutory no-wake zones, at what speed must a vessel operate? La. R.S. 34:851.27(C)
  • Louisiana bars riding on the gunwales or bow decking of a moving motorboat of what length, unless it has adequate guards or railing? La. R.S. 34:851.13
  • Louisiana law sets a no-wake zone on all waterways within what distance of a public boat launch? La. R.S. 34:851.27(C)
  • May a Louisiana owner let a person who is physically or mentally unable to operate safely take the owner's watercraft? La. R.S. 34:851.9
  • To which vessels does Louisiana's careless operation section not apply? La. R.S. 34:851.4(C)
  • Under Louisiana law, an owner is presumed to consent to a watercraft's use when who is in control of it? La. R.S. 34:851.18(B)
  • Under Louisiana's careless operation section, what must an operator do when he cannot make out an approaching vessel's course? La. R.S. 34:851.4(A)
  • What does Louisiana's overloading section measure a watercraft's load against? La. R.S. 34:851.11
  • When may someone stand on the bow decking of a small Louisiana motorboat that has no railing? La. R.S. 34:851.13
  • Which anchoring does Louisiana name as interference with navigation when unreasonable under the circumstances? La. R.S. 34:851.7
  • Which Louisiana waterways may a parish not put its own speed limit or no-wake zone on? La. R.S. 34:851.27(B)
  • Which of these does Louisiana's careless operation section forbid a mechanically propelled vessel to do? La. R.S. 34:851.4(A)

Alcohol and suspended operators 4

  • A Louisiana boater charged with operating while impaired says he has no driver's license. Is that a defense? La. R.S. 14:98(A)
  • A person's privilege to operate a watercraft is suspended under R.S. 32:414 or 32:667. What does Louisiana's boating part say? La. R.S. 34:851.8
  • At what blood alcohol concentration is operating a watercraft the crime of operating a vehicle while impaired in Louisiana? La. R.S. 14:98(A)
  • Louisiana's operating while impaired statute names which means of travel? La. R.S. 14:98(A)

Collisions, reports and theft 7

  • A recreational boating crash in Louisiana causes only property damage. Above what amount must it be reported? La. R.S. 34:851.10(B)
  • A registered boat is stolen in Louisiana. How soon must the owner report the theft to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries? La. R.S. 34:851.10(C)
  • After a collision, what must a Louisiana vessel operator give in writing to an injured person or the owner of damaged property? La. R.S. 34:851.10(A)
  • After a reportable Louisiana boating crash, within how many days must the incident report form reach the department? La. R.S. 34:851.10(B)
  • How far does a Louisiana operator's duty to help after a crash reach? La. R.S. 34:851.10(A)
  • How soon must notice of a reportable Louisiana boating crash be given? La. R.S. 34:851.10(B)
  • The operator in a Louisiana crash is unable to file the report. Who bears the duty? La. R.S. 34:851.10(B)

Classes, lights and equipment 12

  • A Louisiana livery boat lacks required equipment. What may the livery not do? La. R.S. 34:851.23(A)
  • At what distance must the white lights required by Louisiana's section be visible? La. R.S. 34:851.24(B)
  • In Louisiana's boat classes, a 15-foot motorboat is in which class? La. R.S. 34:851.24(A)
  • Louisiana's Class 1 covers motorboats of what length? La. R.S. 34:851.24(A)
  • On Louisiana coastal waters, which boat is exempt from carrying visual distress signals between sunrise and sunset? La. R.S. 34:851.30
  • What light must a motorboat anchored at night in a navigable Louisiana waterway show? La. R.S. 34:851.24(B)
  • What may a Louisiana wildlife agent or peace officer do to enforce the boating part? La. R.S. 34:851.29
  • What must every motorboat have for its exhaust under Louisiana law? La. R.S. 34:851.16
  • When must a motorboat underway on Louisiana waters carry and show its lights? La. R.S. 34:851.24(B)
  • Which gasoline engines are excepted from Louisiana's flame arrestor rule? La. R.S. 34:851.24(H)
  • Which Louisiana boat class is not required to carry a whistle or other sound-producing appliance? La. R.S. 34:851.24(D)
  • Which Louisiana boat classes must carry an efficient bell? La. R.S. 34:851.24(E)

Numbering and registration 12

  • A boat numbered in another state stays in Louisiana. After how many consecutive days must its number be recorded here? La. R.S. 34:851.22(A)
  • A Louisiana boater is cited for not having the registration certificate aboard. How may the citation be voided? La. R.S. 34:851.31(A)
  • A Louisiana owner sells a numbered boat. Within how many days must the commission be notified? La. R.S. 34:851.20(G)
  • A sailboat of what length need not be numbered in Louisiana? La. R.S. 34:851.22(B)
  • For how long is a Louisiana certificate of number in force? La. R.S. 34:851.20(F)
  • The holder of a Louisiana certificate of number changes address. How soon must the commission be told? La. R.S. 34:851.20(H)
  • How tall must the block characters of a Louisiana boat number be? La. R.S. 34:851.21(A)
  • What word appears below the number on a Louisiana boat that is for hire or rent? La. R.S. 34:851.21(B)
  • Where must the certificate of number and decal be when a Louisiana motorboat is in operation? La. R.S. 34:851.20(A)
  • Which kinds of boat must be numbered to operate on Louisiana waters? La. R.S. 34:851.19
  • Which letters are never used in a Louisiana boat number, because they may be mistaken for numerals? La. R.S. 34:851.21(B)
  • Within which window may a Louisiana certificate of number be renewed? La. R.S. 34:851.20(F)

How this list was compiled: Written only from the Louisiana Revised Statutes: Title 34, chapter 4, Part IV, Motorboats and Vessels (R.S. 34:851.2, 851.4, 851.7 to 851.16, 851.18 to 851.24, 851.27, 851.29, 851.30, 851.31 and 851.36), Part V, the Personal Watercraft Safety Act (R.S. 34:855.2 to 855.5), and R.S. 14:98(A) on operating while impaired, read one section at a time on the Louisiana State Legislature's site, https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Laws_Toc.aspx?folder=75&level=Parent, on 2026-10-12. Each question names its section and links to it. That a boating safety class is required is R.S. 34:851.36. The statutes give no number of questions and no pass mark. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' boater education page, https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/boater-education, read the same day, says its course lasts between 6 and 8 hours and a student must score 70% or more to pass; those figures are the Department's and are stored nowhere in this bank. Title 76 of the Louisiana Administrative Code was not read and nothing is asked from it. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text; nothing is copied from a boater handbook, a boating course, a course provider's study guide or another practice test.

How it works

An unofficial Louisiana boating license practice test of state law only. The questions come from Title 34 of the Revised Statutes, Parts IV and V, and R.S. 14:98, each citing its section. Navigation rules and buoys sit in the federal rules bank. Read October 2026.

Read the full guide

300 feet, 100 feet and an hour after sunset

Public boat launches, the docks beside them and public bridges carry a 300-foot no-wake zone at bare steerage speed (34:851.27). Vessels keep 100 feet from a displayed diver's flag (34:851.4). Towing a skier stops from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (34:851.15).

  • A crash report is two steps: notice at once, then the written form within five days.

Questions and answers

Do you need a boating license in Louisiana?

The statutes name no license. R.S. 34:851.36 requires a completed boating safety class, with proof carried aboard, of anyone born after January 1, 1984 who operates a motorboat with a motor over ten horsepower.

How many questions are on the Louisiana boater education test, and what score passes?

Title 34 gives neither number. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' page says its course runs 6 to 8 hours and takes a score of 70% or more. The practice exam here runs 25 questions, a length this site chose, and shows no pass line.

How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Louisiana?

The class rule goes by birth date, not age. A personal watercraft takes an operator of 16 (R.S. 34:855.3), and the livery rental exception takes a renter of 18 (R.S. 34:851.36).

Who has to wear a life jacket on a boat in Louisiana?

Everyone 16 or younger, while a boat under 26 feet is underway, which means any time it is not anchored, moored, aground or moved only by an electric trolling motor (R.S. 34:851.24). Everyone on a personal watercraft wears one too.

Is this the official Louisiana boater education test?

No. It is practice written from the public statutes, on a page that is not a government website and has no tie to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Each answer shows its section. The class teaches navigation rules and more.

More tests

Show 8 more

Browse Safety and Trades