Jet ski rental requirements at a glance
Here are the jet ski rental requirements for our standard hour on Biscayne Bay, all in one place. The person driving must be at least 18 and hold valid government photo ID. A passenger must be at least 6 and sits behind an adult on a 2-seater. The 1-seater takes one rider up to 250 lb; the 2-seater takes two riders up to 350 lb between them. Everyone signs a waiver, and drivers born after January 1, 1988 pass a short online state exam before they ride.
Every rule in this guide comes from our own Miami jet ski rental page, our policies page and our FAQs. When those pages word something differently, we say so below and point you to the jet ski page, since that is the page the crew briefs from.
| Requirement | Driver | Passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 | 6, on a 2-seater only |
| Photo ID | Valid government photo ID | Listed for all participants (see the ID section) |
| State boating exam | If born after January 1, 1988 | Written for drivers |
| Waiver | Signs their own | Signs their own, or a parent or guardian signs for a minor |
| Weight | 250 lb max on a 1-seater | 350 lb max for both riders on a 2-seater |
| Holding on | Drives the ski | Must hold on independently |
The easy misses are a driver who left the exam for the morning of the ride, a card in a different name from the ID, and a child who has not turned 6. Read the sections that apply to your group, then do the paperwork the night before.
Who can drive the jet ski
The driver is the person holding the handlebars for the full hour. Our jet ski page sets four conditions for that person.
Age 18 or older. The page lists 18 years and up to rent, and drivers must be 18 or older. A 16 or 17 year old can come along, but only as a passenger on a 2-seater.
Valid government photo ID. Bring a driver's license or a passport. The ID has to be valid on the day, and you show it at check-in.
The online state exam, if you were born after January 1, 1988. This one is covered in its own section below because it is the requirement most likely to hold up a ride.
The waiver. Every driver signs one. Our FAQs ask you to finish the online waiver before you arrive so the reservation counts as valid.
No experience is needed to drive. Our policies say no prior experience or qualifications are required, and the guides give a full safety briefing before anyone leaves the dock. First-time riders can read our jet ski tips for first-timers ahead of the day, so the briefing feels familiar.
One more thing for drivers: the ride has no mid-hour return to the dock, and riders do not trade skis partway through. Pick your driver before you leave the dock.
Who can ride as a passenger
A passenger rides behind the driver on a 2-seater. Our jet ski page sets the rules for that seat.
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- Age 6 or older. Children under 6 cannot ride on the jet ski.
- On a 2-seater, with an adult driver. The 1-seater carries one rider, so a passenger always means a 2-seater.
- Able to hold on independently. The FAQ on our jet ski page says a child passenger has to hold on without help. If your 6 year old cannot keep a grip for an hour of turns and spray, wait a year or pick a ride where the captain drives.
- A signed waiver. A parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18.
A passenger aged 6 to 17 never moves to the front seat. Anyone 18 or older can sit as a passenger too, which is how many couples ride: one drives the whole hour, the other looks around.
Passengers wear the life vest the crew hands them, the same as drivers. Our policies list wearing the provided safety gear as a rule for every participant. For more on how the vests and the kill cord work on the water, see the jet ski safety gear checklist.
If a child in your group is under 6 or does not want to hold on for an hour, look at the boat rides on the same dock, where a captain drives. Each one has its own minimum age on our policies page.
Weight limits on the 1-seater and the 2-seater
The weight limit depends on the ski you pick when you book. Our jet ski page lists a 1-seater at a maximum of 250 lb for its rider and a 2-seater at a maximum of 350 lb for both riders combined. The policies page gives the same two limits: 250 lb per rider on a Single and 350 lb per ski on a Double.
| Single (1-seater) | Double (2-seater) | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | One | Two on the same ski |
| Weight limit | 250 lb for the rider | 350 lb for both riders together |
| Who can ride | One driver, 18 or older | A driver 18 or older plus a passenger 6 or older |
| Choose it when | Each adult wants their own handlebars | A child is coming, or one person prefers to ride along |
| Same zone, guide and briefing | Yes | Yes |
Here is how to use the table for your group.
Add up the pair. For a 2-seater, add the driver's weight and the passenger's weight. If the total is over 350 lb, that pair does not fit on one Double.
Put adults on their own skis. Two adults over the combined limit can each take a 1-seater, as long as each one is within 250 lb and both meet the driver rules.
Plan around a child. A child cannot drive, so a pair made of a parent and a child has to fit within the 350 lb Double limit. If it does not, a different adult in your group can drive that child.
Be honest with yourself about the numbers when you book. If you are unsure which ski fits, ask us before you book rather than at the stand.
Riding by yourself? Our solo jet skiing guide is all about the 1-seater.
The state boating exam for drivers born after January 1, 1988
Our jet ski page lists an online state exam for drivers born after January 1, 1988. The policies page describes it as a brief state boating exam that those drivers must pass. If you were born on or before that date, the requirement does not apply to you.
Who takes it. The rule is written for drivers. A passenger who will not drive is not named in it. If two people in your group both want to drive at some point in the day, and both were born after the date, both should take it.
When to take it. Before you arrive. Our FAQs say to complete the online waiver, and the jet ski exam if you need it, before arrival so your reservation is valid. Doing it on your phone in the parking lot is how a ride gets pushed to a later slot.
What it costs. The exam has a small fee of its own, separate from the rental. The jet ski page lists it next to the other requirements.
What you need for it. A phone or laptop and a quiet spot. Do it the night before, at home or at the hotel, and keep the confirmation on your phone.
Here is how the exam fits into the rest of the paperwork:
- 1Book the ride and pick your skis.
- 2Every rider signs the online waiver.
- 3Each driver born after January 1, 1988 completes the online exam.
- 4On the day, the driver shows valid government photo ID at check-in.
If you are not sure whether you need it, check your birth date against January 1, 1988 and read the line on our jet ski rental in Miami page. Our pages do not ask drivers for a boating license; the exam is the item drivers in that age group complete.
ID: what to bring, and whose name has to match
ID comes up three times at the stand: for the driver, for the person paying, and for a member using member pricing.
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For the ride. The jet ski page says drivers must be 18 or older with valid photo ID, and it also says valid government-issued photo ID is required for all participants. Our policies ask each participant for a driver's license or passport. The what-to-bring list on the jet ski page names the driver's ID specifically. Because the pages word it in different places, plan on bringing ID for everyone. If a child passenger does not have a photo ID, text us at +1 786 723 8305 before the day and check the jet ski page for the current rule.
For the card. Whoever paid must be present at the stand, holding the same card used to book plus their own government photo ID. The name on the card has to match the name on the ID. Our FAQs add that the card and photo ID stay on file. If the original card cannot be verified, a different form of payment is collected.
For a member. If you hold the VIP Membership, the desk matches your membership to your photo ID at check-in. The member rate applies to the member's own seat, once per activity each day, and cannot be shared. Details are on the VIP Membership page.
The easy way to get this right: the person who paid rides in the same car as everyone else and has their ID in hand, and every driver has their own.
The waiver, and signing for kids
Every participant signs a waiver. Our policies say parents or guardians sign for minors, and the jet ski page says a parent or guardian must sign the waiver for any minor. That means a teenager riding passenger cannot sign their own.
Sign it online, before you come. Our FAQs say you complete the online waiver before arrival to validate a reservation. Send the link around the group the night before so nobody is filling it in on the dock.
One waiver for a combo day. If you book a combo, our combos page says one waiver covers everything you booked that day at the marina. See our combos for the pairings.
Two forms at the stand. Our policies also list a card authorization form that is completed before the activity, and a completion invoice you sign afterward to confirm the ride took place. Both are the cardholder's to sign, so that person needs to be there.
If a child is riding with a grandparent, an aunt, or a friend's parent, sort out the signature in advance. A parent or guardian signs for the minor, so whoever brings the child should make sure that signature is done before they leave home.
Health, swimming and riding sober
These rules come from the jet ski page and the general requirements on our policies page. Two of them are worded differently on the two pages, so read both lines below.
Swimming. The jet ski page lists swim ability as required. The general requirements on the policies page, written for every activity, say participants should be comfortable in the water without panic and that swimming skills are not required if they are. Because the pages differ, go by the jet ski page for this ride, and if anyone in your group is unsure, ask us before you book.
Pregnancy. The jet ski page lists no pregnancy. The policies page says pregnant participants may have activity restrictions and asks them to call first. For the jet ski, the jet ski page is the one to read, and a phone call before booking settles any question.
Medical conditions. Our policies say medical conditions warrant prior consideration. Tell us before you book, not at the stand.
No drugs or alcohol. Every participant avoids drugs and alcohol before and during activities. Save the drinks for after you are back on land.
Wear the gear. Life vests are provided and are part of the price. Every participant wears the safety gear handed out at the dock.
Our jet ski page advises against swimming in the riding area itself, since other skis are moving through it. The guides point out designated break and photo areas during the briefing, and those are the places to pause.
Payment, the deposit and what the price includes
Rates move day to day, so we keep them on the live booking box of the Miami jet ski rental page and leave them out of the blog. What we can lay out here is what the rate covers and what the payment rules ask of you.
What the rate buys: an hour of guided riding (60 minutes), a lead guide who gives the safety briefing, life vests for every rider, set areas for photos and breaks, and the fuel in the ski.
What gets added: tax and a marina fee, applied at check-in to every booking no matter the rate.
The deposit. The jet ski page lists a damage deposit taken by card only. It is refunded unless there is a crash, damage or a policy violation, and the page notes that your bank may take up to 3 days to process the refund. The policies page calls it a refundable damage deposit.
Holding the booking. The booking box takes a small hold per seat when you reserve, and the balance is paid at the marina.
Cards and payment. Our FAQs say we take debit, credit or cash, with these limits from our policies:
- No American Express, either when booking or when paying at the stand
- No Apple Pay, Apple Card or other digital wallets
- No prepaid debit cards or gift cards
- Cards need an embedded chip
- The name on the card has to match the cardholder's ID
Ways the rate can come down. Member pricing through the VIP Membership, combo savings when you book two or more activities on the same day, and a price match for walk-ins under the conditions on our policies page. Member pricing does not combine with other discounts or promotions.
Four groups, and what each one needs on the day
Rules read easier when you can see them applied. Here is how the requirements play out for the groups we see most often at Pier 9.
A couple. Settle on a driver first. That person needs to be 18 or older, bring photo ID, and take the online exam if born after January 1, 1988. One 2-seater works if the two of you are within the 350 lb combined limit; two 1-seaters work if you both want to drive and each of you is within 250 lb. Both of you sign a waiver.
A parent and a child. The child has to be 6 or older and able to hold on independently for the hour. The parent drives a 2-seater, signs the child's waiver as well as their own, and checks that the two of them fit the 350 lb limit. If the parent was born after the 1988 date, the exam goes on the to-do list.
A family with two adults and two kids. The usual setup is two 2-seaters, one adult driving each with a child behind. Each adult needs ID and, depending on birth date, the exam. A parent or guardian signs both children's waivers. A 16 year old in the family takes the back seat; driving starts at 18.
Friends on a weekend. Everyone who wants to drive needs to be 18 or older with ID, and each driver born after the date takes the exam. Mixing Singles and Doubles lets everyone who wants handlebars have them. Book ahead rather than walking in: our policies say walk-ins have lower priority and large walk-in groups may be split up.
For any of these groups, a set route with a lead guide is also an option. The guided jet ski tours follow set routes across the bay, such as the Sandbar or Vizcaya; see the guided jet ski tours page.
Check-in, step by step
Here is the morning of the ride, in the order it happens. If you are coming over from Miami Beach, the South Beach jet ski rental guide covers the drive and parking in more detail.
- 1Park. Our policies send drivers to LOT 62, paid through the Pay By Phone app; from there it is a few minutes on foot to Pier 9 at 3400 Pan American Drive.
- 2Arrive 15 minutes early. Our policies ask every guest to check in 15 minutes before departure. Arriving after your time is marked a no show, and the fix is a later opening that same day when one exists or a new booking on another day.
At the stand:
- 1Show ID and the card. Drivers show photo ID. The cardholder shows the booking card and matching ID.
- 2Confirm the paperwork. Waivers for everyone, and the exam for each driver who needs it.
- 3Pay what is left. The balance, the card deposit, tax and the marina fee are handled here.
Before you head out:
- 1Leave your bag. The facility has no private changing room and no lockers. Shoes and bags go in a shared dock box, and a cell phone is the one item allowed on the water.
- 2Get your life vest. Wear the one you are handed.
- 3Listen to the briefing. The guide explains how the ski handles, where the edges of the riding area are and where to stop.
Weather on the day. Certified staff on our side track radar and judge the conditions. A drizzle does not stop the ride; lightning always does. If weather stops the ride, the jet ski page says you can reschedule or take a credit, both valid 2 years, with no fee. Our policies are clear that we do not give refunds. Storm season planning has its own post: how weather affects your Miami jet ski ride.
What to bring so every requirement is covered
Most of what you need to bring is tied to a requirement above, so this list doubles as a last check before you leave home.
| Bring | Which requirement it covers |
|---|---|
| Government photo ID for each driver | Driver age and identity |
| ID for every other rider | The jet ski page and policies list ID for all participants |
| The card used for the booking | Card must match the cardholder's ID |
| Proof the exam is done | Drivers born after January 1, 1988 |
| Swim attire, already on | The facility has no changing rooms |
| Reef-safe sunscreen | On the jet ski page's what-to-bring list |
| A water bottle | On the jet ski page's what-to-bring list |
Leave cameras other than a phone at home, since a phone is the only device allowed on activities, and keep valuables in the car or the hotel; the dock box is unsecured storage. Waterproof phone cases are for sale at check-in.
Clothing and sun protection get a full list in what to pack for a jet ski day in Miami.
Book your jet ski rental
If your group meets the requirements, the rest is picking a day and a ski. The dock runs every day of the week from 10 AM to sunset when the weather allows, and the booking box shows the boarding windows that are open.
A short recap before you book:
- Every driver is 18 or older with valid government photo ID.
- Every passenger is 6 or older, rides a 2-seater and can hold on alone.
- Each pair fits its ski: 250 lb on a 1-seater, 350 lb combined on a 2-seater.
- Waivers are signed online, by a parent or guardian for minors.
- Drivers born after January 1, 1988 finish the online exam before arrival.
- The cardholder comes with the booking card and matching ID.
Questions about a rule for your group? Text us at +1 786 723 8305 before you book.
Paperwork sorted? Book a jet ski rental at Dinner Key Marina and pick your boarding window.
Book your Miami jet ski
Member rates apply on every booking. Tax & marina fee added at check-in.
Frequently asked questions
