Owning a boat gives you plenty of options for enjoying leisurely activities such as sailing, fishing and trips to remote beaches. But problems like collisions, capsizing, theft, fire and storms can bring a dark cloud over your boating adventures.
We evaluated several large insurance companies to find the best boat insurance.
- Featured Partner
- How to Find the Best Boat Insurance
- What Does Boat Insurance Cover?
- What Boat Insurance Doesn’t Cover
- Boat Insurance Coverage Options
- How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost?
- Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value for Boats
- How to Get a Boat Insurance Quote
- Do I Need Boat Insurance?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Boat Insurance
- Next Up In Insurance
How to Find the Best Boat Insurance
Just like a sailboat is different from a pontoon, prices of boat insurance vary among insurance companies. To find the best boat insurance price, compare quotes from multiple insurance companies.
You can sometimes find free quotes online at an insurance company’s website, but not all boat insurance providers have online quotes. Instead, you can call the insurance company or an independent insurance agent.
You’ll also want to ask about boat insurance discounts such as:
- Multi-policy discount. You can save by bundling multiple policies with the same insurer, such as boat and car insurance.
- Boat safety discount. Get a discount if you pass an approved boater safety class.
- Diesel-powered boat. Diesel boats are considered less hazardous than gasoline powered boats.
- Boat safety features. You may be eligible for a discount if your boat has features such as fire suppression systems and Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers.
- Payment discounts. You can often get savings for paying your annual premium in full, going paperless or enrolling in auto-pay.
- Claims free. Your boat insurance company may offer a discount if you have not had a claim in the past two years.
What Does Boat Insurance Cover?
Hull and equipment coverage is one of the foundations of a boat insurance policy. This coverage will pay for damage to your boat and its dinghy, including theft and vandalism.
Another foundation to any boat insurance policy is boating liability insurance. This covers cases where you’re legally liable for injury or property damage to someone else due to use, ownership or maintenance of your boat. Boat liability insurance extends to people who operate your boat with your permission.
Here are other boat insurance types that are available.
- Personal effects coverage pays to replace your belongings that get damaged while they are on the boat, being loaded on or off your boat, or stored in a dock box by the boat.
- Medical payments coverage pays the medical bills of someone who is injured while on your boat or boarding or leaving your boat.
- Uninsured boater coverage pays medical bills for bodily injury due to physical contact between your boat and an uninsured boat.
- Towing and assistance is a standard part of a boat insurance policy.
- Boat trailer insurance pays for damage and theft.
- Fuel and other spill liability insurance pays for the containment and cleanup of a spill, and also property damage to other people caused by your spill. If you’re sued over a spill, this coverage also pays for your legal defense. (Your insurance company might select the lawyer.)
What Boat Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Here are examples of typical exclusions in boat insurance policies.
- Wear and tear
- Gradual deterioration
- Rot
- Corrosion
- Weathering
- Damage from vermin, insects, marine life and other animals
- Mechanical breakdown
- Electrical breakdown
- Structural breakdown
- Overheating or galvanic action
- Ice or freezing
- Mold or mildew
- Marring, scratching or denting
- Blistering or delamination
- Incomplete, improper or faulty repair, maintenance or renovation
- Intentional acts, such as intentional boat damage
Boat Insurance Coverage Options
Boat insurance contains coverage types to help in different situations, much like car insurance.
Property Coverage for Boats
Property coverage protects the boat against theft and damage due to an accident or sinking. The coverage usually applies to the boat whether it’s on land or water.
You can choose between actual cash value or agreed value, also called replacement cost coverage, in the event your boat is totaled or stolen. The coverage you choose influences your costs and decides how much the insurance company will pay if you file a claim later.
Liability Insurance for Boats
If your boat damages someone else’s property, such as another boat, or injures someone during an accident, your liability insurance pays their damages. It can also cover problems caused to others by your watercraft, such as a large wake. Liability insurance also covers your legal fees if you’re sued over a problem covered by the policy, such as a boating accident.
Medical Payments Coverage
If you or your passengers are injured in a boating accident, medical payments coverage pays for your medical bills.
Uninsured Watercraft Coverage
If an uninsured boater strikes your boat, uninsured watercraft coverage pays your medical bills.
Boat Insurance Add-Ons
As a boat owner, you may need to purchase additional insurance, such as coverage for:
- Boat trailers
- Towing
- Special equipment, such as fishing gear
- Boating accessories such as radar
- Dock contract liability
- Fishing guide coverage
- Ice and freezing coverage
- Mechanical breakdown
- Personal property
It’s also important to investigate coverage for fuel spills or wreckage removal in case an accident occurs on the water.
How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost?
Boat insurance typically costs between $200 and $500 per year, according to Trusted Choice, an industry group for independent insurance agents.
Your boat insurance cost will depend on several factors, such as:
- Type of boat such as fishing boat, pontoon or sailboat
- Length of boat
- Age of the boat
- Region of the country; for example, boat owners in areas impacted by hurricanes may pay more
- Number of engines and horsepower
- How you use the boat, such as recreational boating or commercial charters
- How and where your boat is stored
- Your years of boating experience and the experience of other people on your boat insurance policy
- Safety measures, such as whether you completed a boating safety course
- Your boat insurance claims history
Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value for Boats
Whether you have agreed value or actual cash value coverage influences how much you pay for boat insurance and how much you get reimbursed if you file a boat insurance claim.
The difference is all about depreciation. Here is the difference between agreed value and actual cash value coverage.
Type of coverage | Value is decided… | Does it account for depreciation if you file a claim? | Costs |
---|---|---|---|
Agreed value
|
At the time you buy the policy
|
No
|
More expensive
|
Actual cash value
|
At the time of the loss
|
Yes
|
Less expensive
|
Actual cash value coverage offers cheaper premiums, but it will likely pay you less if your boat is destroyed or stolen. Your insurance company may require that you have this type of coverage if your boat is older—for example, when it’s more than three years old.
How to Get a Boat Insurance Quote
If you’re looking for boat insurance quotes, start with your current auto or homeowners insurance company. If you buy boat insurance from the same company you can likely get a bundling discount.
You can sometimes get boat insurance quotes online at insurance company websites, but the availability of online quotes can be limited. You can cast a wider net for quotes by contacting an independent agent, who can provide quotes from multiple insurers.
Before requesting quotes, think about the type of coverage you need. Collect specific information about your vessel, so the insurance company can give you an accurate quote. Also, think about optional coverage you might like, such as towing assistance.
What Do I Need for a Boat Insurance Application?
Along with basic information about yourself and the boat, expect common questions like these on a boat insurance application:
- Have you had any boating or automobile insurance claims, accidents or losses in the past three years?
- List any automobile or boating violation by the owner in the last three years
- Is the boat currently damaged or has it been damaged in the past?
- What is the largest boat you have owned and operated?
- Has the boat been modified?
- Has the owner taken training courses, such as a state-certified safety course
Do I Need Boat Insurance?
Some states require boat insurance. Also, if you dock your boat or finance it, the marina or lender will probably require coverage.
But even if your state doesn’t require it, consider the implications of going without boat insurance. If you get into an accident, you’ll be on the hook for your own repairs and your liability to others. With the average boat insurance claim hovering around $11,000, according to The Hanover Insurance Group, not having coverage could put you in a sticky financial situation.
The type of insurance you need will depend on the vessel’s size, type and value:
Small Boats
Standard homeowners insurance or renters insurance policies often cover smaller boats like canoes or small sailboats, but usually have limited property damage coverage.
While a homeowners insurance policy typically provides property coverage for a small boat, motor and trailer, it excludes liability insurance. But it’s possible to add boat liability coverage to your home insurance policy for an additional charge.
Larger Boats
If you have a larger and faster vessel like a yacht, you will need to purchase a boat insurance policy. Depending on your boat’s accessories, you may need additional insurance such as trailer coverage.
Also, to increase your liability coverage limits, consider umbrella insurance. It provides extra liability protection for your auto, home and boat, such as extra insurance in case you’re sued for a costly boating accident.
What States Require Boat Insurance?
Only two states currently require boat insurance: Arkansas and Utah. Both require residents to insure motorboats or personal watercraft for engines with 50 horsepower or more.
Arkansas residents must purchase a boat insurance policy that includes at least $50,000 in liability coverage per incident.
Utah residents can choose between one of two liability coverage options:
- $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury/death and $15,000 property damage
- A combined policy with a $65,000 coverage limit
Frequently Asked Questions About Boat Insurance
How much boat insurance do I need?
The amount of boat insurance you need depends on several factors, such as the age, motor size and value of your boat, lender requirements, marina requirements, state requirements, and intended use.
It’s also a good idea to assess your personal assets, risk tolerance and budget when selecting a coverage amount.
What companies offer boat insurance?
Many insurance companies sell boat insurance, including Allstate, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm, The Hartford and USAA.
Check with your home and auto insurance companies when looking for boat insurance quotes. Make sure to ask about bundling discounts that can reduce your rates by having multiple policies with the same company.
Is boat insurance required?
Most states don’t require boat insurance, but it’s still wise to get coverage. Only Arkansas and Utah have boat insurance mandates.
Arkansas requires liability insurance of at least $50,000 for personal watercraft and motorboats with more than 50 horsepower.
Boaters in Utah must carry at least $25,000 and $50,000 for bodily injury/death coverage, $15,000 property damage or $65,000 combined minimum per accident. Those requirements are for motorboats and personal watercraft of at least 50 horsepower.
A lender may also require boat insurance if you’re financing the vessel and many marinas additionally require protection if you’re docking there.
Is my boat covered by home insurance?
Home insurance policies may offer some coverage for watercraft, but it’s often minimal and depends on the boat and insurer. For instance, a home insurer may offer a policy for a small powerboat that goes less than 25-miles per hour.
The coverage may be capped at $1,000 or 10% of the home’s insured value and homeowners insurance policies don’t usually include liability coverage for boats. But you might be able to add a policy endorsement.