Purchase A Boat Insurance Policy Today
As youve seen here, it makes all the sense in the world for you to purchase a boat insurance policy. Your boat insurance cost will be nothing compared to what youll have to pay if your boat is involved in an accident without insurance.
Start shopping around for the best types of boat insurance today. You should be able to land on a policy that will pretty much pay for itself over time.
Get tips on purchasing other kinds of insurance policies by browsing through the articles posted on our blog.
Boat Insurance Costs And Discounts
How much youll pay for boat insurance depends on the level of insurance coverage you want, as well as the size, horsepower, type and value of your boat.
You can choose your deductible, which is the amount deducted from your insurance check if you make a claim. A typical policy has deductibles of $250 for property damage, $500 for theft and $1,000 for medical payments, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Liability claims against you do not have a deductible.
Insurance companies offer a variety of ways to save money, including discounts for:
- Having a diesel-powered boat.
- Not having made a previous boat insurance claim.
- Carrying other policies, such as car or homeowners, with the same insurer.
- Taking safety courses.
How To Insure A Boat In Bc
- Posted on
- In Blog
Whether youre becoming a first-time boat owner or have been relying on your homeowners insurance to cover a vessel you already have, its time to consider getting separate boat insurance. Heres an easy-to-follow guide on how to insure a boat in BC, ensuring you can sail smoothly and with an absolute peace of mind.
Also Check: What Is The Best Pontoon Boat Manufacturer
Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover My Boat
While you can cover your boat with your homeowners insurance or renters insurance, youll find certain limitations regarding the size and value of your boat. So, in most cases, the policy wont cover boats with values exceeding $1,000 or $2,000.
Your homeowners insurance can cover certain smaller non-motorized watercraft like canoes, paddle boats, small sailboats, and kayaks with horsepower less than 25 100 mph, but wont be enough to cover larger and more powerful motorized watercraft like yachts and jet skis.
Your homeowners policy will also only cover your boat if its damaged while its within your property. Furthermore, liability coverage isnt included in the standard policy and needs to be added as an endorsement.
If youre looking to insure larger boats and watercraft, youll require a separate boat insurance policy.
Most homeowners insurance also limits coverage if you use your boat in inland waterways, lakes, and rivers. So, it might not cover boats that are used on coastlines or along the beach.
Consult with your insurance agent to understand your policys range and limitations.
Boat Insurance CostMayaFontenot
Shopping For Liveaboard Sailboat Insurance
A prudent insurance buyer always shops around to find the best rates. Most major insurance companies now have free online quote tools, which we find are fairly accurate. You don’t have to purchase anything to use them, and they can help you find the best rate in minutes.
Some insurance companies offer hefty discounts for loyalty. If you’re currently insured in any way, contact your insurance agent and inquire about adding a boat to your plan. Companies that offer insurance “bundles” are incentivized to save you money in the long run if you continue to work with them.
Don’t Miss: Is Banana Boat Ultra Sport Reef Safe
Getting A Boat Insurance Quote
The best way to figure out how much boat insurance will cost is to get a quote.
For a free boat insurance quote from Nationwide, call or visit our boat insurance page of our and enter your zip code to begin the process.
Nationwide provides insurance for many types of watercraft, including bass boats, ski boats, sailboats, cabin cruisers and pontoon boats, as well as insurance for personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis, WaveRunners and Sea-Doos.
Do I Need To Have Boat Insurance
Its generally a good idea to have boat insurance to protect you and your assets financially from any injuries or damage caused while boating. However, you are not legally obligated to have boat insurance in most states . Just be sure to check with the state where youll be boating.
If you finance your boat, youll likely be required to have insurance. Some ports, marinas, or storage facilities may also require boat insurance with specific requirements, so check with places you frequent or plan to visit with your boat.
If you have a homeowners policy, you might have some limited coverage for your boat already but there are typically coverage restrictions especially once you take it off your property and out on the water. Your homeowners policy may also have limits on watercraft size, location of any incidents, limits on liability coverage , and more. Check your policy and be sure to purchase any additional coverage you may need.
Regardless of where your mooring is, or whether youve financed your boat or not, youll want to be covered in the event of an accident. Boats and watercraft are special investments that should be protected. A boat insurance policy helps protect you and your boat from things like physical damage, fuel spill liability, medical coverage for you or passengers in your watercraft, damage to another craft or structure, and more.
You May Like: How Much Are Touchless Boat Covers
Policy Limits Affect Inland Marine Insurance Costs
The median generic limit for inland marine insurance is $5,000. The higher the generic limit of coverage, the higher the premium. Professionals with expensive equipment choose higher limits and pay more for increased protection.
For example, landscapers, installation professionals, cleaning services, and contractors choose a $5,000 limit and pay $169 in premiums. choose higher generic limits and thus pay a higher premium . Consultants and building design professionals such as architects and engineers who use more expensive equipment pay even higher premiums.
To see insurance costs for businesses in your industry, visit our industry-specific cost analyses:
The Size Of The Engine
A boats engine size will also dictate how much insurance is needed to cover the boat. Larger engines cost more to maintain, repair, and replace.
If your boat has multiple engines, this will incur more insurance costs.
When a boat with multiple engines is destroyed, all of the engines need to be replaced. Insurance companies will take this into account when they write up their policy.
Also Check: Who Makes The Best Jon Boat
What Is Boat Insurance
Boat insurance is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Its a type of specialty insurance that is designed to protect both you and your boat.
If youre ever involved in a boating accident, boat insurance will typically cover any damage that is done to your boat or other property. It can also help you pay medical bills stemming from an accident that takes place aboard your boat.
Types Of Boat Insurance
There are two basic types of boat insuranceagreed value and actual cash value. How depreciation is handled is what sets them apart.
An “agreed value” policy covers the boat based on its value when the policy was written. While it can cost more up front, there is no depreciation for a total loss of the boat .
“Actual cash value” policies cost less up front, but factor in depreciation. In other word, the policy will only pay up to the actual cash value of the boat at the time it is declared a total or partial loss. Eventually, as your boat ages, your insurer will likely insist on an actual cash value policyand if often gives a substantial savings.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Get Wifi On My Boat
I Need Boat Insurance What Are My Next Steps
If you have a boat or are in the process of buying a boat, you can line up your insurance by calling a local insurance agent.
Your agent will ask you a series of questions about the watercraft you are purchasing, how you intend to use it, where you will keep it, and who will be driving it.
After plugging in your information, they can quickly give you an estimate.
At Baily Insurance Agency, we sell insurance products for boat owners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.
And as an independent insurance agency, we can provide you with multiple quotes from various boat insurance companies. When you give us a call, we can do the shopping around for you!
And if you already have homeowners or auto insurance with one of our insurance partners, we can often bundle your boat insurance with your other insurance products. And anytime you bundle, you can expect some discounts on your insurance policy.
If youre ready to get started with that quote, you can call us at 724-627-6121. Or, you can let us know your ready to right here on our website.
How Much Boat Insurance Do I Need
Beyond any state legislation or binding agreements with your lender or marina, the answer to this question may come down to your individual tolerance for risk. As discussed in earlier questions, some states do have minimum requirements for liability insurance coverage. Check with your state government to see whether you are required to meet a coverage threshold. The amount of boat insurance you may need depends on a number of factors, including the boatâs value, motor size, and age. Like other vehicles, high-performance boats will likely command a higher level of coverage to compensate for the amount of damage they are able to inflict.
Recommended Reading: How Much Are Boat Loan Interest Rates
Personal Property Or Personal Items
Personal property onboard your yacht is also protected under your insurance policy to a certain value limit that you and the insurer agree upon. This is usually called Personal Effects coverage and has a separate limit and deductible from the Hull insurance.
This property includes furniture, clothes, electronics, swimming or boating gear, and anything that isnt part of the yacht itself.
If you throw a party and one of your friends steals something like a wine glass or television youll be covered under your insurance after your deductible.
For example, if your deductible is $1,000 and someone steals $3,000 worth of stuff, or it burns or even if the whole boat sinks, youll only get $2,000 back from your insurance company in personal property value .
However, if someone steals your $10 wine glass, and you have a $1,000 deductible, you wont get any money back from the insurance company because your loss does not exceed that $1,000 requirement.
Very special or expensive personal property arent always covered under your policy and may need additional coverages or endorsements.
Related Article: How Much Do Boats Weigh? 11 Types
What Does Boat Insurance Cover You For
Here are a few situations you may be covered for, depending on your level of insurance:
- You crash your boat into someones dock. Your cover could pay to repair the dock and your boat .
- Someone was standing on that dock and broke their leg. Your insurance could pay damages for the injury.
- The person on the dock decides to sue you. The right policy will help take care of your lawyer fees and any damages you end up owing the injured person.
- Someone steals your boat. If someone steals your boat, you may be able to get the full value back from your insurer.
- A few local ruffians spray paint your boat. The right policy will also cover vandalism.
- A flood overtakes your boat. A comprehensive policy will cover damage or loss from flood, fire, hail, explosion, lighting, impact and other natural events.
- Youre towing your boat and you damage it in a crash. The right policy will also cover your boat while its on the road, even if you damage it in an accident.
Don’t Miss: Does Boat Insurance Cover Freeze Damage
Factors That May Impact Boat Insurance Costs
Boat insurance costs will vary based on many factors. Insurance companies use their own expertise to determine which factors they use and how they are weighted.
These factors may include but are not limited to:
The type of boat being insured.
The value of the boat being insured.
The intended use of the boat.
The location of the boat.
The age of the boat.
The size of the boat.
The size of the engine on the boat.
How often the boat is used.
The owners years of boating experience.
The owners credit history
The owners boating safety education
The type of policy being purchased.
Lets dive into each of these.
What Boat Insurance Policies Cover
How and where you boat determines the type of coverage you need. An “all risk” policy will offer the best protection. However, an all risk policy does not cover every type of loss. In insurance terms all risk just means that any risk not specifically omitted in the policy is covered. Typical exclusions include wear and tear, marring, denting, animal damage, manufacturers defects, design defects, ice and freezing.
You may also be able to add extra coverage. Available options may include: medical payments, personal effects, uninsured boaters liability, and towing and assistance. Most policies will cover permanently attached equipment, as well as items like anchors, oars, trolling motors, tools, seat cushions, and life jackets. Be sure to discuss these options with your agent.
You May Like: Where To Buy Boat Motor Parts
Sailboat Insurance Limitations And Restrictions
Be sure to check in with your agent to see about building a policy for your sailboat. Though we insure all kinds of sailboats, there are limits to the coverage we offer. Were typically not able to write policies for:
- Sailboats over 54 feet in length
- Sailboats valued at more than $250,000
- Sailboats used as a primary residence
Connect with your American Family Insurance agent to get the best coverage for all your water adventures and sail on with confidence!
* Youll be responsible for purchase of parts, materials, gasoline, oil.
Will My Driving Record Affect My Premiums
Many people wonder if their driving records will impact their sailboat insurance premiums. In most cases, the answer is a resounding “yes.” If you have a stellar driving record and lots of years on the road, you can expect to pay less than your younger or less experienced counterparts.
If you have a history of accidents, a DUI/DWI, or other issues, you’ll likely pay more . The longer you stay safe and responsible, the lower your rate will be.
On a similar note, your age can have a significant impact on the price of liveaboard sailboat insurance. Younger people, specifically in their late teens and early 20s, usually have to pay higher premiums. This is because people in that age range are far more likely to cause an accident.
The best way to avoid paying more because of your driving record is to keep it clean, avoid alcohol, and take driver’s or boater’s safety courses whenever possible. A ticket can have a ripple effect across all of your insurance plans, so it’s best to get them expunged with courses whenever possible.
Read Also: Where Can I Buy Boat Paint
What Does Cancellation Cover On Travel Insurance For
Category: Insurance 1. What does travel insurance cover? | Travel Insurance Review Travel insurance covers expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason Trip Cancellation Coverage reimburses you for pre-paid, non-refundable Feb 17, 2021 Cancel for Any Reason is an optional travel insurance benefit
Factors That Impact Boat Insurance Premiums
Some elements that will affect the cost of your boat insurance policy include:
- Value of the boat
- Extra coverages
Value of the boat
Like a car, the value of your boat is determined by several factors. The age and size of your watercraft, any extra features, and even your geographical location all contribute to the value of your boat. The value of your boat is the number one factor in determining your insurance premium.
Horsepower
The horsepower of your boat will also play a significant role in arriving at your premium amount. The higher the horsepower, the more expensive the premium.
Driving record
Insurance companies consider your auto driving record when purchasing boat insurance. This factor doesnt significantly impact your boat insurance rates, however.
Age of the drivers
With boat insurance, you must list anyone who will regularly be driving your watercraft on your policy. This includes minors.
The insurance company will consider the age of the drivers who will regularly be behind your boats wheel.
Boat Usage
Your insurance premium will reflect the amount that you use your watercraft. Heavier usage may increase your premium amounts.
If you will be living on your boat, boat insurance would not adequately cover you. You would need to purchase a separate policy to cover your insurance needs.
Read Also: Do You Have To Have Boat Insurance In South Carolina
The Intended Use Of The Boat
A boats intended use can also determine how much the insurance company will charge a boat owner. This is especially true if the boat is being used for commercial purposes.
For example, a commercial fisherman or lobster hunter will usually pay a lot more for insurance than a person who uses their boat recreationally.
This is especially true if the person is using their boat as a charter or ferry boat.
Even the types of activities on the boat can affect the pricing of the insurance policy. For instance, a tour boat that serves alcohol will have a higher risk profile than a boat that does not.
In this case, the boat owner may have to add additional insurance riders onto their base plan.
