Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Is Boat Insurance Required In Virginia

Virginia Boating Safety Education

Marine Insurance – Elements of a Policy You Need to Know.

Boating Education Courses

Do I Need to Take a Boating Course?

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General Information

  • You must carry proof of course completion on board with you while operating.
  • If your boat is registered in another state you must meet your home states education requirement.
  • If you are planning to rent a boat, please check with the boat rental company.
  • Refer to our website for more details about the education requirement.

Selecting A Boat Insurance Provider That Works For You

After youve researched providers, compared them, and found one youre comfortable with, its time to apply for a quote. This can usually be done online or over the phone with an agent. You will need to provide your identification, a vessel license, and the information of your boat including its make, model, year, and the date you purchased it. Be prepared to answer questions about the age and approximate hours on your boat, as well as what you will be using it for.

After you get a quote and sign up for the policy, a payment may be required and this is usually done via credit card. Then you will have access to view and manage your policy online. Some companies also have apps where you can manage your policy on the go.

How Can I Protect The Value Of My Boat

Liability coverage doesnât cover damages that impact your boatâsuch as those related to floods, vandalism, theft, collisions, and fire damage. If you want coverage to pay for your boatâs repairs or replacement after a covered event, talk to your agent about getting a comprehensive or collision policy.

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Customize Your Boat Insurance Coverage

All boats aren’t the same. You need to customize your boat insurance to meet your needs and provide your watercraft with the proper coverage. Here is a list of the most common types of watercrafts.

  • Pontoon boats are one of the most popular inland water boats. They are a flattish boat that relies on floats to remain buoyant. Their wide and spacious area is great for many passengers to enjoy the ride.
  • Personal watercraft are powered by a water jet pump and the rider generally sits, stands, or kneels on it. There are many types of PWCs which include WaveRunners, Sea-Doos and more.
  • Fishing and bass boats are designed and equipped for fishing. Most are powered by an outboard motor and are equipped with power poles, trolling motors, etc.
  • Powerboats are the most popular type of boat used for cruising, watersports, and so much more.
  • Sailboats are propelled partly or entirely by sails.

If you don’t see your watercraft listed and looking for more information on different types of boats here?

Do You Need Boat Insurance

Boating Laws and boating license requirements by state

In order to determine if you need boat insurance, you need to assess your needs and keep the costs in mind. Typical boat insurance policies can cost 1-2% of the boats value over the course of a year. These payments are typically split up into monthly payments.

If your livelihood depends on your boat, such as a boat charter business, youre a fisherman, or offer boat tours then you should definitely get boat insurance. Its also recommended for recreational boat users because boat repairs add up and you dont want the headache and out-of-pocket costs, not to mention liability, if youre in an accident or your boat is damaged in a storm.

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Virginia Boating License Fees

The cost for VA boating lessons depends on where the student has signed up for the course. He or she can expect to pay an enrollment fee of somewhere between $25 and $50.

Boating courses taught by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary tend to be more affordable than courses taught by other providers. Boaters who must request a replacement card can expect to pay a $10 processing fee to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for a duplicate.

Best For Individualized Customer Service: United Marine Underwriters

United Marine Underwriters

  • No. of Policy Types: 4
  • Coverage Limit: $1 million

The provider offers personal attention to its customers, doesnt make them feel like a number, and each customer gets assigned a primary customer service agent.

  • Discounts for boat safety courses

  • Knowledgeable agents

  • Cant buy other types of insurance from them

  • Contact for pricing and policy details

As it emphasizes on its website, United Marine Underwriters is a specialty insurance company that writes insurance for just boats. It has been in business since 1990 and provides boat insurance in all U.S. states except New Mexico. Boat insurance navigation is also available to Canada, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Liability limits are available up to $1,000,000, with discounts available for completing one of several boating safety courses approved by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, among others, according to its website.

One of the more unique things about United Marine Underwriters is its policy service. When you purchase a boat insurance policy through United Marine Underwriters, you are assigned a primary service person who takes care of all of your servicing needs. This company really cares about its customer service.

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Do You Need A Boat License In Virginia

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. Accordingly, what is required to operate a boat in Virginia?

Beginning July 1, 2016, all motorboat operators of 10 hp or greater, regardless of age, and all PWC operators 14 years old or older must take a boating safety course. No one under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Operators 14 and 15 years old must show proof of completing education.

Subsequently, question is, what happens if you get caught without a boat license? There is a is $250 fine for not having the Pleasure Craft Operator Card .

Keeping this in consideration, who needs a boat license?

State Boating Requirements/Laws

Who is required to complete a boating education course
Maine 16 and 17 year olds who will operate a Personal Watercraft .
Anyone born on or after July 1, 1972 who is operating a motorized vessel on MD waters must have a valid certificate of boating safety education.

Can you rent a boat without a boaters license?

If you own a boat or drive a friend’s boat, you will need a license. However if you rent a boat, you will not need a license. Andersen said he understands that requiring a license would hurt tourism, but tourists and boat renters are also often the least experienced.

What Are You Required To Have In A Boat

VA life insurance benefits relieved financial pressure for Josh while he recovered from injury.

Required Boating Safety Equipment

  • Life Jackets and personal floatation devices The USCG requires one approved Type I, II, III, or V, life jacket or life vest per person on board.
  • Fire Extinguishers For boats 26 feet and less, it is required to have at least one B-1 type Coast Guard-approved hand portable fire extinguisher.

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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Watercraft As Well

In some instances, homeowners may find that their boat is also partially covered by their residential indemnity plan. It is not the better idea, however, to solely rely on homeowners insurance to pay for all damages ensued by an accident on the water since policy limits tend to be low. You may, at best, receive $1,500 to repair your boat. You are still financially responsible for medical bills of others injured if you were at fault as well as repair costs that exceed the payout from your homeowners insurance plan.

With so little being offered by homeowners insurance companies, many boaters in Williamsburg, VA choose a specialized policy for their watercraft. The average Virginia boat insurance provides coverage of anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million. You can, of course, go beyond minimal liability policy limits and choose more products for even more financial assurance.

The need for yacht insurance

It is important to understand that watercraft between 16 and 26 inches are typically classified as standard and, thus, may be insured under traditional liability limits. You may need to go the extra mile to insure a yacht, which is a boat that exceeds 26 inches.

Commonwealth Insurance Center can help you find the right type of insurance so that you are fully protected on the water. Contact us today for a quote!

Boat/watercraft Insurance In Virginia

Loss of your boat by an accident will cost you a considerable amount of money to replace or fix. In this regards, you may require a reliable insurance with good and effective policies. While learning about boat insurance, you should critically evaluate the policies to ensure that you settle for the most appropriate coverage. Armor Insurance Group which is based in Virginia Beach, VA, can help you with your boating insurance needs. Some of our most competitive insurances programs include:

Yacht and Small Boat Programs

This is a recreational boat insurance program which has been on the lead for more than twenty years. The flexible compensation approach that is used in this program will ensure that your boat or yacht is securely covered. The types of boats you can insure via this program include but are not limited to:

  • Small Runabouts

For more examples, reach out to an Armor Insurance Group agent.

Trailerable and Runabout Boat Programs

Through this program, you will easily get a proper marine insurance policy which includes a true marine coverage. This coverage might not always be included in the proprietor’s package. Such a policy is recommended if you own a trailerable or runabout boat due to the high cost of replacement or repair. For more information, reach out to us at Armor Insurance Group.

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What You Should Know About Boat Insurance

If you have a homeownerâs insurance policy in Virginia, you have some coverage for your boat, but itâs not a lot. Itâs a good idea to get additional coverage to protect your boat. Your homeowner’s insurance policy will only pay out if damage to your vessel occurs at home, not on the water. The insurance you need will depend on the type of boat you have and what you are using it for. Your insurance policy should have liability coverage, as well as coverage for the boat itself, whether it is damaged in an accident or another event. You may also want to get coverage for any injuries to you and your passengers and coverage for the trailers that you use to transport the boat. An agent at Easley Hedrick Insurance & Financial in Richmond, VA can help.

Virginia can experience some weather events that make having boat insurance necessary. Hail damage can be a big concern in the state, as well as lightning, so itâs important that your boat insurance covers hail damage and you get additional coverage to protect your electronics and equipment against lightning strikes.

Check your policy for any navigational limits if you plan to use your boat outside the state.

Renewing And Replacing A Virginia Boating License

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Whether a driver decides to get a boating license online or in-person, he or she must carry prove of having completed the necessary program with him or her at all times when driving a water vessel. Boating without a license is illegal in Virginia and will result in legal trouble for the driver in question.

For this reason, boaters who have lost or destroyed their certificate of completion should immediately request a duplicate. Both students who took the course online and those who took it in-person can request a duplicate for a processing fee.

Do boating licenses expire in Virginia? Boat boaters do not technically get licenses in Virginia, they get certificates of completion for the necessary education program. As such, this license never expires and does not need to be renewed at any point.

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A Special Note About Inflatable Life Jackets

Inflatable life jackets are lightweight, comfortable to wear and take up about one-tenth the storage room of conventional foam-filled life jackets. Most are USCG approved only for persons 16 years of age and older who are not engaged in whitewater or skiing activities or riding on PWC. They are a great choice for adults on the water!

What Does Boat Insurance Typically Not Cover

What a boat insurance policy does not cover in relation to a boat is generally called an exclusion. These exclusions almost always include:

  • Wear and tear of the boat
  • Damage done by marine life such as sharks
  • Faulty machinery such as an engine going out
  • Infestations with bugs or rodents
  • Accessories that break

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Virginia Boating Rules And Regulations

An important part of passing a Virginia boaters safety course is learning about how to safely operate different types of water vessels in a variety of conditions within state law. Virginia boating regulations were created in an effort to keep boaters and swimmers safe while on state waterways.

Some of these boat requirements concern the equipment that must be kept on the water vessel to be up to safety standards. A sample of Virginia boating laws that boaters should keep in mind when operating a water vessel anywhere in the state includes:

Capsizings And Falls Overboard

Boating Insurance 101 with Bishop Skinner Marine – What is Boat Insurance? Why get boat insurance?
  • Always wear your life jacket.
  • Stay low in the boat and maintain 3 points of contact. Keep 2 feet and 1 hand, or 2 hands and 1 foot in contact with the boat at all times. If seated, you have one point of contact on the seat, and still need to maintain 2 others such as 1 foot, 1 hand, 2 feet, etc.
  • When loading supplies into a boat, have one person get into the boat and then hand that person the supplies.
  • If retrieving an item from the water, maneuver the boat close to the object and use a boathook or paddle. If you do need to reach outside the hull of the boat, keep 3-points of contact.
  • Keep an even, balanced load.
  • Do not attach the anchor line to the stern of the boat.
  • When pulling up the anchor, stay low in the boat and well balanced.
  • If in rough waters, head the bow of the boat anywhere from directly into the seas up to a 45 degree angle depending on sea state and vessel construction.
  • Follow the information stated on the Capacity Plate. Never exceed the allowable weight, horsepower rating, or maximum number of people.

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Virginia Boat Registration Basics

In Virginia, a boat registration is required by all motorized boats that are used within the state. A boat title should be requested when registering if the owner is not already in possession of an up-to-date title document. All titling and registration procedures for water vessels are overseen by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles . All motorized water vehicles must be correctly registered and titled before heading out on Virginia waterways.

Registered water vessels should display the boat registration stickers given by the DMV in the correct location to be easily seen by the necessary officials. Upon application for registration, the boat owner will receive a temporary registration document that is valid for 90 days until he or she receives his or her permanent registration card in the mail.

Why Do I Need Boat Insurance In Virginia

Those that are in the Virginia Beach, VA area should look for ways to enjoy the area as much as possible. One way that you can enjoy this area of Virginia to its fullest is by purchasing and investing in your own boat. If you do decide to purchase a boat here, you also should get insurance for it. There continues to be several important reasons to get a boat insurance policy when you are here.

Insurance Gives Liability Coverage

A primary reason people need to have coverage for their boat is that it will give liability protection. If you are going to drive a boat and cause an accident, you will have to pay for the resulting damages. Since these can be expensive, you will want to have proper coverage. Fortunately, with a boat insurance policy, you will get the appropriate protection to offset this risk.

Insurance Often Required

Having boat insurance is often a requirement for owners. Anyone that has a boat loan will need to have insurance that complies with their loan agreement. Further, many local marinas and waterways will have specific boat insurance requirements that have to be met. If you do not have the right coverage, you could be in default with both of these agreements.

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Do You Need A License To Drive A Boat In Virginia

As of 2016, all Virginia residents are required to possess the necessary boat certification to legally operate any type of PWC or motorized boat over 10 horsepower anywhere in the state. Similar to getting a driving license, all boating license applicants must also take and pass approved education courses.

The VDGIF does offer a reciprocity agreement for boaters who have completed any program approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators out of Virginia. This means, that boaters that have passed an education course in or out of the state are still eligible for a boating certificate.

How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost In Virginia

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Your boat policy cost depends on several things like:

  • The state you live in
  • The type, size, and age of the boat you wish to insure
  • The size of motor and how it is powered
  • Whether you are using it on inland waters or the open seas
  • Whether you have selected additional coverage options

Generally speaking, boat insurance in Virginia can cost anywhere from $75-$500+ per year depending on the items mentioned above. If you own a large boat or yacht, coverage can exceed $1k/yr. It really depends on your boat and how much coverage you would like.

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