Boat insurance in Arkansas
Some boats in Arkansas must carry insurance by law, and coverage here tends to cost less than in many other states. Call us now.
- Does Arkansas law require boat insurance?
- Yes, for some boatsIn Arkansas, an owner breaks the law by letting anyone run a motorboat with more than 50 hp, or any PWC, unless liability insurance covers the vessel.
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $250 to $590 a yearLow-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 217,397U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Jan 1, 1986A person whose birth date is Jan 1, 1986 or later has to pass an AGFC-approved boating safety course before running a motorboat or sailboat.
Sources: govt.westlaw.com, dfa.arkansas.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Arkansas? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
1 of 2
What kind of boat?
2 of 2
What you paid, or what boats like it sell for. A rough figure is fine.
Type the value in dollars, between $500 and $5,000,000.
An estimate, not a quote. How we work it out
The line reaches Boat Insurance Compare. Have the boat, its value and your state ready.
Rather have it in writing? Send a quote request with the answers you just gave.
Tell us what you run, what it's worth and where you keep it, and we'll work out your price range together on the phone.
Which boats need insurance
State law makes it illegal for an owner to let anyone run a motorboat with more than 50 hp, or any personal watercraft, without liability insurance. Personal watercraft covers a jet ski and similar vessels, and this applies no matter how much horsepower it has.
According to the state wildlife agency, the insurance rule reaches only boats over 50 hp and personal watercraft. Smaller boats face no legal obligation, though you can still cover one if you want.
What the law asks of your policy
Your policy needs a minimum of $50,000 in liability coverage for each occurrence. Liability pays when you hurt someone else or damage their property. It does not pay for harm to your own boat.
To register a personal watercraft or a motorboat with more than 50 hp, you must file proof of liability insurance with the Department of Finance and Administration. Your proof of insurance must be from an insurer authorized in Arkansas.
A few more rules to know:
- Registration: every boat with a motor has to be registered, even one with just a trolling motor. A motorboat 16 to under 26 feet costs $15, and the registration is good for three years.
- Taxes: before you can register, you must show the boat has been assessed and that personal property taxes are paid.
- Boating course: if you were born on or after January 1, 1986, you must finish an approved boating course before running a motorboat or sailboat.
- Jet ski age: you have to be at least 16 to ride alone. Riders aged 12 to 15 need a supervisor who is 18 or older, and anyone under 12 needs a supervisor who is at least 21.
- Night riding: jet skis cannot be ridden between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
- Alcohol: the legal limit is 0.08 for adults and 0.02 for anyone under 21.
Unsure which of these rules cover your boat? Give us a call and we will walk through it together.
What it costs
Progressive places Arkansas among its low-cost states, where a typical yearly boat policy averaged $307 across 2024 and 2025. What you pay comes down to your boat's type and value. The figures in this table are our estimates, not quotes.
| Boat | Value | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $250 to $590 |
| Jet ski | $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $450 to $1,110 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Ski, wake or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $750 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Curious how we get these numbers? Here is how we work them out. Call now with your boat's type, value and where you keep it, and we'll work out a price range with you, or use the three-step tool on the home page.
Boating in Arkansas at a glance
Arkansas had 217,397 registered boats in 2024, and 56 accidents on its waters, with 9 deaths, 25 injuries and $599,056 in property damage, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Questions we hear often
What does insurance cost for a $30,000 boat?
Price depends on the kind of boat as well as its value, so a $30,000 pontoon and a $30,000 sailboat can come out quite differently. Call us with the details and we will work out a range with you on the phone.
Which company offers the cheapest boat insurance?
What you pay varies with your boat, what it is worth, and where it is stored, so no single company is cheapest for everyone. Share your boat's details and we will work out a range for it.
Do I owe sales tax when I buy a boat from a private seller?
No sales tax applies to private-party boat sales in Arkansas. When you buy from a dealer, the tax is paid at the State Revenue Office.
Boat insurers to compare in Arkansas
| Insurer | Policy issued by | Payout after a loss | Towing on the water |
|---|---|---|---|
 Progressive | Progressive | Partial losses paid at full replacement cost with comprehensive and collision | Sign & Glide on-water towing, optional |
 BoatUS | GEICO Marine | Agreed hull value (except PWC) or actual cash value | TowBoatUS add-on starting at $3 a month |
 GEICO | GEICO Marine Insurance Company | Choice of agreed hull value or actual cash value | Add-on through BoatUS, 24/7 |
 State Farm | State Farm Fire and Casualty | Total loss paid at agreed value; repairs at replacement cost | Emergency service covered |
 Allstate | Allstate | Agreed value available | Emergency services covered up to $100 |
 Markel | Markel American | Agreed value; actual cash value available on yachts | Emergency towing offered |
What each insurer publishes about its own policy; each confirms on the quote that it writes your boat in Arkansas. All insurers side by side
Arkansas boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Arkansas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boat rentals | Under Ark. Code 27-101-204, a boat livery owner has to retain a record for every rental for at least six months. | govt.westlaw.com |
| Boater education | A person whose birth date is Jan 1, 1986 or later has to pass an AGFC-approved boating safety course before running a motorboat or sailboat. | agfc.com |
| Jet ski age | A PWC operator has to be 16; ages 12-15 need a supervisor who is 18+, and anyone under 12 needs a supervisor who is 21+. | agfc.com |
| Registration | Arkansas DFA charges $15 to register a motorboat that is 16 feet long but under 26 feet, and each registration runs for 3 years. Every vessel powered by machinery needs registration, including one that just has a trolling motor. | dfa.arkansas.gov, agfc.com |
| Boating under the influence | For adults, Arkansas sets intoxication at 0.08 BAC; for boaters under 21, the limit is 0.02 (USCG/NASBLA table). | uscgboating.org |
| Also in this state | Arkansas skips sales tax for private-party (casual) boat sales, but the State Revenue Office collects dealer sales tax. To register, the owner must show the boat has been assessed and must show personal property taxes are paid. Do not run a PWC starting 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. | dfa.arkansas.gov, govt.westlaw.com |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 56 boating accidents, 9 deaths and 25 people injured, with $599,056 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Arkansas compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Arkansas
Tell us the boat, what it is worth and where you keep it.
The line reaches Boat Insurance Compare.