Boat insurance in Connecticut
Connecticut doesn't require boat insurance, but 35 accidents on its waters in 2024 left eight people dead and $1,315,524 in property damage.
- Does Connecticut law require boat insurance?
- NoLenders and marinas can still ask for it
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $480 to $1,250 a yearHigh-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 88,378U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Any motor / sail 19.5 ft+To drive any motorboat, or a sailboat measuring 19.5 feet or longer, you need a Safe Boating Certificate, a PWC certificate or a USCG license if you live in Connecticut, own property there, or own a vessel registered in Connecticut.
Sources: cga.ct.gov, cga.ct.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
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What the state requires
Connecticut doesn't require boat owners to carry liability insurance. Liability cover is the piece of a policy that pays out if you harm another person's boat or belongings, or hurt someone. Because the state sets no minimum, you choose how much protection you want, and your price range shows what that protection costs for your boat.
The idea has come up in the legislature. A 1995 bill, HB 5014, aimed to make liability insurance compulsory for boats registered in Connecticut, though it never passed. So whether you insure, and the amount of cover you hold, is your call.
That call counts for a lot when the water gets crowded. During 2024 the state logged 35 boating accidents that killed eight people, injured 19 more, and caused $1,315,524 in property damage.
What does boat insurance cost here?
Connecticut falls within Progressive's high-cost group of states. The table shows our yearly estimates for a boat based here. Treat them as estimates rather than quotes.
| Boat type | Value of boat | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Jet ski (PWC) | $14,000 | $160 to $700 |
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $480 to $1,250 |
| Bass and fishing boats | $40,000 | $480 to $1,280 |
| Bowrider, ski and wake boats | $50,000 | $500 to $1,280 |
| Sailing boat | $45,000 | $800 to $2,250 |
| Cruisers and yachts | $150,000 | $1,600 to $3,210 |
For a range based on your boat, use our three-step price tool. Enter your boat and where you keep it to get your own range, and see how we work it out.
Coastal storms
Our model treats Connecticut as a coastal storm state. A policy for a boat kept along this coast will often include its own named-storm deductible. The deductible is what you pay out of pocket on a claim before the policy kicks in, and a named-storm version only comes into play for damage caused by a hurricane or another named storm.
If you keep your boat on the Sound, ask about the named-storm deductible before you buy, so a hurricane never brings a surprise bill, and use our hurricane plan worksheet. Start your price range now and we'll show you what to expect for a boat kept near the shore.
Boating rules insurers ask about
Connecticut's boating certificate rules depend on who operates the boat and what kind of boat it is. In Connecticut, anyone who lives in the state, owns property there, or holds a state boat registration needs state-accepted proof of boating competence before running any motorboat, or a sailboat of 19.5 feet or more. The accepted options are a Coast Guard license, a personal-watercraft certificate, or a Safe Boating Certificate, and these certificates come from the DEEP Boating Division.
Anyone driving a jet ski needs a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Holders younger than 16 can only drive with a certified adult aged 18 or over on board.
Alcohol counts as well. The law bans driving a boat once your alcohol level reaches 0.08%, and the limit drops to 0.02% for anyone under 21.
Renting boats out makes your business a boat livery in the state's eyes. A livery has to log every renter's name and address, the registration number of the boat, plus departure and return times, then keep those records for at least one year.
Questions people ask
Could I be liable if my child runs the boat without a certificate?
Yes. An owner who knowingly allows an underage child to run their boat without the needed certificate can be held responsible for what the child does. If your child may operate the boat, check who your policy covers before they take the helm.
What else do I pay the state on top of insurance?
Boat registration goes through the DMV, where the fee depends on boat length: it starts at $7.50 for canoes and other low-powered craft and rises to $525 for boats of 65 feet or more. Boats under 19.5 feet powered purely by sails, oars, or paddles do not have to be registered. Titling costs $25 for boats from model year 2017 onward.
Does Connecticut charge sales tax on boats?
Yes, though the rate is reduced. For purchases made from July 1, 2018 onward, boats and their trailers are charged 2.99% sales tax rather than the usual 6.35%.
Is there anything extra needed for boating on lakes and rivers?
For Connecticut's inland waters, anyone operating a registered boat needs an Aquatic Invasive Species stamp. It runs $7 for each person, or $25 for a decal fixed to the boat, each calendar year.
Boat insurers to compare in Connecticut
| 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 Connecticut. All insurers side by side
Connecticut boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Connecticut | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boat rentals | Boat liveries have to log every renter's name and address along with the boat's registration number and when it heads out and comes back, then hold onto that log for at least one year. | cga.ct.gov |
| Boater education | To drive any motorboat, or a sailboat measuring 19.5 feet or longer, you need a Safe Boating Certificate, a PWC certificate or a USCG license if you live in Connecticut, own property there, or own a vessel registered in Connecticut. | portal.ct.gov |
| Jet ski age | Anyone driving a PWC needs a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. An operator under 16 may run a PWC only while a CPWO holder who is 18 or older supervises on board. | portal.ct.gov |
| Registration | The Connecticut DMV handles boat registration. Fees depend on vessel length, starting at $7.50 for canoes and other low-power craft and rising to $525 for any boat 65 feet or more. Registration is not needed for boats under 19.5 feet that run only on sails, oars or paddles. Add a motor to a canoe and the fee is $7.50. | portal.ct.gov |
| Title | Connecticut titles any boat from model year 2017 or newer unless it is exempt. The title fee runs $25. | portal.ct.gov |
| Boating under the influence | It is against the law to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08%. For operators under 21, the limit drops to 0.02%. | cga.ct.gov |
| Who runs boating | Boater certification is run by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Boating Division; boats are registered and titled by the DMV. | portal.ct.gov |
| Also in this state | A boat bought July 1, 2018 or later, and its trailer, carry a lower 2.99% sales tax rate rather than 6.35%. To take a registered boat onto Connecticut's inland waters, the operator needs an Aquatic Invasive Species stamp. It costs $7 per person or $25 for a vessel decal, renewed each calendar year. An owner who knowingly lets an underage child operate the boat without a required certificate stays accountable for anything the child does. | portal.ct.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 35 boating accidents, 8 deaths and 19 people injured, with $1,315,524 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Connecticut compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Connecticut
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