Boat insurance in District of Columbia
Boat insurance in the District of Columbia is not required by law, but a policy protects the money you've put into your boat.
- Does District of Columbia law require boat insurance?
- NoLenders and marinas can still ask for it
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $300 to $800 a yearMiddle-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 1,742U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- All operatorsOn DC waterways, each vessel operator needs a Boating Safety Certificate, earned by finishing the boating safety course.
Sources: mpdc.dc.gov, mpdc.dc.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in District of Columbia? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
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What kind of boat?
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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.
You'll still need a boating safety certificate to drive, and if you keep your boat mainly on DC water, you'll need a DC title and yearly registration. Call us now with your boat's type and value, and we'll help you work out a yearly price today.
Who keeps watch on DC waters
Harbor Patrol officers patrol every DC river and waterway and oversee the city's marinas. The U.S. Coast Guard counted 1,742 registered recreational boats in the District during 2024.
Your price comes down to your boat's value, its type and where you keep it. Insurance isn't required in the District of Columbia, so without it you'd be paying for any damage or injury yourself, and a quick call with your boat's type and value is all it takes to work out a yearly price.
Does DC require boat insurance?
No, DC doesn't make boaters carry liability insurance, according to the national state boating law survey. Liability coverage can help pay if you injure someone else or damage their property.
The District still has rules for owners and operators:
- Safety certificate: To run a vessel on DC waterways, a person needs a Boating Safety Certificate, earned by completing the boating safety course. During the boating season, Harbor Patrol offers free one-day, eight-hour classes.
- Registration: A vessel used mostly on DC waters has to be registered every year through the DC Boat Registration Office. That covers canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and documented vessels. A motorboat that is at least 16 feet but shorter than 26 feet has a $25 yearly fee, and all registrations run out on December 31.
- Title: Before registering, you get the Certificate of Title issued by the Harbor Master. The fee comes to $2, plus the 6% title tax based on what you paid. If a boat is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard rather than titled by the District, that tax is not charged.
What does boat coverage cost in the District of Columbia?
The yearly figures below are our estimates for boats kept in the District, a medium-cost area. Use them as a rough guide, not a firm quote.
| Watercraft | Typical value | Estimated yearly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Personal watercraft | $14,000 | $140 to $500 |
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $300 to $800 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $800 |
| Sailing boat | $45,000 | $500 to $1,500 |
| Ski, wake or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $800 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
The quickest way to a price for your boat is a short call: tell us its type and value and we'll walk you through it. You can also get a range for your own boat from our three-step price range on the home page and see how this is worked out.
Other Rules for Boaters in the District of Columbia
Operating a boat while drunk or high is illegal. D.C. Code 50-2206.31 bars driving a boat, or having physical control of one, while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The survey gives 0.08 as the blood alcohol level where a boater is considered intoxicated.
That survey also says DC has no minimum age for jet ski drivers. No matter the operator's age, the safety certificate is still required.
Questions people ask
What does boat insurance usually cost?
Progressive classifies DC as a medium-cost state for coverage. In that group, the average yearly Progressive boat policy was $413 during 2024-2025.
How often do boating accidents happen in the District of Columbia?
For 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard reported three recreational boating accidents in the District. Three people were injured, nobody was killed, and property damage totaled $29,000.
Boat insurers to compare in District of Columbia
| 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 District of Columbia. All insurers side by side
District of Columbia boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in District of Columbia | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | On DC waterways, each vessel operator needs a Boating Safety Certificate, earned by finishing the boating safety course. MPD Harbor Patrol provides one-day, 8-hour boating safety classes free of charge during the boating season. | mpdc.dc.gov |
| Jet ski age | The USCG/NASBLA survey says DC has no minimum age for PWC operation, though every operator still needs the safety certificate. | uscgboating.org |
| Registration | A vessel used mainly on DC waters needs annual registration through the DC Boat Registration Office (MPD). DC requires registration for every watercraft. That includes canoes and kayaks, and it also covers sailboats plus vessels documented by the Coast Guard. A powered boat in the 16 to under 26 feet range costs $25 to register each year. Registrations expire December 31. | mpdc.dc.gov |
| Title | Registered vessels used mainly on DC waters must obtain a Certificate of Title issued by the Harbor Master ahead of registration; the title charge is $2, and titling tax also applies. | mpdc.dc.gov |
| Boating under the influence | D.C. Code 50-2206.31 prohibits running any watercraft, or having physical control of one, while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs. The USCG/NASBLA survey lists 0.08 as the BAC where a boater counts as intoxicated in the District. | code.dccouncil.gov, uscgboating.org |
| Who runs boating | The Metropolitan Police Department Harbor Patrol Unit patrols all DC rivers and waterways and oversees DC marinas. | mpdc.dc.gov |
| Also in this state | At titling, DC sets the title tax at 6% of the boat's purchase price. Documented vessels are exempt. | mpdc.dc.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 3 boating accidents, 0 deaths and 3 people injured, with $29,000 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How District of Columbia compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in District of Columbia
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