Boat insurance in Georgia
Georgia law leaves boat insurance optional for recreational boaters, so whether to buy it is your call.
- Does Georgia 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
- 324,676U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Jan 1, 1998If your birth date is January 1, 1998 or later, you need a DNR-approved course in boater education before running any motorized vessel.
Sources: uscgboating.org, georgiawildlife.com; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Georgia? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
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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
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What you pay comes down to your boat's type, its value, and where you keep it.
Boat insurance in Georgia
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 324,676 recreational boats were registered in Georgia during 2024. In that same year the state recorded 93 boating accidents, 11 deaths, 46 injured people, and $954,091 in property damage.
Figures like these are the reason policies exist. If your boat would be expensive to fix or replace, it makes sense to look at coverage before your next outing. Call now and we will go over it together.
What are Georgia's boat insurance requirements?
Recreational boaters in Georgia are not required to carry liability insurance. Liability coverage pays when you injure someone else or damage their property.
Georgia does set other rules for boat owners and operators. Those are separate from insurance, though insurers commonly ask about them when setting your price.
What does Georgia boat insurance cost by boat type?
Georgia falls into Progressive's medium-cost group of states, and the average yearly boat policy was $413 there in 2024 to 2025. What you actually pay may be above or below that, mostly based on your boat's type and value.
Below are our estimates for a boat stored in Georgia. Treat them as rough figures rather than firm quotes.
| Type of boat | Value of boat | Typical yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal watercraft (jet ski) | $14,000 | $140–$500 |
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $300–$800 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400–$800 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $500–$1,500 |
| Wake, ski or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500–$800 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500–$3,000 |
Want a range tailored to your own boat? Our home page has a quick three-step price tool, and you can also read how we work out these estimates.
Hurricane and storm deductibles near the Georgia coast
Your deductible is what you pay out of pocket on a claim before the policy covers the rest. Many coastal Georgia policies include a separate named-storm deductible that only applies to hurricane or named-storm damage.
This deductible may not work the same way as your regular one, so knowing the figure before storm season is smart. Our hurricane plan worksheet can help you get ready. If your boat stays near the coast, call now and we can walk you through how it applies to you.
Georgia boating rules that matter to insurers
- Boater education: if you were born on or after 1 January 1998, you need to finish an approved boater education course ahead of operating any motorized boat.
- Young drivers: state rules let 12 to 15 year olds operate a boat shorter than 16 feet, jet skis included, only if they hold an approved course certificate or have a competent adult on board. Outside those conditions, nobody under 16 is allowed to operate a jet ski.
- Boat rentals: to rent a boat of 10 horsepower or more, you must be at least 16 and have completed an approved course.
- Boating under the influence: a driver aged 21 or over breaks the limit with a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 or higher. The offence is a misdemeanor carrying fines of up to $1,000, as much as a year in jail, or both.
Registering a Boat in Georgia
Every motorized boat, and any sailboat longer than 12 feet, must be registered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources before use on state waters. Registration runs for three calendar years, and renewing after it lapses adds a $10 late fee.
| Length of boat | Fee to register |
|---|---|
| Less than 16 feet | $35 |
| 16 to under 26 feet | $70 |
| 26 to under 40 feet | $140 |
| 40 feet or more | $210 |
Boat titles in Georgia are electronic, and a paper version is printed only if you request it and pay a fee. Any boat fitted with a marine toilet must also display the state's Marine Toilet Certificate decal.
Frequently asked questions
What does insurance cost for a $30,000 boat?
That exact value is not in our estimates. A $25,000 pontoon comes in at roughly $300 to $800 a year, while a $40,000 fishing boat runs $400 to $800. For a $30,000 boat, the price will often land close to those figures, though the boat type plays a part too.
Does a small boat or jet ski cost less to insure in Georgia?
Usually, yes. At $140 to $500 a year, a $14,000 jet ski carries the lowest estimate in our Georgia figures.
If my boat is registered, is it insured?
No. State registration and insurance are two different things. Registering a boat gives it no coverage until you buy one.
Which insurer offers the cheapest boat insurance in Georgia?
The lowest price varies with your boat, what it is worth, and where it is kept. Call now, tell us about your boat, and we can compare prices on your behalf.
Boat insurers to compare in Georgia
| 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 Georgia. All insurers side by side
Georgia boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Georgia | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | If your birth date is January 1, 1998 or later, you need a DNR-approved course in boater education before running any motorized vessel. | georgiawildlife.com |
| Jet ski age | A person under 16 cannot run a PWC, unless they are 12-15 and meet the statute's conditions by being accompanied or educated. Ages 12 through 15 may drive any vessel that's under 16 feet, even a PWC, solely with a DNR-approved course, or if a competent adult is aboard. | law.justia.com, gadnrle.org |
| Boating under the influence | At 21 or older, an operator counts as under the influence with a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08. A BUI is a misdemeanor, with fines as high as $1,000 and/or as much as one year in prison. | gadnrle.org |
| Registration | Georgia DNR handles registration for every mechanically propelled vessel, plus sailboats over 12 feet, when used on state waters. Length fees run $35 for under 16 ft, $70 from 16 ft to under 26 ft, $140 from 26 ft to under 40 ft, and $210 for 40 ft and over. A Georgia registration stays valid for three calendar years. | georgiawildlife.com |
| Title | Georgia issues vessel titles electronically as eTitles and prints paper titles solely when requested, with a fee. | georgiawildlife.com |
| Boat rentals | Renters of vessels 10 hp or more must be 16+ and have completed an approved boating education course (O.C.G.A. 52-7-8.3). | georgiawildlife.com |
| Also in this state | A Georgia registration that lapses past expiry owes $10 extra as a late fee when renewed. Any boat with a marine toilet needs registration and must carry a decal for the DNR Marine Toilet Certificate. | georgiawildlife.com |
| Who runs boating | The Georgia Department of Natural Resources handles boat registration (Wildlife Resources Division boating registration page). | georgiawildlife.com |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 93 boating accidents, 11 deaths and 46 people injured, with $954,091 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Georgia compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table, and the hurricane plan worksheet for storm season.
Quotes for a boat kept in Georgia
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