Boat insurance in Illinois
Starting 1 January 2027, many boats in Illinois must carry insurance by law, so call us now to check if the rule covers your boat and what a policy might cost before a fine of up to $1,000 applies.
- Does Illinois law require boat insurance?
- From 2027, for some boatsStarting in 2027, Illinois makes liability insurance mandatory for motorboats with more than 50 hp, motorboats longer than 21 feet, and every personal watercraft.
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $250 to $590 a yearLow-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 176,560U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Jan 1, 1998, over 10 hpIf you were born on 1 January 1998 or later, you need the DNR-accepted Boating Safety Certificate before operating any motor with more than 10 hp.
Sources: ilga.gov, idoi.illinois.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Illinois? 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.
When your boat injures a person or harms their belongings, liability insurance is the piece of the policy that covers it. A jet ski or a similar machine counts as a personal watercraft. You will see both terms on this page.
Illinois boat insurance requirements
Public Act 104-651, which started out as Senate Bill 2972, added this rule to the state's boating law. Liability insurance is now required for motorboats with more than 50 hp, motorboats longer than 21 feet, and each personal watercraft.
The required minimums are the same as the Illinois car insurance minimums listed in the state insurance shopping guide:
| What is covered | Least coverage required |
|---|---|
| One person hurt | $25,000 |
| Everyone hurt in a single accident | $50,000 |
| Property damaged in a single accident | $20,000 |
Running a covered boat uninsured counts as a petty offense, carrying a fine above $500 and as much as $1,000. Unsure whether the rule covers your boat? Call us now, before the 1 January 2027 start date, and we will figure it out together.
The cost of boat insurance in Illinois
Progressive puts Illinois among its low-cost states. In that group, the average yearly Progressive boat policy ran $307 in 2024 to 2025. What you pay will hinge mostly on what kind of boat you have and what it is worth.
For a boat kept in Illinois, here is what we estimate. These are estimates, not quotes:
| Boat | What we estimate per year |
|---|---|
| Jet ski valued at $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
| Pontoon valued at $25,000 | $250 up to $590 |
| Fishing or bass boat valued at $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Sailboat valued at $45,000 | $450 up to $1,110 |
| Bowrider, wake or ski boat valued at $50,000 | $500 up to $750 |
| Yacht or cruiser valued at $150,000 | $1,500 up to $3,000 |
Registering your boat costs extra and is handled separately. A new or transferred registration costs $28 for a powered boat under 16 feet, or $60 for one that is 16 feet to under 26 feet. Our home page has a three-step tool that gives a range for your boat, and our cost page walks through how the method works.
Boat insurance in chicago
Chicago follows the same state rule as the rest of Illinois, and the prices in our estimates hold for boats kept anywhere in the state. In 2024, Illinois counted 176,560 registered recreational boats.
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that same year brought 68 boating accidents in the state, leaving 15 people dead, 31 hurt, and $1,531,991 in property damage. Give us a call and we will match a policy to your boat.
Other boating rules in Illinois
- If you were born on or after 1 January 1998, you must hold a DNR-accepted Boating Safety Certificate before operating a motor over 10 hp.
- No one under 10 may operate a motorized vessel, and that includes personal watercraft.
- Boaters aged 12 to 17 may operate a motorboat over 10 hp (personal watercraft included) only when they carry a certificate or have an adult supervising on board.
- A blood or breath alcohol reading of 0.08% or higher means the operator is legally under the influence.
- Any registered watercraft longer than 21 feet needs a title.
Questions people ask
What does insurance cost for a $30,000 boat?
Our estimate is $300 to $590 yearly for a pontoon, bowrider or fishing boat; a sailboat runs $370 up to $1,110.
Are jet skis required to have insurance?
They are. Starting 1 January 2027, liability insurance is required on every personal watercraft, no matter its size. For a $14,000 jet ski, we estimate $140 to $370 a year.
How much is pontoon boat insurance in Illinois?
A $25,000 pontoon: our estimate is $250 to $590 yearly. The 2027 rule kicks in when the pontoon's motor exceeds 50 hp or the boat measures over 21 feet.
Which insurer is cheapest in Illinois?
No one policy is cheapest across the board, since the answer shifts with your boat, what it is worth and how you use it. Give us a call and we will line up options for your boat.
Does Illinois offer free boat insurance?
No coverage comes free, though finding out your price does. Ring us now and we will share what insuring your boat should cost ahead of the 2027 start date.
Boat insurers to compare in Illinois
| 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 Illinois. All insurers side by side
Illinois boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Illinois | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | If you were born on 1 January 1998 or later, you need the DNR-accepted Boating Safety Certificate before operating any motor with more than 10 hp. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Jet ski age | Kids younger than 10 may not drive any motorized vessel, not even a PWC. If you are 12-17, you can run a motorboat with more than 10 hp, PWC included, only when you hold a certificate or an adult supervises you directly on board. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Boating under the influence | An operator counts as under the influence when blood or breath alcohol reaches 0.08% or more. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Registration | For new/transfer registration, Illinois DNR charges $28 when a powered boat is under 16 ft, $60 when it is at least 16 ft but under 26 ft, and, per the same page, $160 for 26-40 ft and $210 for 40 ft+. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Title | If your watercraft is registered and measures over 21 feet, it also needs a title. You have to register every watercraft unless it is non-powered. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Also in this state | The state taxes watercraft bought through dealers, manufacturers or lenders, and since 2004 it also taxes gifts/transfers of PWC and class 2-4 boats used in Illinois. | dnr.illinois.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 68 boating accidents, 15 deaths and 31 people injured, with $1,531,991 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Illinois compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Illinois
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