Boat insurance in Louisiana

No Louisiana law forces boaters to hold liability coverage. The U.S. Coast Guard's state boating law survey confirms Louisiana has no insurance mandate.

Other parties can still require it. Marinas can ask for liability coverage, and lenders can ask for physical damage cover. That cover is what pays to fix or replace a boat you own.

Louisiana has a few other boating rules worth knowing before you head out:

• If you were born after January 1, 1984, you need to finish an approved boater education course before running a motorboat over 10 hp, unless a certified person over 18 is with you. Personal watercraft are not covered by this exception.
• Operating a personal watercraft requires you to be 16 or older, and rental companies cannot rent one to anyone younger than 16.
• Boats fall under Louisiana's impaired operation law. A blood alcohol reading of 0.08 percent or higher counts as an offense, and a first offense can mean a fine of $300 to $1,000 and anywhere from 10 days up to six months behind bars.

Wondering what your marina or lender will ask to see? Call us and we'll walk you through it before you buy.

Boat registration and titling in Louisiana runs through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Once issued, a registration stays good for three years.

A canoe or kayak fitted with any motor, including an electric one, has to be registered before use on public waters. Titles run $26, and you only need one in a few cases: when the boat or outboard motor is financed, when it is already titled, when it is homemade, or when the hull identification number is wrong.

When you buy from a dealer, you'll need to show that Louisiana state and local taxes have been taken care of before you can register, or you can provide a Tax Payment Certification Form (R-1331) instead. Since July 1, 2025, Louisiana caps the tax owed on a registered boat at $20,000 when paid within 90 days of purchase. A boat registered in another state can be used here for up to 90 days in a row.

Progressive places Louisiana in its high-cost group of states. In that group, the average yearly Progressive boat policy ran $663 in 2024 to 2025. These estimates are not quotes, since your price will depend on your boat.

Because Louisiana is a coastal storm state, coastal policies often include a separate deductible for named storms like hurricanes. That deductible is what you pay out of pocket before the insurer pays anything. If your boat stays near the coast, ask about the separate deductible that may apply to hurricane damage. Our hurricane plan worksheet can help you get ready.

Our three-step tool on the home page shows a range for your boat, and our cost page explains how we work it out. Call now to talk through your boat, where you keep it, and the storm deductible that may affect your price.

In 2024 the U.S. Coast Guard counted 92 recreational boating accidents in Louisiana, with 9 people killed, 65 hurt and $1,567,956 in property damage. Call now and we'll help you find coverage that fits your boat and your marina's rules.