Boat insurance in Massachusetts
Massachusetts doesn't require boat insurance, and a $25,000 pontoon typically runs about $480 to $1,250 a year (an estimate, not a quote).
- Does Massachusetts 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
- 125,670U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born after Jan 1, 1989Starting April 1, 2026, a person whose birth date falls after January 1, 1989 has to hold a boater safety certificate to run a motorboat, while older operators get until April 1, 2028.
Sources: mass.gov, mass.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Massachusetts? 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.
What you pay for your boat comes down to its type, its value, and where you store it. Call now, tell us about your boat, and we'll help you find a price for it.
What we know about Massachusetts boat insurance costs
Progressive places Massachusetts in its high-cost band of states. In 2024 to 2025, the average Progressive boat policy in that group came to $663 a year.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 125,670 recreational boats registered in Massachusetts during 2024. During that year, 64 boating accidents were reported, leaving nine people dead, 39 hurt, and $1,081,100 in property damage.
Is boat insurance required in Massachusetts?
No, it is not. The state does not require boat owners to carry insurance, so whether you buy a policy is up to you.
The state does have rules about who can be at the helm, and a few of them put an owner's money at risk. If an owner knowingly allows someone under 18 to run the boat without meeting the boater education law, that owner is jointly and severally liable for any damage and injuries that result. In plain terms, the owner can be on the hook for the entire amount, not just part of it. If you let younger people take the helm, call us today and we can check how your policy treats them.
What Massachusetts boat insurance costs by boat type
Below are our estimated yearly prices for a boat kept in Massachusetts. These are estimates, not quotes.
| Boat type | Value | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Jet ski (personal watercraft) | $14,000 | $160 to $700 |
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $480 to $1,250 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $480 to $1,280 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $800 to $2,250 |
| Ski, wake, or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $1,280 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,600 to $3,210 |
Call now, tell us what you run and where you keep it, and we'll help you find a price for your boat.
Storm Deductibles on the Coast
Your deductible is the share of a claim you pay out of pocket before the policy covers the balance. Massachusetts is a coastal storm state in our model, and coastal policies often have a separate named-storm deductible. Use our hurricane plan worksheet to work out what that means for your boat.
Call us before storm season and ask how a named-storm deductible would work on your policy.
Massachusetts boating rules
The Massachusetts Environmental Police run the boater safety courses and also handle boat registration.
- Born after January 1, 1989: the certificate is required to operate a motorboat starting April 1, 2026.
- Born January 1, 1989 or earlier: you have until April 1, 2028 to get the certificate.
- Jet skis: riders must be 16 or older and hold the certificate.
- Children under 12: may run a motorboat only under direct on-board supervision by a certified person 18 or older.
- Alcohol: operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher is against the law. A first offense can mean a fine of $100 to $1,000, as much as two and a half years of jail time, or both.
How we work out these prices
We base our ranges on the boat's type, its value, and where it is kept, then adjust for Massachusetts being a high-cost, coastal storm state. You can read the full method on our boat insurance cost page.
Questions we hear often
What would insurance cost on a $30,000 boat?
It depends on the boat. A $40,000 fishing boat runs about $480 to $1,280 a year, while a $45,000 sailboat runs about $800 to $2,250. Call now with your boat's type, value, and where you keep it, and we'll help you find a price, or use the three-step tool on our home page.
What else does it cost to get a Massachusetts boat on the water?
Two-year registration costs $44 for boats under 16 feet, rising to $110 for boats 40 feet or longer. A title runs $27.50 and remains valid until the boat changes hands, is transferred, or is destroyed. You also owe a 6.25% sales tax on the purchase price, due by the 20th of the month following your purchase.
What documents should I have when buying a used boat?
For a boat 14 feet or longer, you need the title signed by the seller. Ask for it before you hand over any money.
Boat insurers to compare in Massachusetts
| 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 Massachusetts. All insurers side by side
Massachusetts boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Massachusetts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | Starting April 1, 2026, a person whose birth date falls after January 1, 1989 has to hold a boater safety certificate to run a motorboat, while older operators get until April 1, 2028. Anyone born on January 1, 1989 or earlier needs the boater safety certificate no later than April 1, 2028. | mass.gov |
| Jet ski age | A PWC operator has to be 16 or older and also carry a boater safety certificate. A child under 12 can run a motorboat only when a certified person 18 or older supervises directly on board. | mass.gov |
| Registration | Two-year registration costs start at $44 for a boat under 16 feet and climb to $110 for one 40 feet and over. | mass.gov |
| Title | A Massachusetts boat title runs $27.50 and remains good until someone sells, transfers or destroys the boat; on a boat measuring 14 feet and over, the buyer needs the seller's signed title. | mass.gov |
| Boating under the influence | It is against the law to operate any vessel when your blood alcohol level hits 0.08 or more. A first offense can bring a fine of $100 to $1,000, as much as 2.5 years in jail, or both. For a first BUI offense, the penalty is a fine anywhere from $100 to $1,000, as much as two and one-half years in prison, or both. | malegislature.gov |
| Who runs boating | The Massachusetts Environmental Police runs boater safety courses and manages boat registration via the Registration and Titling Bureau. | mass.gov |
| Also in this state | Massachusetts charges 6.25% sales tax on a boat's purchase price, payable no later than the 20th in the month after purchase. If an owner knowingly allows a person under 18 to operate against the boater-education law, that owner is responsible jointly and severally for the damages and injuries that result. | mass.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 64 boating accidents, 9 deaths and 39 people injured, with $1,081,100 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Massachusetts compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Massachusetts
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