Boat insurance in Minnesota
Minnesota law does not make you carry boat insurance, though your lender or marina might.
- Does Minnesota law require boat insurance?
- NoLenders and marinas can still ask for it
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $250 to $590 a yearLow-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 865,379U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born after June 30, 2004Starting July 1, 2025, anyone with a birthday after June 30, 2004 must hold a watercraft operator's permit to run a motorboat; older age groups phase in later.
Sources: mn.gov, dnr.state.mn.us; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Minnesota? 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.
Call us with your boat type, its value and where you keep it, and we will talk through your options.
Boating and insurance costs in Minnesota
Minnesota ranks among the cheaper states for covering a boat. Progressive places it in the low-cost tier, where the average yearly policy ran $307 in 2024-2025.
Boating is big here. The U.S. Coast Guard reported 865,379 registered recreational boats in Minnesota in 2024. That same year brought 58 reported accidents, 39 injuries, nine lives lost, and $925,875 in damage to property.
Your policy can pay to fix your boat and cover damage you cause someone else. Tell us about your boat and give us a call today.
Do you need boat insurance in Minnesota?
No state rule says you need it. State law does not require boat insurance, and the Coast Guard's survey of state boating laws answers "No" when asked about liability insurance for boaters.
That said, a bank can require it for a loan and a marina for a slip. Homeowners cover sometimes extends to a small boat, motor, and trailer, yet physical damage protection is typically capped at $1,500 or under, and the liability side is limited.
Separate from insurance, Minnesota has boating rules on registration, operator permits and safety, and the DNR can walk you through them.
How much does boat insurance cost in Minnesota?
The prices in this table are our own estimates for boats stored in Minnesota, not actual quotes.
| Watercraft | Value | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $250 to $590 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Bowrider, wake, or ski boat | $50,000 | $500 to $750 |
| Sailing boat | $45,000 | $450 to $1,110 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Personal watercraft (jet ski) | $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
Plenty of insurers cut the price for boaters who finished an approved boating safety course. Mention any course you completed when you ask us for a price.
On our home page you can get a range for your boat in three quick steps, and here is how we work it out.
Call us about your Minnesota boat
Give Boat Insurance Compare a call now. Tell us your boat type, what it's worth and where you keep it, and we will take it from there.
Common questions
Is a Pontoon Pricier to Insure Than a Jet Ski?
Our estimates are $250 to $590 a year for a $25,000 pontoon and $140 to $370 for a $14,000 jet ski. The ranges overlap, so your price could differ.
What Would a $30,000 Boat Cost to Insure?
For a $30,000 pontoon or fishing boat kept in Minnesota, expect about $300 to $590 a year, by our estimate. Minnesota is in Progressive's low-cost group of states. Call us for a number that fits your boat.
Which Insurer Is Cheapest in Minnesota?
It varies with the boat, its value, and the owner. Call us with those details and we will compare prices with you.
Boat insurers to compare in Minnesota
| 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 Minnesota. All insurers side by side
Minnesota boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Minnesota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | Starting July 1, 2025, anyone with a birthday after June 30, 2004 must hold a watercraft operator's permit to run a motorboat; older age groups phase in later. | dnr.state.mn.us |
| Jet ski age | Kids under 12 cannot drive personal watercraft, and they also cannot run any motorboat whose motor exceeds 75 horsepower. The law bans PWC use from one hour before sunset until 9:30 a.m. | dnr.state.mn.us, revisor.mn.gov |
| Registration | Minnesota DNR charges $113 to register a pleasure craft longer than 19 feet but shorter than 26 feet, plus an issuing fee and a $38 aquatic invasive species surcharge, for a 3-year registration. Boat registration stays valid for 3 calendar years. The exemption covers non-motorized watercraft that measure 10 feet or less. | dnr.state.mn.us |
| Title | Minnesota requires a title for certain watercraft longer than 16 feet. | files.dnr.state.mn.us |
| Boating under the influence | A blood alcohol level of .08 counts as impaired boat operation. Violators face fines, possible jail time, and loss of your motorboat and driving privileges. | files.dnr.state.mn.us |
| Who runs boating | The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources handles watercraft registration and titling online, at deputy registrars, or through the DNR License Center. | dnr.state.mn.us |
| Also in this state | Under Minnesota law, boaters have to drain their boats plus bilges, ballast tanks and livewells, and pull drain plugs ahead of departing a water access, to combat aquatic invasive species. Starting July 1, 2025, renting or leasing a motorboat is off limits for anyone under 18, and that covers personal watercraft. Many boat insurers give premium discounts to owners who have finished an approved boating safety class. | files.dnr.state.mn.us |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 58 boating accidents, 9 deaths and 39 people injured, with $925,875 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Minnesota compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Minnesota
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