Boat insurance in Mississippi
Mississippi law does not make you carry boat insurance.
- Does Mississippi 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
- 131,643U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born after June 30, 1980Anyone born later than June 30, 1980 has to pass a boater education course before taking a boat out in Mississippi.
Sources: mdwfp.com, mdwfp.com; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Mississippi? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
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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 to expect in Mississippi
Progressive's data puts Mississippi among the pricier states for boat coverage. Across that high-cost group, the typical Progressive boat policy ran $663 in 2024-2025 per year.
The U.S. Coast Guard counted 131,643 registered recreational boats in Mississippi during 2024. That same year, the state logged 20 accidents on the water, with one death, 12 people hurt, and $177,200 in property damage.
Policies near the coast frequently include their own deductible for named storms. Your deductible is what you pay out of pocket on a claim before the insurance company covers the balance. Our hurricane plan worksheet can help you plan for it.
What the state requires
Mississippi has no liability insurance mandate for boaters. What the state does regulate is education, registration, and staying sober at the helm.
- Boater education: If you were born after June 30, 1980, you need to finish a course before you drive a boat. MDWFP provides the course and also takes care of registration.
- Age: Anyone under 12 at the controls needs someone 21 or older aboard. For a jet ski, the minimum age is 12 plus an approved boating safety course.
- Registration: You must register sailboats and any undocumented vessel with propulsion machinery within 10 days of acquisition.
- Title: Getting a title is your choice. An original title runs $13.49, and registration has to come first.
- Alcohol: It is against the law to operate a boat once your blood alcohol level hits .08%. A first offense means a $250 to $1,000 fine or as much as 24 hours in jail or both, and you will also have to take a boating safety course.
Under the state rules, the alcohol law covers any motorboat with 25 horsepower or above, plus every jet ski.
To fight marine theft, MDWFP checks incomplete registration applications and every home-made boat before registering them.
Registration fees by boat length
MDWFP bases the fee on how long your boat is.
| Length of boat | Fee to register |
|---|---|
| Less than 16 feet | $10.99 |
| From 16 up to 26 feet | $25.99 |
| 26 feet and longer | $48.49 |
How much does boat insurance cost in Mississippi?
These figures are estimates, not quotes. Each one gives the yearly range for a boat stored in Mississippi.
| Type of boat | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| Jet ski ($14,000) | $160 to $700 |
| Pontoon ($25,000) | $480 to $1,250 |
| Bass or fishing boat ($40,000) | $480 to $1,280 |
| Sailboat ($45,000) | $800 to $2,250 |
| Bowrider, ski, or wake boat ($50,000) | $500 to $1,280 |
| Cruiser or yacht ($150,000) | $1,600 to $3,210 |
MDWFP points out that finishing an accredited boating course usually brings premiums down with most insurers. On our home page you can get a three-step price range for your boat, and our cost page lays out how we do the math.
Start your three-step price range on our home page now to see where your boat lands.
Common questions
How do I get the lowest boat insurance price in Mississippi?
What you pay comes down mainly to the boat's value, its type, and where you store it. Coverage for a jet ski can start at $160 a year, while a cruiser begins near $1,600. A boating course can trim the price too.
Boat insurers to compare in Mississippi
| 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 Mississippi. All insurers side by side
Mississippi boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Mississippi | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | Anyone born later than June 30, 1980 has to pass a boater education course before taking a boat out in Mississippi. | mdwfp.com |
| Jet ski age | Boaters under 12 need someone age 21 or older on board with them to run a boat. According to the USCG/NASBLA survey, Mississippi's minimum age for a PWC is at least 12 if the rider has passed an approved course in boating safety. | mdwfp.com, uscgboating.org |
| Registration | Every sailboat and each undocumented vessel that has propulsion machinery needs MDWFP registration no later than 10 days after acquisition. MDWFP registration costs $10.99 for a boat under 16 feet, $25.99 for one at least 16 feet but under 26 feet, and $48.49 for one 26 feet or over. | mdwfp.com |
| Title | Owners choose whether to title boats and motors in Mississippi. The fee for an original title is $13.49, and the boat needs registration before titling. | eregulations.com |
| Boating under the influence | Running a watercraft while your blood alcohol level is .08% or higher breaks the law. A first BUI conviction brings a fine of $250 to $1,000, as much as 24 hours in jail, or both. It also makes a boating safety course mandatory. | law.justia.com, mdwfp.com |
| Who runs boating | The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) handles boat registration and boater education. | mdwfp.com |
| Also in this state | Mississippi's BUI law applies to motorized vessels with 25 horsepower or more, plus every personal watercraft. MDWFP says most insurers cut premiums for boaters who finish an accredited boating course. Citing marine theft, MDWFP inspects any incomplete registration application and every home-made boat before registration. | mdwfp.com |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 20 boating accidents, 1 deaths and 12 people injured, with $177,200 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Mississippi compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table, and the hurricane plan worksheet for storm season.
Quotes for a boat kept in Mississippi
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