Boat insurance in Montana
Montana doesn't require boat insurance, and covering a boat here often costs just a few hundred dollars a year.
- Does Montana 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
- 53,525U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Ages 13-14, over 10 hpAt 13 or 14, a young person needs the safety certificate for Montana motorboat operators, or an accepted course, to run any motorboat or PWC above 10 hp. Having someone 18 or older along removes that requirement.
Sources: fwp.mt.gov, mca.legmt.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Montana? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
1 of 2
What kind of boat?
2 of 2
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.
A $25,000 pontoon, for example, runs about $250 to $590 by our estimate. Call us today and we'll price your boat, since a marina may ask for liability coverage even though the state does not.
How many boats are in Montana?
Montana had 53,525 registered recreational boats in 2024, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
In 2024, Montana recorded 15 boating accidents, with seven deaths, five injuries and $50,736 in property damage. Accidents can happen to careful boaters too, so it's worth having a policy behind you. Call us and we'll price your boat while you're on the line.
Do you have to insure your boat in Montana?
No. Montana doesn't require boat insurance, according to the Coast Guard's list of state boating laws.
Liability coverage is what pays out if your boat injures a person or wrecks someone's property. Even without a state rule, a marina may demand it before letting you moor your boat there (Progressive). Has a marina asked you to show proof of coverage? Call us and we'll find a policy that meets it.
What it costs to insure a boat in Montana
Montana is one of the cheaper states to insure a boat in. Below are our estimates of what one year of coverage costs for a boat kept here. Treat them as estimates rather than quotes.
| Type of boat | Value of boat | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $250 to $590 |
| Jet ski | $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $450 to $1,110 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Ski, wake or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $750 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Our three-step price range gives a range for your own boat, and you can see how we work it out. Call us with your boat type, its value and where you keep it, and we'll price coverage for your boat.
Registration and other costs
Insurance isn't required by state law, but Montana does require registration and an aquatic invasive species pass for many boats. Registration is mandatory for all motorboats, jet skis, and sailboats measuring 12 feet or more. Paddle and row boats do not need it (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks).
Titling and registering happen at the County Treasurer's office in your home county. You pay the registration fee once, and it covers you for the entire time you own the boat.
| Item | One-time fee |
|---|---|
| Motorboats, pontoons, and sailboats 19 feet or longer | $295.50 |
| Motorboats, jet skis, and pontoons shorter than 16 feet, plus sailboats 12 to 16 feet | $65.50 |
| Title (the certificate of ownership) | $10 |
The state also makes you buy an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass. The pass helps keep damaging plants and animals out of Montana's lakes and rivers. It runs $30 if your boat has a motor and $10 if it does not. Any boat entering Montana has to pass an inspection for these species before launching.
Common questions
How much does boat insurance usually cost in Montana?
Montana is one of the cheaper states to insure a boat. The average yearly Progressive policy in Montana's group of low-cost states was about $307 in 2024 to 2025 (Progressive). Call us and we'll tell you what yours would cost.
Can my children drive the boat?
Kids aged 12 and under cannot operate a motorboat or jet ski with an engine over 10 horsepower unless a person 18 or older rides along. At ages 13 and 14, a young operator needs a Montana motorboat operator's safety certificate or an approved course to operate a motorboat or jet ski over 10 horsepower, unless someone 18 or older is aboard (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks).
Is it against the law to drink and boat in Montana?
Yes, it is. Montana law bans driving a motorboat, or a sailboat with a motor, while you're under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Under Montana law, the same alcohol limit used for drivers applies on the water: at 0.08 or higher, a court can treat you as under the influence (Montana law).
Who makes the boating rules in Montana?
The state's boating regulations and boater education fall to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Its regional offices hand out the hull identification number too, which is the serial number tied to your boat.
Boat insurers to compare in Montana
| 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 Montana. All insurers side by side
Montana boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Montana | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | At 13 or 14, a young person needs the safety certificate for Montana motorboat operators, or an accepted course, to run any motorboat or PWC above 10 hp. Having someone 18 or older along removes that requirement. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Jet ski age | Kids age 12 or younger cannot run any motorboat or PWC if the motor is above 10 hp. An exception applies when someone 18 or older is with them. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Registration | Every motorboat, PWC, and sailboat measuring 12 feet and longer needs registration. Boats moved by manual power are exempt. Boat owners handle titling, registration, and fee payment with the County Treasurer for the county where they live. Montana charges registration once, permanently. The $65.50 charge covers motorboats, PWCs, and pontoons below 16 feet, plus sailboats from 12-16 ft. Registering motorboats, pontoons, and sailboats at 19 feet and longer costs $295.50, paid once. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Title | The ownership certificate, or title, costs $10. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Boating under the influence | Montana law bars running a motorboat, including a sailboat driven by a motor, while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The DUI alcohol-level inferences in MCA 61-8-1002 also apply on the water. If a boat operator tests at 0.08 or higher, a court may conclude they were under the influence. MCA 23-2-535 brings the 61-8-1002 inferences into boating-under-the-influence prosecutions. | mca.legmt.gov |
| Also in this state | A Montana boater needs an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass. It costs $30 for motorized watercraft and $10 for nonmotorized craft. Every watercraft bound for Montana needs an aquatic invasive species inspection before launch. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Who runs boating | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) manages boating rules and education. HINs come from its regional offices. | fwp.mt.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 15 boating accidents, 7 deaths and 5 people injured, with $50,736 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Montana compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Montana
Tell us the boat, what it is worth and where you keep it.
The line reaches Boat Insurance Compare.