Boat insurance in North Carolina
North Carolina does not make boat owners carry insurance, but covering a $25,000 pontoon kept here usually costs somewhere between $300 and $800 a year.
- Does North Carolina law require boat insurance?
- NoLenders and marinas can still ask for it
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $300 to $800 a yearMiddle-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 345,699U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Jan 1, 1988; 10 hp+If your birth date is January 1, 1988 or later, you have to pass an approved boating class before operating any vessel whose motor is 10 hp or more.
Sources: ncleg.gov, ncwildlife.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in North Carolina? 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
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Rather have it in writing? Send a quote request with the answers you just gave.
Planning to buy, finance, or launch a boat this season? Call us today and tell us about your boat and where it's kept, and we'll compare quotes so your boat has coverage from the day you launch.
Reasons NC boaters insure anyway
North Carolina had 345,699 registered recreational boats in 2024, and 142 reported accidents caused 13 deaths, 77 injuries, and $1,731,933 in property damage.
Boat policies generally cover removal of a wrecked or sunken vessel when the law requires it, according to the NC Department of Insurance.
Coastal boat owners should know their policy often carries a separate named-storm deductible. That is the share you pay out of pocket before the policy covers hurricane damage, and it is separate from your regular deductible. Before hurricane season, use our hurricane plan worksheet or call us and we'll walk you through your named-storm deductible, so you know exactly what you'd pay if a storm hits.
North Carolina boat laws for owners
You don't have to insure your boat in North Carolina, but the state does have rules for registering and operating one.
- Registration: any motor-driven boat on public waters, jet skis included, has to be registered through the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
- Title: any boat 14 feet or longer, plus every personal watercraft, needs a title at registration time. Personal watercraft is the legal term covering jet skis and similar machines.
- Boater education: if you were born on or after January 1, 1988, you need to finish an approved course before operating any boat powered by an engine rated at 10 hp or higher.
- Jet ski age: teens aged 14 or 15 may operate one only in certain situations, like riding with an adult alongside. Rental businesses generally cannot rent a jet ski to anyone under 16, though the law allows exceptions.
- Alcohol: at a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more, you are boating while impaired.
Jet ski rental businesses face a tougher requirement. They must hold liability insurance that protects the business and the renter alike, with a limit of no less than $300,000 for each incident. This is the coverage that pays when you injure someone or damage their property.
How much does boat insurance cost in North Carolina?
Progressive puts North Carolina in its middle-cost band of states, and the average yearly Progressive boat policy there ran $413 in 2024 to 2025. What you pay mostly comes down to the kind of boat you have and its value.
| Boat type | Value | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $300 to $800 |
| Jet ski | $14,000 | $140 to $500 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $500 to $1,500 |
| Fishing boat (bass) | $40,000 | $400 to $800 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Ski, wake or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $800 |
Keep in mind these figures are our own site estimates rather than quotes. Try our three-step price range to see what your own boat might fall between, and you can also read how we work it out.
To get a real price, call and tell us about your boat.
Common questions
How do I find the lowest boat insurance price in North Carolina?
Call us with your boat details and where you keep it, and we'll compare quotes for you.
Is it worth insuring a small boat?
Usually, yes. Our estimate for a $14,000 jet ski is $140 to $500 a year, but your price will depend on your boat and coverage. Call us and we'll find you a price for yours.
Are pontoons pricier to insure than other boats?
Usually not. A $25,000 pontoon is estimated at $300 to $800 a year, and a $40,000 fishing boat is $400 to $800, so the two are close. These are estimates, not quotes.
Is there sales tax on a boat purchase in North Carolina?
Yes. The state charges 3% on boat sales, capped at $1,500 per boat. Budget for this along with your first year of insurance.
Boat insurers to compare in North Carolina
| 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 North Carolina. All insurers side by side
North Carolina boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in North Carolina | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boat rentals | A company that rents out personal watercraft has to hold liability coverage that protects both the company and the customer. | ncleg.gov |
| Boater education | If your birth date is January 1, 1988 or later, you have to pass an approved boating class before operating any vessel whose motor is 10 hp or more. That education requirement covers boats with motors rated at 10 hp or greater. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Jet ski age | Someone aged 14 or 15 can drive a PWC only under certain conditions, for example with an adult along, and liveries cannot rent PWCs to under-16s unless an exception applies. | ncleg.gov |
| Registration | NC Wildlife Resources Commission requires owners to register every motorized vessel used on public waters, jet skis included. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Title | At registration, owners must title all personal watercraft plus vessels measuring 14 feet or longer. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Boating under the influence | If you operate a boat with a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08, the law treats that as boating while impaired. | ncleg.net |
| Also in this state | North Carolina charges 3% on boat sales, with the tax capped at $1,500 for each boat. NC Department of Insurance says boat policies generally pay for taking out a vessel after a wreck or sinking when the law requires it. | ncdor.gov, ncdoi.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 142 boating accidents, 13 deaths and 77 people injured, with $1,731,933 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How North Carolina compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table, and the hurricane plan worksheet for storm season.
Quotes for a boat kept in North Carolina
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