Boat insurance in North Dakota
Boats on public waters in North Dakota do not have to carry insurance under state law, so what matters is what a policy for your boat would run you.
- Does North Dakota 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
- 61,981U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Ages 12-15; 10 hp+Ages 12-15 need the Boat North Dakota course to run any boat or PWC with 10 hp or more by themselves.
Sources: insurance.nd.gov, gf.nd.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in North Dakota? 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.
Our estimated yearly range for a $25,000 pontoon in North Dakota is $300 to $800. Call us for a price for your boat.
Boating Accidents in North Dakota
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the state had 61,981 recreational boats on its registration rolls in 2024. In that same year, the state logged nine boating accidents, with three deaths, eight injuries, and $30,188 in property damage.
Accidents are rare here, but they do happen. A policy can help with the cost of covered damage.
What does North Dakota require?
According to the state insurance department, boats on public waters in North Dakota do not need liability or property insurance. A policy can still help with the cost of a covered loss, so call us and we'll price it for your boat.
State rules beyond insurance still cover every boat owner. Here are the main ones:
- Registration: Any motorboat used on North Dakota waters has to be registered and carry a state number. In this state, licensing simply means registering your boat.
- Boaters aged 12 to 15: Before operating any boat or personal watercraft rated at 10 horsepower or higher by themselves, they have to pass the Boat North Dakota course.
- Children under 12: A child younger than 12 may not operate a motorboat or jet ski with more than 10 horsepower without an adult aged 18 or up riding along.
- Life jackets: Anyone on a personal watercraft, like a jet ski, has to have on a life jacket approved by the Coast Guard.
- Alcohol: North Dakota's boating blood alcohol limit is 0.10. Game and Fish confirms that operating a boat at 0.10 or more breaks state law.
Violating a boating rule that carries no specific penalty is a class B misdemeanor. Registering your boat does not give you any insurance, and insurance does not register it.
Registration fees by boat length
Registration in North Dakota is good for three years. The 2026-28 fees are set by how long the motorboat is.
| Motorboat length | Three-year fee |
|---|---|
| Shorter than 16 feet | $30 |
| From 16 up to just under 20 feet | $45 |
| 20 feet or longer | $60 |
Every motorized boat also owes a $15 aquatic nuisance species fee. This $15 fee is separate from your registration fee and insurance cost.
What does boat insurance cost in North Dakota?
North Dakota falls in Progressive's medium-cost group of states, and its average yearly boat policy there was $413 across 2024 and 2025. What you actually pay comes down mostly to your boat's type and its value.
Here is what we estimate a year of coverage costs for common boats kept in North Dakota. Treat these figures as estimates, not quotes.
| Boat type and value | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| Jet ski valued at $14,000 | $140 to $500 |
| Pontoon valued at $25,000 | $300 to $800 |
| Fishing or bass boat valued at $40,000 | $400 to $800 |
| Sailboat valued at $45,000 | $500 to $1,500 |
| Ski, wake, or bowrider boat valued at $50,000 | $500 to $800 |
| Yacht or cruiser valued at $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Call us and we'll give you a price for your own boat, not just a range. You can also try our three-step price check and see how we build these ranges.
Common questions
What is the least expensive boat to insure in North Dakota?
Among the boats we price, jet skis are the lowest, running roughly $140 to $500 annually for one valued at $14,000. Every rider still has to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Do I need boat insurance in North Dakota?
No, the state does not require it for boats on public waters, but a policy can help with the cost of a covered loss.
Boat insurers to compare in North Dakota
| 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 Dakota. All insurers side by side
North Dakota boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in North Dakota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | Ages 12-15 need the Boat North Dakota course to run any boat or PWC with 10 hp or more by themselves. | gf.nd.gov |
| Jet ski age | Kids under 12 cannot run a motorboat or PWC above 10 hp unless someone 18 or older rides along. | gf.nd.gov |
| Registration | On North Dakota waters, every motorboat with a motor needs numbering and licensing (registration). For 2026-28, three-year registration runs $30 when a motorboat measures under 16 feet, $45 when length is at least 16 feet and still under 20 feet, and $60 for a motorboat at 20 feet and over. | ndlegis.gov, gf.nd.gov |
| Also in this state | North Dakota puts a $15 aquatic nuisance species charge on each motorized watercraft registered there. Boating-chapter violations with no specific penalty count as class B misdemeanors. Aboard any personal watercraft, each person has to wear a life jacket approved by the Coast Guard. | gf.nd.gov, ndlegis.gov |
| Boating under the influence | For boating in North Dakota, the BAC cutoff is 0.10, not 0.08. Game and Fish says a BAC at .10 or higher while boating breaks state law. | ndlegis.gov, gf.nd.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 9 boating accidents, 3 deaths and 8 people injured, with $30,188 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How North Dakota compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in North Dakota
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