Boat insurance in Texas
Boat insurance in Texas isn't required by state law, but some marinas won't give you a slip without proof of liability coverage, so call us and we'll help you find a policy that fits.
- Does Texas 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
- 552,138U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Sept 1, 1993; over 15 hp or sail over 14 ftIf you were born September 1, 1993 or later, you have to pass a boater education course from TPWD and carry photo ID before you run any boat with more than 15 hp or a windblown vessel longer than 14 ft.
Sources: tdi.texas.gov, tpwd.texas.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Texas? 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.
Insuring a typical pontoon in this state runs from a few hundred dollars to a bit over a thousand each year. What you pay comes down to your boat, its value, and the place you store it.
What Texas law says about boat insurance
Texas law does not make boat insurance mandatory. Marinas are the usual exception, since plenty of them expect you to hold liability coverage. That coverage pays out if your boat injures someone or wrecks their property and the fault is yours.
Do not count on your homeowners policy to cover the rest. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, homeowners policies only cover boats up to a capped amount and offer no liability protection whatsoever.
Texas has a few other boating rules worth knowing about while you sort out coverage:
- Boater education: anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 must complete a TPWD boater education course and carry photo ID to run any boat with more than 15 hp or a sailboat longer than 14 feet. TPWD stands for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the agency that also manages registration and titles.
- Registration: plan on $32 if your boat is under 16 feet, or $53 if it is 16 to under 26 feet.
- Title: the state charges $27 to title a boat, and the same for an outboard motor.
- Drinking: 0.08 or higher is legally intoxicated, and operating a boat while drunk is a Class B misdemeanor.
Marina asking for proof of liability coverage? Call us today and we'll help you find a policy that meets their terms.
How much does Texas boat insurance cost?
Texas is one of the higher-priced states for covering boats. These yearly prices are our estimates for a boat kept here, not quotes.
| Boat type | Value | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Jet ski | $14,000 | $160–$700 |
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $480–$1,250 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $480–$1,280 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $800–$2,250 |
| Ski, wake or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500–$1,280 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,600–$3,210 |
Call now with your boat's type, value, and storage location and we'll help you review coverage and cost, or use our three-step price range for a range on your own boat (here is the math behind our numbers).
Choosing the right coverage
A good policy begins with liability coverage, because your homeowners insurance will not supply it. Then take a hard look at the deductible, meaning the part of a claim you cover yourself before the insurer pays the balance.
Coastal policies often include a separate named-storm deductible. That is an extra, frequently bigger deductible that kicks in only if a named storm or hurricane harms your boat. Storm deductibles are easy to miss in the fine print, so call us and we'll go over what yours would be before hurricane season, and our hurricane plan worksheet can help you prepare too.
The risks on Texas waters are real. During 2024 the state recorded 174 boating accidents that killed 27 people, injured 128, and caused $4,521,901 in property damage. Give us your boat, its value, and where you store it, and we will walk through the coverage options together.
Keeping costs down
Smaller, less valuable boats tend to carry the cheapest premiums. Coverage for a $14,000 jet ski can begin around $160 a year; a $40,000 fishing boat starts nearer to $480.
A bargain premium does you little good if the policy skips liability coverage or comes with a storm deductible beyond your budget. Call now and we can review both before you settle on the cheapest choice.
Insuring a jet ski
By our estimate, insuring a $14,000 jet ski in Texas runs about $160 to $700 per year. The state sets its own age limit for these machines. Kids under 13 cannot operate one unless someone at least 18 years old who can legally operate it rides along.
Insuring a yacht or cruiser
Our estimate puts a $150,000 cruiser or yacht at roughly $1,600 to $3,210 annually. Coastal policies often have a separate deductible for damage from a named storm. Talk with us today about those storm terms before signing anything.
Common questions
How much should boat insurance cost me?
Progressive's 2024 to 2025 data puts the typical yearly premium in Texas's higher-cost group of states at about $663.
What else does buying a boat in Texas cost?
Texas charges a sales and use tax of 6.25 percent on boats and their motors. The tax is capped at $18,750 per sale.
How many boats does Texas have registered?
The U.S. Coast Guard put Texas's 2024 count of registered recreational boats at 552,138.
Boat insurers to compare in Texas
| 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 Texas. All insurers side by side
Texas boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Texas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | If you were born September 1, 1993 or later, you have to pass a boater education course from TPWD and carry photo ID before you run any boat with more than 15 hp or a windblown vessel longer than 14 ft. | tpwd.texas.gov |
| Jet ski age | A child under 13 cannot operate a PWC unless someone at least 18 who is lawfully able to operate it is on board. | tpwd.texas.gov |
| Registration | For a Class A boat (under 16 ft), the TPWD registration fee is $32. For a Class 1 boat (16 ft to under 26 ft), the TPWD registration fee is $53. | tpwd.texas.gov |
| Title | Texas provides certificates of title covering vessels and outboard motors, with a title fee of $27. | tpwd.texas.gov |
| Boating under the influence | You count as intoxicated if your blood alcohol level reaches 0.08 or higher. Boating while intoxicated counts as a Class B misdemeanor offense (Penal Code 49.06). | statutes.capitol.texas.gov |
| Who runs boating | TPWD handles certification of boater education courses and manages boat registration and titling. | tpwd.texas.gov |
| Also in this state | Texas charges a 6.25 percent sales and use tax on boats and boat motors, limited to $18,750 per sale. The boat sales tax collected per sale cannot exceed $18,750. | comptroller.texas.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 174 boating accidents, 27 deaths and 128 people injured, with $4,521,901 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Texas compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table, and the hurricane plan worksheet for storm season.
Quotes for a boat kept in Texas
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