Boat insurance in Utah
If your boat has more than 50 horsepower, or it's a jet ski, Utah requires boat insurance in the form of liability coverage.
- Does Utah law require boat insurance?
- Yes, for some boatsUtah makes each motorboat and personal watercraft carry liability coverage for the owner or operator while underway on Utah waters.
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $250 to $590 a yearLow-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 67,852U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Ages 12-17 (PWC)Utah makes boaters ages 12 to 17 pass a certification course before operating a personal watercraft; classes for adults are advised, not mandatory.
Sources: recreation.utah.gov, le.utah.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
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The good news is that many boats cost only a few hundred dollars a year to cover.
What does Utah boat insurance cover?
Liability insurance is what Utah requires. That is the portion of a policy that covers injuries or property damage you cause to others while operating your boat.
Utah law names this owner's or operator's security. Under Utah Code 73-18c-301, every resident who owns a motorboat has to maintain it any time the boat is on state waters.
That protection matters on busy Utah lakes. Utah registered 67,852 recreational boats in 2024, and the U.S. Coast Guard recorded 50 accidents, 10 deaths, 33 injuries, and $565,300 in property damage.
Utah boat insurance requirements
If you take a motorboat or jet ski out on Utah waters, the state says it has to carry liability insurance. A personal watercraft means a jet ski or a similar small vessel you ride sitting or standing.
Under this law, a motorboat is any boat with over 50 horsepower as rated by the manufacturer. Boats at 50 horsepower or below, plus airboats, are excluded. Jet skis need coverage no matter their horsepower.
Your policy needs to pay at least $25,000 for one person hurt or killed, $50,000 for everyone hurt or killed, and $15,000 for property damage in a single accident.
One $65,000 combined limit also satisfies the rule. A combined limit is one total the policy will pay per accident, split between injuries and damage. State law forbids anything under $25,000 for a single person's injury or death.
Beginning January 1, 2026, uninsured motorboat owners get notices from April through October requesting proof of insurance. Failing to comply can lead to registration revocation.
What does Utah boat insurance cost?
Utah ranks among the cheaper states for boat insurance. These figures are our own estimates for a boat kept in Utah, not actual quotes.
| Watercraft | Value | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | $25,000 | $250 to $590 |
| Jet ski | $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $450 to $1,110 |
| Ski, wake, or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $750 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Get a range for your own boat with our three-step price range, or call us with a few details about your boat, and we'll help you find coverage and a price.
Other Utah boating rules to know
- Registration: if your boat has any motor, gas or electric, or it's a sailboat, you must register and number it through the Utah DMV.
- Title: watercraft made in 1985 or later need a title from the DMV. A few boats don't, like Coast Guard documented vessels and small inflatables.
- Mussel fee: every motorized boat pays a $20 invasive species enrollment fee, and boaters take a mussel-aware course each year.
- Alcohol: the limit for boating under the influence is 0.05 blood or breath alcohol.
- Who runs it: boating rules and education come from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, while registration and titles go through the DMV.
Common questions
What does boat insurance typically cost in Utah?
Progressive counts Utah among its low-cost states. The average yearly Progressive boat policy in that group was $307 across 2024 and 2025.
Is my teenager allowed to drive our jet ski?
Anyone 12 to 17 has to pass a boating safety course first. Ages 12 to 15 also need an adult of at least 18 watching them directly. Riders aged 16 and 17 must carry their course certificate. Adults don't need a course, though it's worth taking.
Boat insurers to compare in Utah
| 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 Utah. All insurers side by side
Utah boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Utah | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Also in this state | Starting January 1, 2026, an uninsured motorboat receives a notice from April to October asking for insurance proof; noncompliance brings registration revocation. Every motorized boat on Utah waters owes a $20 vessel enrollment fee for aquatic invasive species (AIS), and the boater takes an annual mussel-aware course. | recreation.utah.gov, stdofthesea.utah.gov |
| Boater education | Utah makes boaters ages 12 to 17 pass a certification course before operating a personal watercraft; classes for adults are advised, not mandatory. | recreation.utah.gov |
| Jet ski age | Operators ages 12 to 15 can run a PWC only with direct oversight by someone at least 18, and course requirements still apply. Operators ages 16 and 17 can run a PWC after passing a boating safety course that is approved and carrying the certificate. | le.utah.gov |
| Registration | A boat using any motor, gas or electric, and every sailboat need registration and numbering; the Utah DMV processes those registrations. | recreation.utah.gov |
| Title | A watercraft from 1985 or newer used on Utah waters needs a DMV title, except for cases like USCG-documented boats, also small inflatables. | dmv.utah.gov |
| Boating under the influence | Utah sets the boating-under-the-influence limit at 0.05 for blood or breath alcohol. | boat-ed.com |
| Who runs boating | The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation oversees boating regulations and boater education, while the Utah DMV handles boat registration and titling. | recreation.utah.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 50 boating accidents, 10 deaths and 33 people injured, with $565,300 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Utah compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
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