Boat insurance in Vermont
No Vermont law says you must carry boat insurance, but plenty of owners choose to anyway, and a marina can insist on it before giving you a spot.
- Does Vermont 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
- 27,029U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born after Jan 1, 1974A motorboat operator who is 12 or older and has a birth date after January 1, 1974 needs boating safety education.
Sources: vsp.vermont.gov, legislature.vermont.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Vermont? 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.
Costs in this state tend to be low. Our estimate puts a $25,000 pontoon at roughly $250 to $590 per year. Want a range for your own boat? Use the three-step price range on our home page.
Boating in Vermont
Boating is popular here. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Vermont had 27,029 recreational boats on its registration rolls during 2024.
Boating matters fall to two state agencies. Registration and titling of motorboats goes through the Vermont DMV, while the Vermont State Police Marine Division handles enforcement of the boating rules and teaches the boating safety classes.
Does Vermont make boat insurance mandatory?
No. Vermont law does not obligate boat owners to carry insurance, and the nationwide survey of state boating laws shows Vermont with no liability insurance mandate for boaters either.
Marinas set their own terms. Liability coverage pays when you hurt someone else or damage their property, and a marina might want proof of it before your boat can stay. Signing up for a slip or mooring? Check with the marina about what they expect. A quick call with us can line up a policy that fits their requirements.
What does Vermont boat insurance cost by type of boat?
Progressive places Vermont among its lower-priced states for boat coverage. Our price ranges by boat type are our own estimates for a boat stored in Vermont. An estimate is a rough figure, while a quote is the exact price an insurer offers for your boat.
Our yearly estimates start at $140 to $370 for a $14,000 jet ski and $250 to $590 for a $25,000 pontoon. A $40,000 bass or fishing boat is estimated at $400 to $600, a $45,000 sailboat at $450 to $1,110, a $50,000 bowrider, ski or wake boat at $500 to $750, and a $150,000 cruiser or yacht at $1,500 to $3,000.
You can see how we work out these ranges. For an actual price, call us today with your boat's value and where you keep it, and we'll talk through your coverage options.
Registration and title costs
Registering a boat costs money on top of insurance. Vermont sorts motorboats into groups based on how long they are, and the fee for a one-year registration changes with each group. A Class 1 boat (16 to under 26 feet) pays $49 for the year, a Class 2 boat (26 to under 40 feet) pays $80, and a Class 3 boat (40 feet or over) pays $153. Boats under 16 feet are Class A. A Class 3 boat can also be registered for two years at $303.
Motorboats in Vermont get titled too. Boats shorter than 16 feet do not need a title, and the same goes for canoes and kayaks whose motors are 10 horsepower or under.
Registering a boat in Vermont for the first time can trigger sales tax. You skip it when your invoice from the purchase proves you already paid 6% or more in sales tax to a dealer in another state that collects sales tax.
Rules of the water worth knowing
Anyone operating a boat in Vermont has to follow these rules, insured or not.
- Safety course: motorboat operators who are 12 or older and born after January 1, 1974 have to complete one.
- Children under 12: are not allowed to operate a motorboat with more than 6 horsepower.
- Cold-water season: between November 1 and May 1, anyone on the open deck of a boat that is underway has to have a life jacket on, on every public water in the state.
- Alcohol: driving a boat with 0.08 percent or more alcohol in your blood is against the law.
Common questions about boat insurance in Vermont
How much does Vermont boat insurance typically run?
For its low-cost group of states, Vermont included, Progressive's average yearly boat policy came to about $307 in 2024 to 2025. What you pay comes down to your boat and how much it is worth.
Do jet skis have their own rules?
Yes. Vermont law treats a jet ski as a personal watercraft. No one under 16 may drive one, everyone aboard must wear a life jacket, and use is banned from sunset until the next morning.
How often do boating accidents occur in Vermont?
The U.S. Coast Guard says Vermont reported six recreational boating accidents in 2024, leaving four people dead, eight hurt, and $2,000 in property damage.
Can I get a quote for my specific boat?
Yes. Call us and tell us about your boat, what it's worth and where you keep it, and we'll help you pick the coverage that fits.
Boat insurers to compare in Vermont
| 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 Vermont. All insurers side by side
Vermont boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Vermont | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | A motorboat operator who is 12 or older and has a birth date after January 1, 1974 needs boating safety education. A child younger than 12 cannot run a motorboat over 6 horsepower. | vsp.vermont.gov, uscgboating.org |
| Jet ski age | No operator under 16 may use a personal watercraft. PWC riders have to wear a life jacket, and PWCs cannot run from sunset to sunrise. A personal watercraft cannot run from sunset to sunrise. | legislature.vermont.gov |
| Registration | Vermont DMV charges $49 for a one-year motorboat registration when the boat is Class 1 and measures 16 ft up to less than 26 ft; for Class 2 measuring 26 ft up to less than 40 ft, the fee is $80. A Class 3 motorboat measuring 40 ft or over pays $153 for one year and $303 for two years of registration. Vermont groups motorboats as Class A below 16 ft, Class 1 from 16 ft up to less than 26 ft, Class 2 from 26 ft up to less than 40 ft, and Class 3 at 40 ft or over. | dmv.vermont.gov |
| Title | Vermont titles motorboats. It does not require a title for vessels under 16 feet, nor for canoes and kayaks with a motor rated 10 hp or less. | dmv.vermont.gov |
| Boating under the influence | The law bars running a vessel, or having actual physical control of one, with a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08 percent. | legislature.vermont.gov |
| Also in this state | Act 153 (S.326) requires each person on an open deck while a boat is moving to wear a life jacket on all public waters from November 1 to May 1. The first Vermont registration of a boat brings sales tax unless the purchase invoice shows the buyer already paid sales tax of at least 6% to a dealer located in another taxing state. | vsp.vermont.gov, dmv.vermont.gov |
| Who runs boating | The Vermont DMV handles motorboat registration and titling. Enforcing boating laws and running boating safety education fall to the Vermont State Police Marine Division. | vsp.vermont.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 6 boating accidents, 4 deaths and 8 people injured, with $2,000 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Vermont compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Vermont
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