Boat insurance in Washington
Boat insurance in Washington isn't legally required for most recreational boats, but some boats do need it.
- Does Washington law require boat insurance?
- Yes, for some boatsAnyone buying a used vessel longer than 35 feet that is past 40 years old needs a marine insurance policy at or before the transfer.
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $300 to $800 a yearMiddle-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 228,692U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- 15 hp or moreYou need a Boater Education Card to run any vessel with an engine rated 15 horsepower or higher.
Sources: app.leg.wa.gov, dol.wa.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Washington? 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.
A few older, larger boats do need it, and private marinas must ask boats staying there for proof of marine insurance. What you pay comes down to the type of boat and its value. Yearly estimates usually land somewhere between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand.
Do you need boat insurance in Washington?
If you own an everyday fishing boat, pontoon or jet ski, Washington won't make you insure it, according to Progressive. Even so, a marina can require liability coverage. That coverage pays when you hurt someone or damage their property.
A larger boat probably will not be covered by your home insurance. The Washington Insurance Commissioner notes that homeowner policies tend to leave bigger boats out, which means they need their own boat policy.
Not sure what your boat needs? Call us and we'll help you find the right coverage and a clear price.
Insurance rules for Washington boats
Washington has hard insurance rules for two kinds of boats.
- Older, larger boats. If you buy a secondhand boat that is over 35 feet long and over 40 years old, you need marine insurance in place before or at the transfer of ownership. State law sets the floor at $300,000 of coverage, unless officials set another amount through regulation.
- Boats staying long term at a private marina. Anyone running private moorage, meaning a slip or berth where a boat lives, must ask boats moored there, rather than just passing through, to show proof of marine insurance. You can find this in state law.
For these older, larger boats, the Department of Licensing asks for proof of insurance once, when you title or first register the boat. Have your policy ready before you go so the sale goes smoothly.
Buying one of these boats? Give us a call so the policy is in place ahead of the sale.
What does boat insurance cost in Washington, by boat type?
Progressive puts Washington in its medium-cost band of states. In 2024 to 2025, the average Progressive boat policy in that band ran about $413 a year, according to Progressive.
The estimates that follow show what a boat based in Washington might cost to insure each year. Treat them as estimates rather than quotes.
| Type of boat | What the boat is worth | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Jet ski or personal watercraft | $14,000 | $140 to $500 |
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $300 to $800 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $800 |
| Sailing boat | $45,000 | $500 to $1,500 |
| Ski, wake, or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $800 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Want a range for your boat? Try our three-step price range, or call us with your boat details for a price and help choosing coverage that fits. You can also see how we put these numbers together.
Other Washington boating rules to know
If you boat in Washington, these operating and registration rules are worth knowing.
- Boater Education Card: needed before operating any motorboat rated at 15 horsepower or higher. Anyone born before January 1, 1955 is exempt (Washington State Parks).
- Jet ski age: personal watercraft cannot be driven by anyone under 14 (state law).
- Registration: the Department of Licensing handles titling and registration. A boat bought out of state has 15 days to be registered. Smaller boats under 16 feet, with motors of 10 horsepower or less and used only on non-federal waters, are exempt from registration (Department of Licensing).
- Alcohol: you are treated as boating under the influence if your alcohol level is 0.08 or higher. This offense is a gross misdemeanor (state law).
Questions people ask
What does boat insurance cost on average?
The average yearly policy in Progressive's medium-cost group, where Washington sits, came to $413.34 in 2024 to 2025. What you pay may be more or less, based on the boat and what it is worth.
Beyond insurance, what else does a boat cost each year?
Washington charges a watercraft excise tax, a yearly charge that takes the place of property tax. It runs 0.5% of market value and applies to boats 16 feet and over that are not used commercially (Department of Revenue). People who live in Washington also pay a $2 invasive species fee when they register. If a boat is registered in another state, it needs a $24 permit from the state (Department of Fish and Wildlife).
How often do boating accidents happen in Washington?
The state recorded 36 recreational boating accidents in 2024, along with 13 deaths, 15 injuries, and $1,972,275 in damage to property (U.S. Coast Guard).
Call us today with your boat details, and we'll help you choose coverage and get it in place.
Boat insurers to compare in Washington
| 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 Washington. All insurers side by side
Washington boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Washington | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | You need a Boater Education Card to run any vessel with an engine rated 15 horsepower or higher. Boaters whose birth date falls before Jan. 1, 1955 do not have to carry the card. | parks.wa.gov |
| Jet ski age | Washington bars anyone younger than 14 from running a personal watercraft. | apps.leg.wa.gov |
| Registration | The Washington Department of Licensing handles boat titling and registration; if you buy a boat in another state, you have 15 days to register it. Boats shorter than 16 feet with an engine rated 10 hp or under that run only on non-federal waters skip registration. | dol.wa.gov |
| Boating under the influence | A boat operator is under the influence when a test taken no more than two hours after operating shows 0.08 or more alcohol. This violation is a gross misdemeanor. If you operate a vessel while under the influence, you commit a gross misdemeanor. | app.leg.wa.gov |
| Also in this state | For non-commercial boats that are 16 feet and over, Washington collects a watercraft excise tax equal to 0.5% of the fair market value, which replaces property tax. For watercraft registered outside Washington, a $24 permit for aquatic invasive species prevention is required; residents pay the $2 AIS fee at registration. The Insurance Commissioner cautions that homeowner policies likely leave out larger boats, so owners need a separate boat policy. | dor.wa.gov, wdfw.wa.gov, insurance.wa.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 36 boating accidents, 13 deaths and 15 people injured, with $1,972,275 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Washington compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Washington
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