New York boat insurance

Boating enthusiasts in The Empire State can enjoy a wealth of beautiful lakes and other waterways, including the Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake. If you own a pontoon, center console, sailboat, or another type of watercraft, Progressive offers customized and affordable protection for you and your boat, on and off the water. Learn about boat insurance in New York, including coverages, discounts, and cost information.

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Does NY require boat insurance?

Boat insurance isn't required by New York law, but some marinas may mandate boat liability coverage. In addition, if you lease or finance your watercraft, your lender may require comprehensive and collision coverages for your boat, which may pay to repair or replace your damaged or stolen watercraft.

Coverage	What it covers
Bodily injury and property damage liability	What it coversInjuries you're liable for and damage you cause to another boat or property while boating
Comprehensive	What it coversTheft, vandalism, fire, glass breakage, collisions with animals, and weather-related issues
Collision	What it coversCollisions with another watercraft, docks, or objects

If you own your boat outright and you aren't required to carry liability coverage, protecting your watercraft investment — as well as your assets if you cause an accident on the water — can still be important for boaters in New York.

How much is boat insurance in New York?

In 2023, the average annual cost for a Progressive boat insurance policy in New York was $468.28.^* However, Progressive offers boat insurance in New York for as little as $100/year for a liability-only policy.^** Your cost for boat insurance depends on several factors, such as:

Type of watercraft: From pontoon boats to PWCs, your boat's unique features may influence your rate
Boating experience: Experienced boaters may pay less for boat insurance than boaters new to operating a watercraft
Claims history: If you've filed an insurance claim in the past, regardless of fault, you may pay more for a boat policy
Horsepower: A powerboat with a large engine may cost more to insure than a sailboat with a smaller engine

We insure over 1.6 million watercraft nationwide, and we can help protect yours too. Get a boat insurance quote today and enjoy peace of mind.

How to lower the cost of boat insurance in New York

Whether you live in New York City, Saratoga Springs, Albany or anywhere in New York, there are multiple ways to obtain cheap boat insurance in The Empire State. Progressive lets you start saving immediately with a variety of discounts that can be automatically added to your policy, such as:

Multi-policy
Association
Paid in full
Original owner
Safety course

Find out more about boat boat insurance discounts.

What's the best boat insurance in New York?

From Buffalo to Poughkeepsie and throughout New York, the best boat insurance policy gives you freedom and peace of mind. Progressive lets you navigate ocean waters within 75 miles of the coast with coverages designed to protect you and your boat. Plus, we don't require a marine survey.

Pro tip:

Auto insurance may pay for injuries or damages you cause while towing your boat trailer, but it won't pay for damage to your trailer. However, a boat insurance policy can pay to repair or replace your damaged boat trailer up to your policy's limits.

Additional boat coverages in New York

Sign & Glide®: If your boat is stuck on the water, Sign & Glide® towing assistance^†† can help with on-water towing, jump starts, fuel delivery,^† and more.
Propulsion Plus® mechanical breakdown coverage: In the event of a mechanical breakdown, Progressive can pay to repair or replace the lower unit of an outboard motor or the upper and lower units of an inboard/outboard motor (coverage doesn't apply to jet drives or inboard motors).
Wreckage removal: If your boat sinks, we can pay to remove your boat from the water.
Fuel spill: Progressive covers the cost of legally required cleaning that comes with spilled fuel.
Watersport coverage: If your guests are injured from water-tubing, water-skiing, and other related sports, we may cover their medical expenses up to a certain limit.
Fishing equipment or carry-on items: If your fishing equipment or other gear is lost or stolen, you can receive the full replacement cost up to $10,000 for fishing gear, scuba gear, phones, and other items. There's a $1,000 limit per item.

See all Progressive boat insurance coverages.

New York boating information

Anyone operating a personal watercraft in New York must have a boating safety certificate and be at least 14 years of age or older.
In New York, boaters using a motor (electric or fuel-driven) must register their boat with the New York DMV.
Every PWC, including canoes, kayaks, and rowboats, operating on New York State waters must have on board one USCG-approved wearable Personal Flotation Device for each person on the boat.