Florida boat insurance

With over one million watercraft, Florida leads the nation in boat registrations (according to S.I. Yachts). And whether you own a sailboat, center console, or pontoon, Progressive can offer personalized protection for you and your watercraft. Find out more about boat insurance in The Sunshine State and see how you can obtain customized boat coverages at an affordable price.

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Do you need boat insurance in Florida?

Florida law doesn't require boat insurance, but certain marinas may mandate boat liability coverage. Additionally, if you finance or lease your boat, 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 liability and property damage	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, decks, or objects

Even 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 be crucial for Florida boaters.

How much is boat insurance in Florida?

While the Sunshine State can be costly for boat insurance compared to other states, Progressive offers boat insurance in Florida for as little as $100/year for a liability only policy.^* Your policy's price depends on several components, such as:

Type of watercraft: From pontoons 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

Learn more about the cost of boat insurance.

Florida boaters can save on boat insurance by bundling insurance policies with Progressive. Get a multi-policy discount when you combine boat insurance with auto, homeowners, renters, RV, or motorcycle.

How to lower the cost of boat insurance in Florida

If you live in Orlando, Jacksonville, or anywhere else in the most popular state for boaters, there are multiple ways to score cheap boat insurance in Florida. Progressive helps you start to save immediately, with a variety of discounts that can be automatically added to your policy, such as:

Membership discount (for USAA, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and United States Power Squadron)
Multi-policy discount
Pay in full
Responsible driver
Safety course

Find out more about boat insurance discounts.

What's the best boat insurance in Florida?

Boaters in Miami, St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale or any other coastal city in Florida know that 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 Florida

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 you or your guests are injured from water-tubing, water-skiing, and other related sports, we may cover your 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.

What are the best boats for the Atlantic Ocean?

Florida's Atlantic coast boasts a range of opportunities for boaters wanting to experience the ocean. Offshore fishing boats, cabin cruisers, and center console boats can be well-suited for rough, open waters. The best ocean boat for you will depend on your activity preference as well as the length of your trip and amount of storage space needed.

If you prefer to stay off the Atlantic, check out other great boating destinations in Florida.

Florida boating information

Boaters born on or after January 1, 1988, are required to either complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating education course or pass an equivalent course or temporary certificate examination.
Children under 14 years of age may not operate a PWC in Florida.
More than 41% of hurricanes in the United States have made some kind of landfall in Florida, but a boat insurance policy with comprehensive coverage can safeguard your boat against damage from wind and hail.