California boat insurance

From exploring the majestic beauty of Lake Tahoe or other lakes and reservoirs to traveling miles of picturesque coastline, The Golden State offers boaters a wealth of boating opportunities. If you own a pontoon, center console, 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 California, including coverages, discounts, and cost information.

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Is boat insurance required in California?

Boat insurance isn't required by California 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 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 California.

How much is boat insurance in California?

In 2023, the average annual cost for a Progressive boat insurance policy in California was $402.19.^* However, Progressive offers boat insurance in California 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

Boaters in California can save on boat insurance by bundling insurance policies with Progressive. Get a multi-policy discount in most cases when you combine boat insurance with auto, homeowners, renters, RV, or motorcycle.

How to lower the cost of boat insurance in California

If you live in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, or anywhere else in California, there are multiple ways to obtain cheap boat insurance in California. Progressive helps you start to save immediately with a variety of discounts that can be automatically added to your policy, such as:

Multi-policy
Association
Original owner
Responsible driver
Safety course

Find out more about boat insurance discounts.

What's the best boat insurance in California?

From Crescent City to San Diego and everywhere in between, 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 California

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.

California boating information

Starting January 1, 2025, all boaters regardless of age must carry a California Boater Card when operating on state waterways.
California boating law requires a person to be 16 years of age or older and in possession of his/her California Boater Card to legally operate a vessel powered by a motor of 15 hp or more.
Boaters owning a sailboat over eight feet long or a boat/vessel with a motor must register the boat with the California DMV to legally operate it on California waterways.