Iowa boat insurance

Iowa may not have miles of ocean coastlines, but it does boast miles of beautiful, pristine lakes such as West Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake. If you own a pontoon, powerboat, or another type of watercraft, Progressive boat insurance offers customized and affordable protection for you and your boat, on and off the water. Learn about Iowa boat insurance coverages, discounts, and cost information.

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Is boat insurance required in Iowa?

Boat insurance isn't required by Iowa 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 Iowa.

How much does boat insurance cost in Iowa?

In 2023, the average annual cost for a Progressive boat insurance policy in Iowa was $267.65.^* However, Progressive offers boat insurance in Iowa 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 Iowa 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, or RV.

How to lower the cost of boat insurance in Iowa

Whether you live in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or anywhere else in the Hawkeye State, there are multiple ways to obtain cheap boat insurance in Iowa. Start saving immediately with a variety of Progressive discounts that can be automatically added to your policy, such as:

Multi-policy
Paid in full
Responsible driver
Safety course
Original owner

Find out more about boat insurance discounts.

What's the best boat insurance in Iowa?

From Council Bluffs to Davenport, the best boat insurance policy in any city offers you the protection you need at a reasonable price. Progressive specializes in providing inexpensive and dependable protection that's personalized to you and your boat. Plus, unlike some boat insurers, we don't require a marine survey in order to get a policy.

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 Iowa

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.

Iowa boating information

Boaters must have an Iowa Registration Certificate and registration decals to operate a vessel on Iowa's public waters legally.
In Iowa, boats are required to have navigation lights, which must be displayed between sunset and sunrise and whenever there is reduced visibility.
In Iowa, vessels on federally controlled waters must be equipped with visual distress signals that are USCG-approved, in serviceable conditions, and readily accessible.