Watercraft & Boat
Insurance
Lowest Personal
Watercraft Rates!
MIS shops multiple watercraft insurance carriers to find you the best combination of price and coverage.
With access to many reliable and high quality personal watercraft insurance carriers. MIS can find great rates and coverage for any type of personal watercraft. We provide coverage for watercraft including, Jetski, waverunners and other brands.
Why do you need insurance for
your boat or personal watercraft?
You’ll enjoy the water ever more when you’re not worried about the safety of yourself, your passengers or your investment. Here are a few things to consider:
- If you’re in an accident or your watercraft is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it.
- If you or any passengers are injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive.
- If your watercraft is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you’re worth.
- Your watercraft also needs protection when it’s on land. Accidents can happen while towing a watercraft.
Home and auto insurance policies may provide limited coverage for personal watercraft. Talk to your insurance representative about coverage limits. You may want to consider purchasing a personal watercraft policy to protect yourself and your water vehicle in the event of an accident.
The personal watercraft policy covers:
- bodily injury
- property damage
- guest passenger liability
- medical payments
- theft
questions to ask your agent
Boat and personal watercraft policies let you choose your liability limit. Many owners pick $100,000, $300,000 or $500,000, and higher limits are available from some insurers. Your deductible for damage to the boat is usually a flat amount or a percentage of the boat’s insured value, and you choose it when you buy the policy. Medical payments coverage normally has no deductible. You can also add coverage for your trailer, fishing gear and other equipment. Your MIS agent will show you each option in writing so you can compare price and coverage side by side.
your boat or personal watercraft is
in an accident, damaged or stolen?
use year-round?
available?
coverage is enough?
boat towed in an emergency?
a claim?
reputation for customer service? Is it
known for paying claims fairly
and promptly?
California Boat and Jet Ski Insurance: What You Need to Know
Is boat insurance required in California?
California law does not require insurance for recreational boats or personal watercraft. In practice, many owners still need it: most marinas and harbors require liability insurance before they rent you a slip, and lenders require physical damage coverage if your boat is financed. Without insurance, you personally pay for injuries or damage you cause on the water, and those claims can be far larger than the value of the boat.
Rules every California boater should know
- California Boater Card: anyone who operates a motorized vessel on California waters, including a Jet Ski, Sea-Doo or WaveRunner, must carry a California Boater Card. Some insurers also offer a discount for completing a boating safety course.
- Registration: most boats, including every motorized boat and sailboats over 8 feet, must be registered with the California DMV.
- Your homeowners or renters policy is not enough: these policies often cap damage to a small boat at about $1,000 to $1,500, and many exclude liability for personal watercraft and boats with larger motors. A separate boat policy closes those gaps.
What boat insurance covers
- Physical damage to the hull, motor and permanently attached equipment from collisions, sinking, fire, theft, vandalism and storms.
- Liability for injuries to other people and damage to their property, such as another boat, a dock or a swimmer.
- Guest passenger liability for people riding on your boat.
- Medical payments for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault.
- Uninsured boater coverage if someone without insurance injures you or your passengers.
- On-water towing and assistance if you break down, run aground or run out of fuel.
- Fuel spill and wreck removal, which can be required by law after an accident and can be expensive.
- Personal effects and fishing equipment, like rods, electronics and water skis.
- Trailer coverage for damage to your boat trailer. Liability while towing generally comes from the auto policy on your tow vehicle, so keep that policy active.
Agreed value vs. actual cash value
With an agreed value policy, you and the insurer agree on the boat’s value up front, and that is what you are paid if the boat is a total loss. With actual cash value, the payout is the boat’s value at the time of the loss, after depreciation. Actual cash value usually costs less, while agreed value gives more certainty. Your agent can quote both so you can compare.
What we insure
Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, WaveRunners and other personal watercraft, fishing boats, bass boats, pontoons, ski and wake boats, bowriders, cabin cruisers, sailboats and many small yachts. Larger or high-value yachts may need a specialty marine insurer, and we can help with that too.
What affects the price of boat insurance
- The type, age, length and value of the boat, and its horsepower and top speed
- Where you use it (lakes, rivers, bays or coastal waters) and where you store it
- Your boating experience, safety courses and claims history
- The liability limit, deductible and optional coverages you choose
Many personal watercraft and small fishing boat policies cost a few hundred dollars a year, but every boat is different. Discounts may be available for safety courses, bundling with your auto or home policy, a claims-free history or paying in full, depending on the insurer.
Why buy boat insurance through MIS
MIS Insurance Services is an independent, licensed broker (CA License #0G55496) serving California since 2009. Instead of quoting you one company, our agents shop insurers that write boat and personal watercraft coverage, including carriers like Progressive and Foremost, and show you the lowest rate for the coverage you want. A live, licensed agent answers at (800) 726-0640, Monday to Friday, 8 to 6, and our Spanish-speaking agents can help in Spanish. You can also request a boat insurance quote online.
Boat and Jet Ski Insurance FAQs
Is boat insurance required in California?
No. California law does not require insurance for recreational boats or personal watercraft. However, most marinas require liability coverage before renting you a slip, and lenders require physical damage coverage on financed boats.
Do I need insurance for a Jet Ski or Sea-Doo?
It is not required by state law, but it is strongly recommended. Personal watercraft are involved in many boating injuries, and homeowners policies often exclude liability for them. A personal watercraft policy covers liability, damage to the watercraft, medical payments and more.
Does my homeowners insurance cover my boat?
Usually only a little. Many homeowners policies cap damage to small boats at about $1,000 to $1,500 and exclude liability for personal watercraft and boats with larger motors. A separate boat policy fills those gaps.
Do I need a California Boater Card?
Yes, if you operate a motorized vessel on California waters, including a personal watercraft. Some insurers also give a discount for completing a boating safety course.
Does boat insurance cover my trailer?
Most boat policies can cover physical damage to your trailer. Liability while you tow the boat on the road generally comes from the auto policy on your tow vehicle.
What is the difference between agreed value and actual cash value?
Agreed value pays the value you and the insurer set when you bought the policy if the boat is totaled. Actual cash value pays the boat’s depreciated value at the time of the loss. Actual cash value usually costs less.
How much does boat insurance cost in California?
It depends on the boat, its value and horsepower, where you use and store it, your experience and the coverage you choose. Many personal watercraft and small fishing boat policies cost a few hundred dollars a year. MIS agents compare insurers to find you the lowest rate.
Can I get a boat insurance quote by phone?
Yes. Call MIS Insurance Services at (800) 726-0640, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., to talk with a live, licensed agent, or request a quote online.
MIS Insurance provides Watercraft & Boat insurance in all cities in California including: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Stockton, Chula Vista, Irvine, Fremont, San Bernardino, Modesto, Fontana, Oxnard, Moreno Valley, Huntington Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Oceanside, Garden Grove, Rancho Cucamonga, Santa Rosa, Ontario, Elk Grove