Alabama Boat Insurance

Find the Best Boat Insurance Rates & Companies in Alabama

With many lakes, rivers, bayous, and 60 miles of coastline along the Gulf, Alabama is a great place to own a boat. Unfortunately, accidents can happen in the busy waterways. If you're among the Alabama residents fortunate enough to own a boat, you can protect yourself from lawsuits and other potential losses by purchasing boat insurance. 

An Alabama independent insurance agent can help you find the right boat insurance for your vessel. They'll get you set up with a policy at the best available rate. For starters, though, here's a closer look at boat insurance requirements in Alabama and more.

Best Boat Insurance Companies in Alabama

If you're ready to find the boat insurance you need, it's helpful to know where to start looking. That's why we're recommending some of our top picks for the best boat insurance in Alabama. Start by checking into these outstanding carriers.

1. Safeco: This carrier offers boat insurance and many other types of personal insurance for various automobiles and watercraft. Safeco has excellent ratings from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), offers 24/7 claims reporting, and provides free online quotes.
2. Travelers: This carrier offers boat insurance and several other types of personal and business insurance. Travelers also has excellent AM Best and BBB ratings and offers many discounts.
3. Progressive: This carrier offers boat insurance and many other kinds of personal and business insurance. Progressive also provides 24/7/365 customer service and has a superior rating from AM Best.

An independent insurance agent in Alabama can shop and compare policies from these excellent boat insurance carriers and others for you.

What Boat Insurance in Alabama Can Cover

You can typically customize a boat insurance policy to meet your needs. However, some of the most commonly offered types of boat insurance in Alabama are:

• Boating liability insurance: This can reimburse you for the cost of third-party claims related to bodily injury or personal property damage caused by your boat.
• Collision insurance: Pays for damage to your boat from a collision with another object, regardless of fault. 
• Comprehensive insurance: Pays for damage to your boat due to a non-collision event such as a flood or theft. 
• Uninsured/underinsured boaters insurance: This covers the costs of damage to your boat, medical expenses, etc., if you get into a collision with another boater who doesn't carry enough insurance of their own to reimburse you.
• Fuel spill/wreckage cleanup coverage: This can cover wreckage clean-ups and clean up any pollutants left behind if you're responsible for a boating accident.
• Equipment insurance: This endorsement covers loss or damage to the equipment you keep on your boat, including fishing gear, GPS devices, and towables.
• Medical payments insurance: This optional coverage can pay for medical expenses you and your passengers may incur due to a boating accident, regardless of fault.

Your local independent insurance agent in Alabama can help you build a complete boat insurance policy.

Is Boat Insurance Required in Alabama?

Unlike car insurance, boat insurance isn't required in most states, including Alabama. Although you're not required by law to carry boat insurance, you may still be required by your lender to have coverage if you finance your boat. You might also have to carry boat insurance to dock your vessel at various marinas.

Even if you don't technically need boat insurance, it can still be a wise decision to get it. Without coverage, you could have to pay for various losses out of your own pocket, including the cost of repairing your boat after a collision. Potential lawsuits related to boating incidents can also be extremely expensive without boat insurance.

What Boat Insurance in Alabama Will Not Cover

Boat insurance isn't designed to cover various possible exposures. Often, you can expect boat insurance to exclude the following:

• Damage caused by mold or marine life
• Issues arising from faulty machinery
• Normal wear and tear of the boat
• Insect and animal infestations
• Accidents caused by unnamed operators
• Damage to or theft of accessories like lifeboats, anchors, and modifications (unless you purchased endorsements) 

Familiarize yourself with your specific boat insurance policy's exclusions to understand exactly what's covered and what's not.

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Average Cost of Boat Insurance in Alabama

The average cost of boat insurance in Alabama is about $527 per year. Keep in mind, though, that the cost of boat insurance can be influenced by all of the following:

• The type of boat, including its engine size, make, model, and length
• Where the boat is stored while not in use
• The amount and types of coverage selected
• Your driving record and personal claims history
• The policy's deductible amount

An independent insurance agent in Alabama can help you find the most affordable boat insurance in your town.

What Boat Insurance Discounts Are Available in Alabama?

Many boat insurance companies offer several discounts for boat insurance. The discounts available vary by carrier. Often, you can expect to find some or all of the following boat insurance discounts:

• Boater safety course discounts: Completing an approved boater safety course can often earn you a discount.
• Bundling discounts: If you bundle your boat insurance with home insurance, auto insurance, etc., through the same insurance company, you can often earn a discount on each policy.
• Loyalty discounts: Staying with the same boat insurance company for several years can earn you a discount over time.
• Lay-up discounts: This discount is typically available if you only use your boat during summer.
• Affiliation discounts: Being affiliated with a certain company or group can often help you earn a discount.
• Security discounts: Many boat insurance companies offer discounts to boaters who protect their vessels against theft, etc., with security devices.

Your Alabama independent insurance agent will help you find any boat insurance discounts you qualify for.

Popular Questions about Alabama Boat Insurance