Connecticut Boat Insurance

Find the Best Boat Insurance Options in Connecticut

Boating is a fun and relaxing pastime for residents of Connecticut, but it is not without its risks. 

Whether you prefer quiet time on the Bantam River in your fishing boat, towing water skiers on Candlewood Lake with your motorboat, or cruising Stonington Harbor in your yacht, you may want to consider boat insurance before you take your vessel back out on the water.

A local independent insurance agent can help you learn more about boat insurance in Connecticut and find you a policy that meets your needs and budget. 

Best Boat Insurance Companies in Connecticut

How can you make the best choice for boat insurance in Connecticut? 

We selected the following carriers as some of the best boat insurance companies in Connecticut. They are highly rated for their mix of valuable coverage offerings and competitive pricing. 

• Progressive: Progressive is based in Ohio and offers personal insurance, including boat insurance. Connecticut residents can look to Progressive for most of their personal insurance needs. 
• Travelers: Travelers offers highly-rated boat insurance in Connecticut. The company provides a variety of other personal insurance options, including auto, home, and renters insurance.
• Safeco Insurance: Safeco has been protecting individuals and families with personal insurance coverage since 1923. With a comprehensive range of insurance coverage, including boat insurance, Safeco helps Connecticut boat owners protect what’s important.
• Central Insurance Companies: Central Insurance Companies is a well-established carrier with more than a century’s worth of history in the insurance industry. It provides a wide range of coverage options, including boat insurance, in 24 states. 
• Foremost Insurance Company: Foremost was founded in 1952 and offers a wide range of coverage in 50 states, including boat insurance.

An independent insurance agent in your area can help you learn more about these and other Connecticut boat insurance companies. A local agent can help you get competitive quotes for the coverage that fits your needs.

Connecticut Boat Insurance Requirements

Boat insurance is not required by law in Connecticut. There are a few cases where you might be required to purchase boat insurance by some other entity:

• If you finance your boat purchase, your lender is likely to require you to carry insurance for the duration of your loan. Once you own the boat outright, however, insurance coverage is optional. 
• If you are using your boat as collateral for a loan, the bank may require you to insure it.
• You may be required to carry insurance if you dock your boat or yacht in certain harbors or marinas.

Many boat owners believe that their homeowners insurance offers liability coverage for losses caused by the negligent operation of their boat. While there may be some coverage in limited situations, it’s not likely to be enough to really help you if you’re at fault for a serious accident.

Homeowners insurance does provide some physical damage coverage for certain small boats (e.g., rafts, canoes, or kayaks) while they’re on your property (not in the water). This coverage usually has a small limit, such as $1,000.

You’ll need to purchase boat insurance in Connecticut if you want physical damage coverage for a larger motorized boat.

Your independent insurance agent can help you learn more about the requirements for boat insurance in Connecticut and find a policy that fits your needs. 

What Boat Insurance Covers in Connecticut

Connecticut boat insurance works a lot like car insurance. It covers bodily injury and property damage that you cause while you are operating your boat , as well as physical damage to your boat. You can choose several coverage options depending on the type of boat you have, how and where you use it, and the types of items you keep on board. 

When you buy boat insurance, you must decide how much coverage you need for your boat (depending on its value), the deductible you want, and the types of coverage that offer the best protection for your vessel. 

A basic Connecticut boat insurance policy provides you with liability coverage. This protects your finances if you are responsible for a boating accident that results in property damage or injuries to a third party. This coverage includes any related court costs and legal fees you may accrue in your defense.

Depending on which insurance company you select, your basic boat insurance policy may automatically include other coverage options. Or, you may have to add on these optional coverages:

• Collision coverage: Covers repairs to or replacement of your own boat, motor, trolling motor, or any permanent boating equipment due to damage caused by a collision with another boat or an object while on the water.
• Comprehensive coverage: This covers repairs to or replacement of your own boat, motor, trolling motor, or permanent boating equipment due to damage or loss caused by anything other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or a storm.

Some additional coverage options include the following: 

• Personal property coverage for equipment such as tools, life preservers, anchors, and oars
• Coverage for fishing equipment like rods, lures, nets, and tackle
• On-water towing and labor coverage for a disabled vessel
• Medical payments coverage for hospital and funeral expenses for you or your passengers
• Uninsured/underinsured boaters coverage for an accident with another boater who has insufficient or no boat insurance

Your local independent insurance agent can help you determine which coverage types may be beneficial for your unique needs. 

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Average Cost of Boat Insurance in Connecticut

The cost of a boat insurance policy in Connecticut can vary significantly from one person to the next. The quotes you get will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the following:

• The type, size, and age of the boat: A smaller, less expensive, or less powerful boat will cost less to insure than a large, expensive one. A bass boat, for example, will cost less to insure than a cabin cruiser or yacht. Likewise, a powerful speedboat will cost more to insure than a less powerful motorboat. 
• How frequently and where you use your boat: Most Connecticut residents only use their boats for a few months out of the year. This can reduce costs significantly. In addition, whether you will be using your boat on inland waters or the open sea will affect the cost of boat insurance. 
• The amount of liability coverage you purchase: If you are responsible for serious injuries to another, your liability expenses can be very high. If your boat insurance policy limits seem too low, you may want to consider supplementing them with an umbrella insurance policy.
• The amount of your deductible: Higher deductibles result in lower premiums. You should be sure that your deductible amounts are low enough so that you can reasonably handle them.
• Your driving record: Good drivers are statistically less likely to be responsible for boating collisions, so they will pay lower boat insurance premiums.
• Your credit score: While it might not seem to be closely related, statistically speaking, if your credit score is low, the chances that you'll file a boat insurance claim are higher than that of a person with a high credit score.

You may be eligible for certain discounts on your Connecticut boat insurance policy. Some insurers offer a layup discount, as well as a discount for successfully completing a boating safety course. What’s more, you will likely be eligible for a discount if you bundle your Connecticut boat insurance policy with your home and auto insurance. 

How to Find the Best Boat Insurance Quote in Connecticut

An independent insurance agent can help you find the best Connecticut boat insurance for your needs. A local agent can get quotes from multiple insurance companies to make sure you get the best coverage at the right price. Working with a local agent is the best way to get knowledgeable, superior service from someone who understands the needs of boat owners in your community. 

Find an independent insurance agent in your area now. 

Connecticut Boat Insurance FAQs