Pennsylvania Boat Insurance

Find the Best Boat Insurance Rates & Companies in Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania has abundant boating opportunities with its 85,000 miles of rivers and streams, 76 natural lakes, 63 miles of shoreline on Lake Erie, and access to the Atlantic by way of the Delaware River. But before taking your boat out on the water, be sure you have adequate Pennsylvania boat insurance. This coverage can help you get the reimbursement you need after boating collisions, theft, vandalism, and other incidents.

Fortunately, a Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can help you find all the boat insurance necessary. Your agent can help recommend the coverages that would benefit you and your unique watercraft the most. First, though, here's a closer look at Pennsylvania boat insurance requirements and more.

Best Boat Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

It's helpful to know where to start looking when you want to find top-rated boat insurance in Pennsylvania. The following are just a few of our recommendations for the best boat insurance in Pennsylvania. Start by checking out the coverage offered by these excellent insurers.

1. Progressive: This insurer offers boat insurance and many other types of personal and business insurance. Progressive has a great AM Best rating for financial strength and provides year-round, 24/7/365 customer service.
2. Foremost: This insurer offers boat insurance and many other types of personal insurance products. Foremost has outstanding AM Best and Better Business Bureau ratings and provides 24/7 claims reporting.
3. Travelers: This insurer offers boat insurance and several other types of personal and business insurance. Travelers has great AM Best and Better Business Bureau ratings and offers many boat insurance discounts.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can compare quotes for boat insurance from all of these carriers and others in your town.

What Boat Insurance in Pennsylvania Can Cover

Typically, boat insurance policies can be customized according to your preferences. In Pennsylvania, the following coverage options are offered by most boat insurance companies:

• Boating liability insurance: This can pay for lawsuits related to third-party bodily injury or property damage claims, including attorney, court, and settlement expenses.
• Fuel spill/wreckage cleanup insurance: This can pay for the clean-up of boat wreckage and pollutants from the water if you're responsible for a collision.
• Collision insurance: Pays for damage to your boat from a collision with another object, regardless of fault.
• Towing insurance: This can pay for towing expenses if your boat becomes disabled on the water due to issues like engine or steering failure. 
• Comprehensive insurance: Pays for damage to your boat due to a non-collision event such as a flood or theft. 
• Medical payments insurance: This can pay for medical expenses for you or your passengers after a boating accident, regardless of fault.
• Personal effects insurance: This can pay for costs related to the theft, damage, loss, or destruction of personal items like scuba gear, fishing gear, and water skis.
• Equipment insurance: This can pay for costs related to the loss, damage, theft, etc., of any equipment or accessories not originally installed by the manufacturer, such as GPS units, boat hoists, and more.
• Uninsured/underinsured boater insurance: This can pay for the costs of property damage and medical expenses if you're involved in a boating collision with someone who doesn't carry adequate coverage.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can recommend the specific types of coverage that would benefit you the most.

Is Boat Insurance Required in Pennsylvania?

Boaters are not required by law to have boat insurance in Pennsylvania. However, many marinas in the state require coverage before they're allowed to dock. Additionally, lenders often require boat insurance for those who finance their watercraft.

Even so, having boat insurance can be a wise decision for many watercraft enthusiasts. Boat insurance can provide critical reimbursement for lawsuit expenses or damage to your boat due to vandalism, as well as many other disasters. The cost of boat insurance can seem quite small in comparison to what you might otherwise have to pay out of pocket without a policy.

What Boat Insurance in Pennsylvania Will Not Cover

Boat insurance doesn't cover just any disaster. In Pennsylvania, boat insurance tends to exclude the following:

• Watercraft wear and tear over time
• Damage due to faulty or defective machinery (without the proper endorsement)
• Boat trailer damage
• Watercraft mold damage
• Malicious or intentional acts to third parties or their property
• Watercraft damage caused by animals, insects, or marine life

Be aware of your boat insurance's coverage exclusions to avoid filing claims that are bound to get denied.

Average Cost of Boat Insurance in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, boat insurance costs an average of just $263 per year, making it one of the more affordable coverages for many people. However, the cost of your policy can depend on the following:

• Specifics of your watercraft, including its make and model
• The engine size and length of your watercraft
• Where your watercraft is stored while not in use
• Your personal boating history
• Your prior claims
• The types and amounts of coverage you select

These factors and many others, including your specific location, can all impact boat insurance rates. In general, the more coverage you need, the more expensive your policy is likely to be.

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What Boat Insurance Discounts Are Available in Pennsylvania?

The good news is that there are many discounts available to help you save money on boat insurance in Pennsylvania. Many insurance companies offer the following discounts:

• Affiliation discounts: An affiliation with a certain alma mater, company, etc., can earn you a boat insurance discount.
• Boater safety course discounts: Completing a state-approved boater safety course can earn you a boat insurance discount.
• Lay-up discounts: Using your boat only during the summer months might earn you a boat insurance discount.
• Loyalty discounts: Continuing your coverage with the same boat insurance carrier for a specific number of years can earn you a discount after a while.
• Security discounts: Protecting your watercraft against theft, vandalism, etc., with security devices can earn you a discount.
• Bundling discounts: Bundling boat insurance with home insurance, auto insurance, or another type of coverage through the same carrier can earn you discounts on each policy.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent will help you save as much money as possible on your boat insurance, in part by applying any discounts you're qualified to earn.

Popular Questions about Pennsylvania Boat Insurance