Boat & PWC Insurance Calculator
Estimate hull, liability and medical payments coverage for a boat, jet ski or personal watercraft — and see which of your choices actually move the premium.
Boat & PWC Estimator
Every factor used is shown in the results panel. This is a structural estimator, not a quote — see the method note below.
Estimated Premium
Structural estimate from your inputs
per month
Structural estimate only. Actual premiums depend on operator experience, boating-safety course completion, claims history and carrier appetite. Agreed value costs more than actual cash value and is usually worth it.
How this estimate is built
Boat rating is driven by hull value first, then by how the vessel is used. The estimator applies a hull rate to the stated value, adds fixed-rate liability and medical payments components, and then multiplies by disclosed factors for vessel type, length, waters, deductible, lay-up period and settlement basis. Each multiplier appears in the results panel.
It does not pretend to quote a real price: operator experience, safety-course completion and claims history all matter to a real underwriter and are not modelled here. Use it to see which choices move the number, then get quotes at identical limits. Our data methodology page documents what our published data does and does not measure.
Three lines to check on any boat quote
- Settlement basis. Agreed value or actual cash value. This changes the payout on a total loss far more than any other option.
- Navigational limits and lay-up period. Both are conditions. Breaching either can void coverage for the loss.
- Liability limit. Usually the cheapest part of the policy and the part that protects everything else you own. Check it against your umbrella requirements — see our umbrella guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between agreed value and actual cash value hull coverage?
Agreed value pays a figure fixed at the start of the policy if the vessel is a total loss. Actual cash value pays the market value at the time of loss, which for a boat falls with age. Agreed value costs more and removes the argument at claim time — for a vessel you have maintained well, it is usually the better choice, and it is the single most important line on a boat policy.
Does my homeowners policy cover my boat?
Sometimes partially. Many homeowners policies provide limited coverage for small craft — commonly a low horsepower outboard, a dinghy or a small sailboat — and typically only while on your premises or in transit. That is not enough for anything you use regularly on the water. A boat policy covers liability on the water, which is where the exposure actually sits.
What is a lay-up period?
A period of the year — commonly winter, or the off-season in a seasonal market — during which you agree not to use the vessel. Because the risk of a claim is concentrated in the months you use it, insurers discount the premium for an agreed lay-up. If you use the boat during the lay-up period and have a loss, coverage can be void for that loss, so do not agree to a lay-up window you will not keep.
What are navigational limits?
A stated geographic area within which the policy applies — for example coastal waters up to a set distance offshore, or a named river system. Take the vessel outside the limits without an endorsement and coverage can be void. If you plan a longer passage, ask for the limits to be extended before you leave.
Is a jet ski insured the same way as a boat?
The structure is similar — hull, liability, medical payments, uninsured boater — but personal watercraft are rated differently because they are faster, smaller and involved in a different pattern of claims. Many carriers write them on a separate form or with a PWC-specific rate. Liability is the part not to skimp on: a collision between a PWC and a swimmer is a catastrophic exposure.
Does boat insurance cover the trailer?
Only if you add it. A boat trailer is usually a separate line item, and it is worth insuring if you tow regularly — trailer accidents and theft are common, and a trailer is not covered by your auto policy while detached from the vehicle.
Related Calculators & Guides
Auto Insurance
Vehicle liability and collision.
RV Insurance
Motorhome and travel trailer coverage.
Umbrella Insurance
Excess liability above your limits.
Home Insurance
Dwelling and liability coverage.
How Much Umbrella Cover?
The exposed-asset calculation.
Verify an Insurer
Five public checks before you buy.
* Structural estimate only. Actual policy cost depends on individual qualifications and carrier underwriting rules. InsurTool is not an insurer, agent or broker.