Boat insurance
Boat Insurance
cover for the boat, its engine and your liability on the water, and the conditions that decide a claim
Cover for the hull, engine and equipment, third party liability, and extras such as personal effects, trailers and personal accident. Some policies insure the boat for an agreed value, within a cruising range shown on the schedule.
- Motor cruisers, sailing boats and narrowboats
- RIBs, dinghies and jet skis
- Inland and coastal
- FCA authorised and regulated
Quick answerBoat insurance covers your boat, engine and equipment against damage and theft, and your liability to other people on the water. For private boats at sea it is not always required, but the main inland waterway authorities, and many marinas and moorings, ask for third party cover before you use them. The cruising range, mooring and security conditions on the policy decide many claims. Tell MyMoneyComparison.com about your boat once, and a specialist UK provider can come back with a quote.
This page is about everyday UK boats. Larger sailing and motor yachts are on our yacht insurance page. Here we cover what a boat policy pays for, what it leaves out, what the waterways ask for, and the conditions that decide a claim.
At a glance
The Boat and the Water, in Brief
Six things that decide how boat cover behaves, before any of the detail.
- Boat, engine and kit
- Hull, machinery and equipment against damage and theft
- Liability to others
- The part inland waterways and marinas ask to see
- Agreed value
- Many policies pay a value agreed at the start, not a sale price
- A cruising range
- Cover applies within the area shown on the schedule
- Security conditions
- Outboards and trailers need locking to keep theft cover
- Winter rules
- Lay-up and frost conditions differ between insurers
The basics
What Is Boat Insurance?
A policy for your boat and your responsibility on the water. It pays for loss of or damage to the boat and its gear, and for claims from other people if you injure them or damage their property.
The hull and machinery
The boat itself, its engine, rigging and fixed equipment, for accidental damage, storm, fire and theft on the policies that include them.
Third party liability
Injury to other people or damage to their boats and property. This is the cover waterway authorities and marinas ask for.
Salvage and wreck removal
Help to recover the boat, and removing a wreck where a harbour or authority requires it, on the policies that include it.
Tenders and outboards
A tender and its outboard can usually be added, subject to their own security conditions.
Trailers and road transit
Cover while the boat is towed or kept on a trailer, as a standard section or an add-on.
Personal effects and accident
Optional extras on many policies, with their own limits.
How it works
How Does Boat Insurance Work?
You describe the boat and how you use it, agree its value and the cruising range, and accept the security and mooring conditions. The schedule then sets out exactly where and how you are covered.
You describe the boat and its use
Type, length, age, construction, engine and where it is kept, plus inland or coastal use and whether you race.
You agree a value
Some policies insure the boat for an agreed value, the amount you declare and the insurer accepts, rather than a market value worked out after a loss.
The schedule sets the cruising range
Cover applies within the waters shown. Going beyond them, other than to help someone in distress, takes you outside the policy.
Conditions apply ashore and afloat
Security for outboards and trailers, mooring rules when the boat is left, and winter lay-up arrangements. These decide many claims.
What it covers
What Does Boat Insurance Cover?
Damage to and theft of the boat and its gear, third party liability, and extras such as salvage, tenders, personal effects and personal accident, depending on the policy.
| Section | Where it sits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Accidental damage and heavy weather | Core | Impact, stranding, storm and sinking, subject to conditions |
| Fire and theft | Core | Theft of outboards and trailers needs the stated security |
| Third party liability | Core | The limit is on the schedule; some waterways set a minimum |
| Salvage and wreck removal | Often included | Recovery costs, and removal where required |
| Tender and outboard | Often included | With their own limits and security rules |
| Personal effects and personal accident | Optional | Separate limits on each |
| Racing | Excluded unless added | Some insurers offer a racing extension |
Third party only is an option. Some providers sell liability cover on its own for smaller or lower-value craft, which meets a waterway or marina requirement without insuring the boat itself.
Extras differ between providers. Some offer a get-you-home extension if the boat is out of action or someone needs medical help, frost cover, European cruising, road transit and water-ski liability. Which are included and which are add-ons varies.
Exclusions
What Boat Insurance Does Not Include
Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, breakdown, and losses outside the conditions on the schedule. Most refused claims come from the conditions rather than the exclusions list.
Wear, tear and weathering
Rot, rust, corrosion and gradual deterioration are excluded, and some policies name osmosis specifically.
Mechanical and electrical breakdown
A failed engine is usually excluded, though damage it causes elsewhere may be covered.
Outside the cruising range
Loss beyond the waters on the schedule, other than in an emergency.
Theft without the security
An outboard or trailer taken without the required lock fitted is outside theft cover.
Racing
Excluded unless the schedule shows a racing extension.
Left without the right mooring
Sinking or breaking adrift while unattended away from a recognised mooring can be excluded.
Maintenance and competence count. At least one insurer excludes wear and tear on boats more than three years old unless you can show the boat has been properly maintained, and some policies ask that whoever is in charge is competent to handle a similar boat. Keeping service records and receipts helps if a claim is questioned.
Types
Which Boats Can Be Covered?
Most private pleasure craft, from paddle boards and dinghies to motor cruisers, sailing boats, narrowboats and houseboats. Each brings its own questions.
Motor cruisers and powerboats
Engine size, speed and where the boat is used shape the cover.
Sailing boats and dinghies
Rigging, sails and racing cover matter more here.
Narrowboats and canal boats
Inland cover, with the waterway’s liability requirement met.
Houseboats
Some policies allow houseboat use when it is shown on the schedule.
RIBs and jet skis
Some policies set conditions for jet skis, such as using the kill cord.
Trailered boats
Road transit and trailer security become part of the cover.
Jet skis come with their own terms. On at least one policy, jet ski cover needs the kill cord to be used, sets a minimum age for the rider, and limits theft cover to when the jet ski is in a marina berth. It is worth checking these before you launch.
Who it is for
Who Needs Boat Insurance
Anyone using an inland waterway, a marina or a mooring that requires it, and anyone whose boat would be costly to replace or could cause a costly accident. For private boats at sea it is not always required.
| Waterway | Insurance asked for |
|---|---|
| Canal & River Trust waters | Third party cover of at least £2 million to licence a boat |
| The Broads | Third party cover of at least £2 million, plus a safety certificate for most powered boats |
| Scottish Canals | Third party cover of at least £2 million |
| River Thames | Third party cover of at least £1 million |
Marinas, moorings and harbours set their own terms. Many ask for proof of third party cover before you berth or launch, and some harbour authorities set their own minimum for jet skis. It is worth checking the requirement before you buy a policy.
At sea, the choice is yours. For a private boat used on the coast there is no general requirement to insure, but a single collision or a salvage bill can be very costly, which is why third party cover is worth considering even where it is not required.
Liability or full cover
Third Party Only vs Full Boat Cover
Third party only meets most waterway and marina requirements. Full cover adds the boat itself, its engine and equipment.
| Third party only | Full cover | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Your liability to other people only | The boat and gear, plus liability |
| Suits | Low-value craft, or meeting a licence requirement | A boat you would want repaired or replaced |
| Theft and damage to your boat | Not covered | Covered, subject to conditions |
| Extras | Few | Salvage, tenders, personal effects and more |
Agreed value or market value. Many full policies insure the boat for an agreed value set at the start. On a market value basis the payout is worked out after the loss, which can be lower than expected for an older boat.
Liability is the part other people rely on. If your boat damages another boat, a lock gate or a jetty, or injures someone, the claim can be large whatever the size of your own boat. That is why waterways and marinas ask for it, and why the limit is worth comparing.
Cost
What Boat Insurance Is Priced On
The boat’s type, value and age, its engine, where it is kept and used, your experience, and the cover and excess you choose. We do not print average premiums.
Why where you go matters
A canal boat on inland waters and a powerboat used at sea are very different risks, and the cruising range you choose is part of the price.
Why where it is kept matters
A marina berth, a swinging mooring, a driveway and a boatyard each carry different theft and weather risks.
What the quote is rated on
In roughly this order
- The boatType, value, age and constructionBase
- The enginePower and speedRate
- The watersInland, coastal, cruising rangeRate
- Where it is keptMarina, mooring, ashoreRate
- Cover chosenExtras, racing, excessAdjust
Your experience
Some policies ask the person in charge to be competent to handle a similar boat, and qualifications can help.
Racing
A racing extension adds cover and may change the excess.
The excess
A higher excess lowers the premium, at the cost of paying more of each claim.
The conditions
The Conditions That Decide a Boat Claim
Four conditions decide many boat claims, and each is set before you go afloat.
Lock the outboard and the trailer
On some policies, theft of an outboard is covered only if a purpose-made anti-theft device was fitted, and at least one insurer also asks for the engine serial number. A trailer left unattended usually needs a wheel clamp or hitch lock.
Stay within the cruising range
The schedule shows the waters you are covered in. Loss outside them is excluded, except when helping someone in distress.
Leave the boat on a recognised mooring
Sinking, stranding or breaking adrift while unattended away from a recognised mooring or marina can be excluded. Unattended can mean nobody able to reach the boat quickly.
Follow the winter rules
Some insurers restrict coastal use over the winter months, others require the boat to be winterised to the maker’s instructions.
Keep a record before you need it. Engine serial numbers, photographs of the boat and its equipment, receipts, and proof of the locks you use make a theft or damage claim much simpler to settle.
Quote checklist
What You Will Be Asked for a Boat Quote
Six things shape the quote: the boat, its value, its engine, where it is kept, where you use it, and your experience.
The boat
Type, make, length, age and construction.
Its value
The value you want to agree, with receipts to support it.
The engine
Make, power and serial number of each engine and outboard.
Where it is kept
Marina, mooring, boatyard or at home on a trailer.
Where you use it
Inland waters, coast, or further, and any racing.
Your experience
How long you have handled similar boats, and any qualifications.
Have your licence paperwork to hand. If you use an inland waterway, the authority will ask for proof of third party cover, and the Broads asks for a Boat Safety Scheme certificate for most powered boats, before it issues a licence. A policy schedule showing the liability limit is what it needs to see.
Comparing
Checking Boat Quotes Side by Side
Four areas decide whether a policy suits your boat: value and settlement, liability, conditions, and where and how you use it. None of them is the price.
Value and settlement
- Agreed value or market value
- How total loss is settled
- The excess and when it changes
Liability
- The liability limit against your waterway’s minimum
- Salvage and wreck removal
- Water-ski or towing liability if you need it
Conditions
- Outboard and trailer security
- Mooring and unattended rules
- Winter lay-up rules
Where and how
- The cruising range
- Racing cover
- Road transit on a trailer
The conditions are where two quotes differ most. Outboard security, mooring rules and winter terms can all differ between insurers. Terms that are unfamiliar are explained in our plain English jargon guide.
Check the liability limit against where you go. A policy that meets the River Thames minimum may not meet the higher figure asked for on Canal & River Trust waters, the Broads or Scottish Canals. If you cruise more than one network, the higher requirement is the one to meet.
Cutting costs
How to Reduce the Cost of Boat Insurance
The levers are the right cover level, security, the cruising range you really need, and the excess. We publish no savings figures.
Match the cover to the boat
Third party only can suit a low-value craft; full cover suits a boat you would want replaced.
Choose the right range
A range wider than you use can cost more.
Fit approved security
Outboard locks, trailer clamps and a secure berth help keep theft cover valid.
Build experience
Experience and qualifications can count with some insurers.
Lay it up properly
Winterising to the maker’s instructions avoids frost claims.
Choose the excess deliberately
A higher excess is a lever, only worth using at a level you could pay.
Keep the value up to date. An agreed value set years ago may no longer reflect what the boat is worth. Too high means paying for cover you would not receive in full on a market value policy; too low means a total loss pays less than the boat is worth.
Glossary
Boat Insurance Terms Explained
The words that come up most in a boat policy.
- Agreed value
- The value of the boat declared by you and accepted by the insurer at the start.
- Hull and machinery
- The boat itself and its engines and fixed equipment.
- Third party liability
- Cover for injury to others or damage to their property.
- Cruising range
- The waters the policy covers, shown on the schedule.
- Laid up
- Out of use for the winter, ashore or afloat, under the policy’s conditions.
- Salvage
- Costs of recovering a boat in difficulty.
- Wreck removal
- Removing a sunken boat where an authority requires it.
- Osmosis
- Blistering of a fibreglass hull from water absorption, excluded by some policies.
- Tender
- A small boat used to reach a larger one.
- Boat Safety Scheme
- The safety certificate the Broads asks for on most powered boats.
Why MyMoneyComparison.com
Why Compare Boat Insurance with MyMoneyComparison.com?
MyMoneyComparison.com is an FCA-authorised UK comparison service that introduces boat owners to a specialist UK boat insurance provider. We do not sell insurance and we do not give advice. Using us is free.
One form, your boat
Describe the boat and how you use it once.
Advice given
We are an introducer, not a broker. We do not sell policies and we do not recommend one insurer or product over another. Read our editorial policy.
Authorised and regulated
MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd appears on the FCA register under FRN 916241.
Incorporated
A UK company since 2013. FCA authorisation is separate and later; the register carries its date.
FAQs
Boat Insurance FAQs
Answers on liability, value, outboards, moorings, winter and racing.
Is boat insurance a legal requirement in the UK?
Not always. For a private boat at sea there is no general requirement, but the main inland waterway authorities ask for third party cover before they license a boat, and many marinas, moorings and harbours ask for proof of cover too. Check the requirement where you keep and use the boat.
How much liability cover do I need on a canal?
Canal & River Trust asks for third party cover of at least £2 million before it licenses a boat, and the Broads and Scottish Canals ask for the same. The River Thames asks for at least £1 million. Many policies offer more, and a marina may set its own figure.
What is agreed value cover?
The boat is insured for a value you declare and the insurer accepts at the start. After a total loss the policy pays that agreed value, or replaces the boat, rather than working out a market value after the event, which can be lower for an older boat.
Is my outboard engine covered for theft?
On some policies, only if it was locked with a purpose-made anti-theft device that stops the clamps or bolts being undone. At least one insurer also asks you to be able to give the engine serial number, so keep a record of it.
Does boat insurance cover wear and tear?
No. Wear and tear, rot, rust, corrosion and gradual deterioration are excluded, and some policies name osmosis specifically. Mechanical or electrical breakdown is usually excluded too, though damage it causes elsewhere may be covered.
What is a cruising range?
The waters your policy covers, shown on the schedule. It might be inland waters only, coastal waters within a set distance, or wider. Loss outside the range is excluded, except when you are helping someone in distress.
Am I covered if my boat sinks on its mooring?
It depends on the mooring and the conditions. Sinking or breaking adrift while unattended can be excluded unless the boat was on a recognised mooring or in a marina. The policy’s definition of unattended matters, so it is worth reading.
Does boat insurance cover me in winter?
Yes, but conditions often apply. Some insurers restrict coastal use over the winter months, and others require the boat to be winterised to the maker’s instructions. Frost damage can be refused where the lay-up conditions were not met.
Is racing covered?
Usually not unless the schedule shows a racing extension. Some insurers offer one, which can change the excess and how sails and rigging are settled. Tell the insurer if you race.
Can I insure a jet ski?
Yes, on policies that cover personal watercraft. Some set conditions such as using the kill cord and a minimum age for the rider, and some harbour authorities set their own liability minimum for jet skis at their launch sites.
Can I get third party only boat insurance?
Yes. Some providers sell liability cover on its own, which can meet a waterway or marina requirement for a low-value craft. It does not pay for damage to or theft of your own boat.
Is my trailer covered?
Road transit and trailers can be covered as a standard section or an add-on. On some policies a trailer left unattended has to be secured with a wheel clamp or hitch lock, or kept in locked storage, for theft cover to apply.
Is a tender covered?
On some policies a tender and its outboard are included in the loss or damage cover, with the same security conditions for the outboard. It is worth checking the tender is shown on the schedule if you use one.
Does my experience affect the price?
It can. Some policies ask that the person in charge is competent to handle a similar boat, and experience or qualifications may be taken into account by some insurers.
What is a Boat Safety Scheme certificate?
A safety certificate for boats. The Broads Authority asks for one for most powered boats before it licenses them, alongside proof of insurance. Other waterways set their own licence conditions, so it is worth checking what yours requires.
Is a houseboat covered by boat insurance?
A houseboat can be insured on a boat policy, and at least one insurer allows houseboat use when it is shown on the schedule. Tell the insurer if you live aboard, because it changes the risk the policy is written for.
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About this page
This page explains UK boat insurance: what it covers, what it leaves out, what the waterways ask for, and the conditions that decide a claim. It is general information rather than advice. Policies differ between providers, so read your own documents and put the questions raised here to the provider.
How we approached this page
- Published UK boat insurance policies and summaries
- The insurance requirements published by UK navigation authorities
- Guidance from the Royal Yachting Association
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