Understanding New Jersey Boat Insurance

Find the right boat insurance policy for you.

Ann Herro, Insurance Expert Written by Ann Herro
Ann Herro, Insurance Expert
Written by Ann Herro

Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.

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New Jersey has more than its share of beautiful boating opportunities. Whether you’re fishing in the Atlantic Ocean or running a canoe along the Delaware River, you can protect your bass boat, yacht, pontoon or kayak with a New Jersey boat insurance policy. No matter what kind of watercraft you own, you run the risk of collision, fire, theft, and litigation. A local independent insurance agent in our network can talk with you about how you use your boat, and help you find coverage uniquely tailored to your risks and needs. Contact an independent agent today, to get New Jersey boat insurance quotes picked just for you.

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New Jersey Boating Statistics

  • There are more than 180,000 recreational boats registered in the state.
  • Recreational boats include every recreational watercraft up to and including yachts. Trawlers and other commercial fishing boats or tugboats for commercial use have different registration guidelines.
  • During previous years, there were 136 accidents in NJ waters involving recreational boats. These accidents led to 8 fatalities.

If you take boating safety courses and navigate carefully, your chances of getting into an accident are relatively small. But no matter how cautious you are, there is no way to control the actions of other boaters, swimmers, and skiers. You also face the risks of storms, equipment failure, and engine fires. The right New Jersey boat insurance can protect you from the expense of an incident that damages or destroys your boat.

Is New Jersey Boat Insurance Required?

Boat owners are not legally obligated to carry New Jersey boat insurance in order to operate a boat on state waters, so the decision is yours. These are good questions to consider when you decide how much boat coverage to purchase:

  • Could you afford to replace your boat if you suffer a loss due to theft, fire or accident?
  • If you are involved in an accident, do you have the financial resources to pay the medical bills of those injured?
  • Can you handle the cost of a lawsuit in the event you are sued for bodily injury or property damage?

An independent agent can speak with you about your risks and help you decide how much boat coverage is right for you.

boat

Save on Boat Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

What Does New Jersey Boat Insurance Cover?

On the whole, New Jersey boat insurance is fairly inexpensive, depending on the purpose and size of your boat, the types of safety equipment on board, and whether the owner/driver has proper safety training. A yacht, for example, will require a much higher premium than a kayak or sailboat. For the price of your premium, you receive the following types of financial protection:

  • Liability insurance: Covers a portion of the cost of bodily injury and property damage suits, if you are at fault in an accident.
  • Collision coverage: Pays repairs for an accident with another boater.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Covers you if your boat is stolen or damaged by something other than a collision, such as a severe storm or hauling mishap.
  • Medical payments coverage: Pays for hospitalizations and medical treatment for you and your passengers.
  • Towing and wreckage removal: Provides compensation if your boat is disabled.
  • Pollution clean-up: Covers your legal responsibility to remove a fuel spill.

If you use your boat for business purposes, speak with an independent agent about your boat insurance requirements. You may need charter boat insurance or commercial fishing insurance to comply with New Jersey law.

How to Find New Jersey Boat Insurance Quotes

If you are in the market for New Jersey boat insurance, an independent agent in our network can help. A member agent can assess your situation, go over your risks and concerns, and answer your questions. Your agent can shop a number of companies to get you the best apples-to-apples comparison of New Jersey boat insurance quotes and help you find an appropriate level of coverage for your needs. If you ever need to file a claim, your agent will be there to assist you every step of the way. 

Find a local agent today and get peace of mind for your next boating adventure.

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