Boating is an exhilarating experience that comes with its fair share of responsibilities. Among them is securing sufficient insurance coverage to safeguard yourself, your passengers, and your vessel in unforeseen incidents. While it’s relatively straightforward to understand who’s covered when driving your boat, things can get a bit murky when someone else takes the helm.

What Is Boat Insurance?

Boat insurance is designed to provide financial protection for a range of scenarios, including damage to the boat, bodily injury or property damage caused by the boat, medical payments and, in some cases, coverage for personal belongings on board. Like auto insurance, boat insurance policies can vary in terms of coverage limits, deductibles and additional options.

Who’s Covered When Someone Else Drives Your Boat?

Most boat insurance policies generally extend coverage to anyone you allow to operate your boat with your permission. However, there are often conditions and limitations to this coverage. The following are factors to consider:

• Named operators—Some insurance policies may require you to explicitly list the individuals covered to operate your boat. If you let someone who isn’t listed on your policy as a named operator drive your boat, they might not be covered in the event of an accident.
• Permissive use—Many boat insurance policies offer coverage for permissive use, meaning that anyone you allow to operate your boat with your consent is covered under your policy. This can include friends, family members or even strangers, as long as you have given them explicit permission to use your vessel.
• Exclusions—It’s crucial to review your insurance policy carefully to understand any exclusions or limitations regarding who is covered when driving your boat. Some insurance policies may not provide coverage if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the accident occurs.
• Liability coverage—In most cases, boat insurance policies provide liability coverage, which helps protect you if you’re found responsible for causing an accident that results in bodily injury or property damage to others. This coverage typically extends to anyone operating your boat with your permission.
• Physical damage coverage—Coverage for damage to your boat itself may vary depending on your policy. Some policies may only cover damage caused while the boat is being operated by the named insured or a specifically listed operator. Others may extend coverage to anyone operating the boat with your permission.

Boat Insurance in Dunn and Coats, NC

Contact Jones-Byrd Insurance Agency to discuss your boat insurance needs. By reviewing your policy and taking proactive steps to ensure proper coverage, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your boat and passengers are protected in the event of an accident.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.