Boat/Watercraft Insurance in Arizona

When clients new to the boating world come into our Bailey Insurance LTD office in Phoenix, AZ for advice on the type of insurance they should get, we first commend them for being responsible boat owners since Arizona does not require them to insure their boat or watercraft. Having a policy for your watercraft is a significant first step in taking responsibility for your actions on the waterways.

Types of Boating Insurance Coverage

The first thing we ask is what kind of boat or personal watercraft you have or are thinking of getting. This is because boating insurance can cover all motorized water vessels and protect them against liability and damage should they be involved in an accident. Our recommendations will differ depending on whether you have a yacht, fishing boat, sailboat, pontoon, ski boat, or paddle boat.

Different types of coverage include:

• Bodily Injury Liability: helps cover damages should a passenger on the boat or in another boat suffer injuries should the insured boat’s operator be at fault or if they are piloting the boat negligently.
• Property Damage Liability: helps with financial responsibility should the boater cause damage to another person’s physical property such as a dock.
• Collision: helps cover the cost of repairs should the boat be damaged in an accident with another vessel, or by hitting an underwater obstacle, dock, or other objects.
• Uninsured Boater Insurance: provides financial payments should the boater or his/her passengers be hurt in an accident with an uninsured boat operator.

Having uninsured boater coverage is especially important in a state like Arizona that doesn’t mandate boats or operators be insured. Uninsured boater insurance can help with accident-related expenses such as medical bills, loss of present and future earnings, and legal fees. Unfortunately, many people contemplating the purchase of a boat don’t think they need boat/watercraft insurance because their homeowner’s insurance will cover their boat too. While this may be true for a limited number of water vessels, the majority of homeowner policies excludes most boats.

Whether you are a boat owner who is unsure of what type of boating insurance is best for you, or have had a boat for years and would like to review your coverage, we invite you to visit us at Bailey Insurance LTD in Phoenix, AZ.