Boat/Watercraft Insurance in New York
New York boaters may wonder if insurance is strictly necessary or even legally required for their state. This information is vital to understand, which is why we at AW Burchell Agency are providing this simple but informative section regarding New York boating insurance.
Insurance Isn't Necessary to Drive a Boat
In this state, insurance isn't required when driving or owning a boat. However, insurance policies do help to minimize the risk of liability in the case of an accident. For example, boat liability insurance will pay for damages caused to a person or another boat in the case of a crash.
Boating insurance also helps to pay for damage to the affected boat, but only if it is covered by the policy. For example, some coverage options may limit “acts of God” or define them in specific ways. Make sure that you carefully read your policy to ensure that it covers everything necessary.
Safety Certificates May Affect Boating Insurance Quality
Any boat driver under the age of 18 in this state needs to complete a boating safety course to obtain a Boating Safety Certificate. This certificate proves to any legal authorities that the individual passed a safety course and understood specific driving techniques that are both safe and effective.
Typically, this type of certificate is not necessary for those over the age of 18. However, individuals who take this course and keep their certification up to date may find better boating insurance policies or receive better coverage from their providers than if they did not have this certification. Talk to your insurance provider about this benefit to learn more about how you can use it to your advantage.
Boating Insurance Help is Available
Anyone interested in high-quality boating insurance should contact us at AW Burchell Agency of New York to learn more about policy options. We have offices in Cortland, Whitney Point, Painted Post, and Ithaca, NY.
Our professionals will work hard to identify coverage that works for your needs and will be there when you need help paying for serious boating problems.
