Is Boat Insurance Legally Required In Texas?

In most states, Texas included, there is no legal requirement that you carry boat or watercraft insurance. If you own a boat in Arlington, TX, you are free to buy insurance or skip it at your discretion, legally speaking. But you’re going to have a hard time getting your boat in and out of the water.

This is because most owners of docks, piers, and wharves are going to insist that anyone docking their watercraft at least carries some basic liability. The people who own these docks are just covering their ends: A boat-on-boat collision is unlikely to happen out on the open water, but it’s very likely if an inexperienced pilot comes cruising in a little too quickly to dock their boat, or if they don’t know to tie their boat down to keep it from smashing into other boats. So when that happens, if the other boat’s owner doesn’t carry insurance, or if they simply sail away before anyone can see who was responsible, then the dock owner is the one who’s likely to be sued. So it makes sense that dock owners are not going to want to risk that.

And of course, it’s just common sense to at least buy basic comprehensive coverage on your boat, and gap insurance if you’re still paying it off. A lot can happen out on the open waters, and you want to make sure that you’re protected.

If you’re still shopping around for boat insurance in Arlington, TX, get in touch with us at Rickey McGill Insurance Agency, and let’s see what we can do for you. You can stop by the offices, call us, or visit the Rickey McGill Insurance Agency website and we’ll get you the protection you need.