More people are taking to the water in PWCs or personal watercraft as time goes on. Their size, speed, agility, and ease of handling make them fun for all ages. All that speed and power, however, can lead to mishaps. As the popularity of personal watercraft rises, so does the risk of accidents and injuries.
Getting good coverage, particularly for medical expenses and liability costs, is critical. You'll want to work with an experienced local independent insurance agent to find the coverage you need. They can help ensure you’re covered for everything from hospitalizations to major liability claims. But until then, here's a deep dive into personal watercraft and Jet Ski insurance.
Top Causes of PWC Accidents
It can be helpful to understand what causes the majority of PWC accidents so you can be better prepared before taking to the waters. Here are some of the highest contributing factors to PWC accidents:
- Operator error
- Operating a PWC while intoxicated
- Reckless operation of a PWC (e.g., speeding or swerving)
- Distraction, inattention, and lack of experience
Operator error accounts for a large percentage of accidents involving personal watercraft. Due to the high number of speed boats, water skiers, and other water enthusiasts on the water at any given time, it may not be surprising that a lack of attention or skill can also lead to a large percentage of accidents.
What Does Personal Watercraft or Jet Ski Insurance Cover?
Because of the unique characteristics of personal watercraft and accidents involving them, many insurers have limited or excluded coverage for PWCs on other policies. Don’t assume your homeowners insurance or boat insurance policy covers PWCs. Often, you can choose between the following coverage options when building a PWC policy:
- Watersport liability insurance: This can cover lawsuit expenses related to third-party claims of bodily injury or personal property damage caused by you and your PWC, such as after a collision.
- Property damage coverage: This can cover damage to your PWC from accidents, collisions, fire, theft, or vandalism.
- Collision insurance: Pays for damage to your PWC from a collision with another object, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive insurance: Pays for damage to your PWC due to a non-collision event such as a flood or theft.
- Fuel spill/wreckage cleanup insurance: This can cover expenses related to wreckage and pollutant clean-up if you cause a collision with your PWC on the water.
- Uninsured/underinsured boater insurance: This can cover expenses related to property damage and medical treatments in case of a collision with a PWC operator who doesn't carry adequate insurance to reimburse you.
- Towing insurance: This can cover towing expenses if your PWC becomes disabled on the water due to mechanical failure, etc.
- Medical payments insurance: This can cover medical treatment expenses for yourself or your passengers after a PWC collision, regardless of fault.
- Accessories coverage: This can cover your trailer or towable water toys, such as inner tubes, wakeboards, and skis, against theft, vandalism, etc.
When you get PWC insurance quotes, make sure to compare coverage options and pricing from multiple companies since every insurer handles PWCs differently. An independent insurance agent can shop and compare policies and quotes for you.
How Much Does PWC or Jet Ski Insurance Cost?
You can often find a PWC or Jet Ski policy that includes only liability coverage for as little as $100 per year. However, if you add more types of coverage to your policy, you can expect higher premiums. The cost of PWC insurance depends on a number of factors, such as:
- The year, make, and model of the PWC
- The horsepower, engine type, and maximum operating speed
- The value of the PWC
- Any modifications made to the PWC
- Any qualifying boater safety courses you’ve taken
- Your personal claims history
Additionally, PWC insurance rates can depend on the amount of coverage you choose. You'll likely pay more for insurance if you also want full replacement cost coverage for your Jet Ski and increased liability coverage limits.
How to Save Money on PWC or Jet Ski Insurance
Everyone likes to save money on insurance without sacrificing coverage when possible. Fortunately, with PWC insurance, there are a few ways you can cut costs, such as:
- Purchasing seasonal insurance: Some insurance companies allow you to save money by purchasing seasonal coverage if you don't use your machine year-round.
- Bundling your coverage: Bundling your PWC insurance with other policies like auto insurance or home insurance through the same insurer can decrease your costs.
- Riding safely: Filing insurance claims can lead to more expensive coverage, so always practice safe driving while operating your PWC to avoid accidents.
- Completing a safety course: Many insurance companies offer a discount if you complete an approved PWC safety course.
- Increasing your deductible: Traditionally, the higher your deductible is, the lower your insurance premium is.
A local independent insurance agent can help you save money on your coverage by finding any PWC insurance discounts you qualify for.
The Benefits of Working with an Independent Insurance Agent
When you, your family, and your friends want to have fun on the water, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you have enough coverage if an incident occurs. Let an independent insurance agent do the legwork for you so you can enjoy your PWC or Jet Ski knowing you're fully covered.
Independent insurance agents have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best PWC coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you. And down the road, your agent will be there to help file claims for you or update your coverage as necessary.
Sources
https://www.chanfraulaw.com/blog/2023/06/08/causes-of-jet-ski-accidents-214762
https://www.progressive.com/pwc/
