Boat Insurance Requirements in South Carolina: What the Law Says

Boat insurance is not currently required by South Carolina law for most recreational boats, but many lenders, marinas, and practical risk situations still make it the smart move for Greenville boat owners.

That is the real answer people need. You can usually register and use a recreational boat in South Carolina without showing proof of insurance, but you still carry the financial risk yourself after an accident, injury, theft, storm loss, or serious liability claim on the water.

Does South Carolina Require Boat Insurance?

As of 2026, South Carolina has no law requiring boat insurance for recreational watercraft. You can register your boat with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and launch it on any lake in the state without showing proof of insurance.

This puts South Carolina in the majority. Most states do not mandate boat insurance. But that does not mean you should skip it. South Carolina had 156 boating accidents in 2023, resulting in 24 fatalities. Without insurance, you are personally responsible for every dollar of damage and medical bills from an accident you cause on the water.

Pending South Carolina Legislation to Watch

As of April 22, 2026, South Carolina still does not have a statewide boat-insurance requirement on the books. Lawmakers have introduced multiple proposals that would change that, but they are still proposals, not current law:

• Bill 26 (S. 26): Would require liability insurance with a minimum of $50,000 for boats with engines over 70 HP. Most bass boats, ski boats, and pontoons on Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell have engines well above that threshold.
• Bill 3729: Would require liability insurance with a $50,000 minimum for boats 16 feet or longer in length.
• Bill 3846: Would require liability insurance with a $100,000 minimum for boats anchored in South Carolina waters for 30 or more consecutive days.

Penalties in the proposed bills range from $50 to $1,000 in fines, with third or subsequent offenses carrying up to one year imprisonment. None of these bills have passed yet, but the momentum toward mandatory boat insurance in South Carolina is building.

When Boat Insurance Is Required Even Without a Law

Even though the state does not require it, several situations effectively make boat insurance mandatory:

You financed your boat

If you took out a loan to buy your boat, the lender requires insurance. This is the same as a car loan requiring auto insurance. The lienholder needs to protect their collateral. Most lenders require hull coverage at minimum, and many require liability as well.

Your marina requires it

Many marinas on Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee, and Lake Jocassee require proof of insurance before they will rent you a slip or a dock. The marina’s own insurance policy typically requires tenants to carry liability coverage.

You tow behind a truck

Your auto insurance covers the boat trailer while it is being towed on the road, but it does not cover the boat itself. If your boat falls off the trailer on I-85 and causes an accident, your auto liability covers the other vehicles. But the damage to your boat is not covered unless you have a boat insurance policy.

What Boat Insurance Covers in South Carolina

A boat insurance policy covers more than just the hull. Here is what a standard policy includes:

Hull and physical damage

This covers your boat’s hull, motor, and permanently attached equipment against collision, fire, theft, vandalism, storm damage, and sinking. If a storm rolls through Lake Keowee and a falling tree damages your boat at the dock, this coverage pays for repairs.

Liability coverage

If you cause an accident on the water and injure someone or damage their property, liability coverage pays the bills. This is the coverage the pending SC bills would mandate. A jet ski collision on Saluda Lake, a wake that swamps a smaller boat on Lake Jocassee, or a docking accident at a Lake Hartwell marina all fall under liability.

Medical payments

This pays medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who caused the accident. If a guest on your pontoon gets hurt while tubing, medical payments coverage handles it without needing to prove fault.

Uninsured boater coverage

Since South Carolina does not require boat insurance, plenty of boaters on the water have none. If an uninsured boater hits you, this coverage pays your medical bills and repairs.

On-water towing and salvage

If your engine dies in the middle of Lake Hartwell, towing can cost hundreds of dollars per hour. Towing coverage pays for on-water assistance. Salvage coverage pays to recover your boat if it sinks.

Fuel spill and pollution liability

Federal law holds you responsible for cleaning up any fuel spill from your boat. A cracked fuel tank or a sinking boat that leaks fuel can result in cleanup costs that run into tens of thousands of dollars. Pollution liability coverage handles this.

Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value

This is the most important choice you will make when buying boat insurance, and it is the one most Greenville boat owners get wrong.

Actual cash value (ACV) pays what your boat is worth at the time of the loss, minus depreciation. If you bought a $40,000 bass boat three years ago and it is now worth $28,000, that is what you get.

Agreed value pays a pre-set amount that you and the insurance company agree on when you buy the policy. If you agree on $40,000 and the boat is totaled, you get $40,000 regardless of depreciation.

Agreed value costs slightly more in premium but pays significantly more when you need it. For boats that depreciate quickly or for any watercraft worth $20,000 or more, agreed value is the better choice.

SC Boating Requirements Every Greenville Boat Owner Should Know

While insurance is not yet required, South Carolina does have boating regulations you need to follow:

• Boat registration: All mechanically propelled watercraft must be registered with SCDNR. Registration is renewed annually.
• Boat titling: All motorized boats and outboard motors 5 HP or greater must be titled.
• Boater education: Anyone born after July 1, 2007 must complete an approved NASBLA boater education course before operating any motorized vessel with 10 HP or more.
• Life jackets: PFDs (personal flotation devices) are required for all persons on a personal watercraft. Children under 12 must wear a PFD on all boats.
• BUI (Boating Under the Influence): South Carolina enforces a 0.08 BAC limit for boaters, the same as for drivers.

Boat Insurance for Greenville’s Most Popular Lakes

Where you boat affects your insurance. Here is what Greenville-area boat owners need to know about the most popular lakes:

Lake Hartwell

At 56,000 acres with 950 miles of shoreline, Hartwell is the largest lake in the Greenville region and one of the busiest. High boat traffic, especially on summer weekends, increases collision risk. An umbrella insurance policy is worth considering if you spend a lot of time on Hartwell.

Lake Keowee

18,500 acres of clear water surrounded by high-value lakefront homes. Jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing are popular here. The combination of fast watercraft and crowded coves makes liability coverage especially important.

Lake Jocassee

National Geographic called it one of the last great places in the Southeast. At 7,500 acres with cold, deep water, Jocassee is less crowded but more remote. Towing and salvage coverage matters here because help is farther away.

Saluda Lake

The closest lake to downtown Greenville with power boating access. Only 331 acres, which means tighter quarters and more interaction between boats. Even on a small lake, one accident without insurance can wipe out your savings.