A market guide for independent insurance agents. Last reviewed: June 2026.
First, the question clients ask most: Tennessee does not require boat insurance. Registration with TWRA is required for motorized vessels, and operators born after January 1, 1989 need boater education — but no liability mandate (a bill to require PWC insurance has been introduced; it is not law). Marinas and lenders, however, routinely require coverage, which is what drives most purchases on Percy Priest, Norris, and the Tennessee River system.
For agents, the small-boat and PWC segment remains competitive and mostly admitted. The harder placements are high-performance hulls (65+ mph), older or wooden boats, and rental/charter use.
Markets identified through editorial research (June 2026) and agent placement discussions. Items marked "verify" carry details we could not confirm at the primary source.
| Market / Program | Type | How Agents Access It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Admitted | Independent agents + direct | Largest writer in the independent channel; pontoons, powerboats, PWC. PWC liability from roughly $100/yr. |
| Foremost (Farmers) | Admitted specialty | Independent agents | One of the broadest PWC appetites; good for older units standard markets decline. |
| American Modern (Munich Re) | Admitted specialty | Agent appointment (agents.amig.com) | Boats to ~27 ft including PWC. |
| Markel Marine | Admitted specialty | Independent agents + direct | Boats to 26 ft, PWC, and high-performance (65+ mph) — one of the few performance-boat markets. Verify current appetite. |
| SkiSafe | Program / MGA | Direct + some agency partnerships | Boat/PWC-only specialist, 40+ years, 500K+ insureds. |
| GEICO Marine / BoatUS | Admitted | Mostly direct | TN-specific product; competitor at the small end. |
| Farm Bureau of Tennessee | Admitted (TN domestic) | FB agents only | Strong TN lake-market presence — the captive competitor to know about. |
| Travelers / Chubb (yacht) | Admitted | Agent-only | Larger hulls and yacht accounts; no online quoting. |
| Hagerty Marine | Specialty | Direct + agents | Classic and wooden boats others decline. Verify appetite detail. |
Real placement discussions from independent agents about boat & marine insurance.
No. Tennessee requires TWRA registration for motorized vessels and boater education for operators born after Jan 1, 1989, but does not mandate insurance. Lenders and marinas usually require it contractually.
Progressive, Foremost, American Modern, Markel, and SkiSafe all write PWC in TN. Progressive PWC liability starts around $100/yr.
Markel handles high-performance hulls; Hagerty specializes in classic/wooden boats. Expect survey requirements on older or performance hulls.