You need third party insurance cover for at least £2,000,000 before you buy a boat licence.
This safeguards you, the owner or person in charge of the boat, from claims made against you for injury or damage in the event your boat is involved in an accident.
You may also choose to take out a comprehensive policy to cover your own boat, its contents and crew.
Read the small print - is the cover right for you?
When buying insurance read the small print carefully, especially when it comes to salvage costs should the worst happen. Not all policies cover salvage following a sinking or a fire and the recovery costs can often be thousands of pounds.
You can find specialist marine insurers on the internet, adverts in the waterway press or from your boat builder or broker.
How do I find boat insurance?
Just like most insurances, you can find and compare boat insurance on comparison websites.