You know the routine: pull the cover off, charge the battery, check the trailer lights, and hope the motor fires up on the first try. Whether you're headed to Longview Lake for an evening, Truman Lake for the weekend, or the Lake of the Ozarks for a week, getting out on the water is one of the best parts of summer around here.
The right coverage lets you enjoy it without worrying about the what-ifs. Troy Lentz helps boat owners across the Kansas City area — and throughout Missouri and Kansas — understand what their policy covers on the water, on the trailer, and in storage, explained in plain English.
Working With Shield Squad
Troy Lentz
Licensed Insurance Advisor · A Farmers Insurance Agency
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Boat policies aren't all built the same, and not every policy includes every coverage. Here's what each piece is for — what's available depends on the policy and the company.
Helps pay for injuries to other people or damage to their property — like another boat or a dock — if you're found legally responsible for an accident on the water.
A wake that swamps a smaller boat, a bump into someone's dock, a guest who gets hurt — liability is the part of a boat policy that's about protecting you from what you might owe others.
Helps pay to repair or replace your boat, motor, and — depending on the policy — your trailer after a covered loss.
Some policies pay based on an agreed value for the boat, and others pay its actual cash value, which takes depreciation into account. That difference matters a lot after a claim, so it's worth knowing which one you have.
Helps cover damage to your boat from causes other than a collision — like theft, vandalism, fire, or storm and hail damage — depending on the policy.
A boat spends a lot of its life parked on a trailer or tied up at a dock. Comprehensive is the coverage that's generally there for what can happen when you're not even on the water.
Helps pay for damage to your boat if it hits another boat, a dock, or an object in the water, depending on the policy.
Lake levels change, and a stump or a sandbar can show up where you didn't expect it. If you're financing your boat, your lender may require physical damage coverage.
Depending on the policy, helps pay medical bills for you and your passengers if someone gets hurt on your boat, regardless of who was at fault, up to the limit you choose.
A slip on a wet deck or a rough landing off a tube can happen to anybody. It's worth asking whether this coverage is available on your policy and how much it includes.
Depending on the policy and the company, may help if you or your passengers are hurt by another boater who doesn't have insurance — or doesn't have enough.
Not every boat on the lake is insured. If this coverage is available on your policy, it's worth understanding how it works before you need it.
Depending on the policy, may help pay for on-water towing, a jump start, or fuel delivery if you get stranded.
Running out of gas or losing power in the middle of a big lake isn't fun. Ask whether on-water assistance is available on your policy and what it includes.
Depending on the policy, may help cover things you keep on the boat — rods and reels, tackle, electronics, life jackets, and other gear.
Fish finders, trolling motors, and a good collection of rods can add up quickly. Coverage for gear may be limited or need to be added, so tell us what you keep on board.
These are the conversations that come up most with boat owners around here. A few minutes before the season starts can save a lot of hassle later.
Both states have registration and boater-education rules for many boats. Those rules aren't the same thing as an insurance requirement — but even when insurance isn't required by the state, a lender, a marina, or a storage facility may require it.
In Missouri, motorized boats and sailboats over 12 feet must be titled and registered through the Department of Revenue, and many boat operators born after January 1, 1984 need a boater safety card. Missouri's boater education requirements expand on January 1, 2027, so check the Missouri State Highway Patrol for the latest details.
In Kansas, boats powered by a motor (including electric) or a sail must be registered and numbered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 must complete an approved boater education course to operate a motorboat or sailboat on public waters.
| Missouri — title and registration | Motorized boats and sailboats over 12 feet; apply within 60 days of buying or bringing the boat into Missouri |
|---|---|
| Missouri — boater safety card | Required for many operators born after Jan. 1, 1984; rules expand Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Kansas — registration | Boats powered by motor or sail; registration lasts 3 years; Certificate of Number on board |
| Kansas — boater education | Required for operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 (motorboats and sailboats) |
Source:Missouri DORMissouri State Highway PatrolKDWP: RegistrationKDWP: Boater Education
Shield Squad Agency works with boat owners in both Missouri and Kansas — and around Kansas City, it's normal to spend one weekend on a Kansas lake and the next at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Boat policies can be written around where and how you use your boat, and some have limits on where coverage applies. If you trailer your boat between lakes or states, make sure your policy fits how you actually use it.
Registration rules travel with you, too. Kansas lets nonresidents use a boat that's properly registered in another state for up to 60 consecutive days, and Missouri recognizes approved boater education cards from your home state — keep those documents on board.
| Where you boat | Make sure your policy fits the lakes and states you use |
|---|---|
| Registration and boater card | Keep them on board every trip |
| Trailer and tow vehicle | Know how they're covered on the road |
| Moving or keeping the boat elsewhere | Let us know before it happens |
Not sure what your policy should include? Let's walk through it together.
Boat is already selected below. Add anything else you'd like us to look at — like auto — and a Shield Squad Agency representative will reach out to talk about your boat and your options.
Missouri and Kansas both have registration and boater-education rules for many boats, but those aren't the same as an insurance requirement. Even when insurance isn't required by the state, a lender, marina, or storage facility may require it. And without coverage, you'd generally be on your own for damage to your boat or for what you might owe others after an accident.
Usually not much, if at all. Some homeowners policies may offer very limited coverage for small boats, but many boats need their own policy, especially larger or motorized ones. We'll look at what your homeowners policy says and whether a separate boat policy makes sense.
Home insurance basicsTheft of your boat, motor, or trailer is generally handled under comprehensive or physical damage coverage, subject to your deductible and policy terms. If your policy includes only liability, theft of your own boat generally isn't covered.
It depends on the policy. Some boat policies include the trailer, and some require it to be listed or added. While you're towing, your tow vehicle's auto policy may also play a role, so it's worth asking how the two work together.
Auto insurance basicsCoverage for rods, reels, tackle, and electronics varies. It may be included up to a limit, or it may need to be added. If you keep a lot of gear on the boat, tell us about it so we can look at how it's covered.
It can. Some companies may let you adjust coverage while the boat is stored, but a boat in storage can still be stolen, damaged, or caught in a fire. Talk to us before you make any changes for the off-season.
Many boat policies cover you in more than one state, but some have limits on where coverage applies, and the details vary by policy. If you trailer your boat between Missouri, Kansas, or anywhere else, let us know where you boat so we can make sure your policy fits.
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