Narrowboat and canal boat insurance

What cover you need, what insurers will ask, and the UK firms that say they cover inland boats, A to Z.

The short answer. On Canal & River Trust waters you need third-party cover of at least £2,000,000 before you can buy a boat licence. Other navigation authorities set their own rules, so check with yours. Source: Canal & River Trust, boat insurance, read 20 Oct 2026.

UK firms that say they cover inland boats

A to Z, never ranked. Brands owned by the same business share one entry. Each firm was checked on the FCA register on 20 Oct 2026. What each covers is in its own words, from its own website.

Alan Boswell GroupBrokerBroads-based boats Assist Insurance ServicesBrokerNarrowboats, widebeams and liveaboard craft Bay Marine InsuranceBrokerCanal boats and narrowboats, including liveaboards Bishop Skinner MarineBrokerNarrowboats, yachts, motorboats, RIBs and dinghies Brown & Brown BrightonBroker · also formerly Green Insurance GroupNarrowboats and small craft CETA InsuranceBroker · also InsureMy, Compare Boat InsuranceNarrowboats and canal boats, plus other boat types EverywhenBroker · also formerly TowergateYachts, motor boats, dinghies, RIBs and narrowboats Haven Knox-JohnstonBrokerNarrowboats, widebeams and inland cruisers, plus yachts Hazelton MountfordBrokerNarrowboats, Dutch barges and widebeams Mercia Underwriting SolutionsUnderwriting agency · also Nautical, Mercia MarineCanal boats, Dutch barges and houseboats, plus other boat types Navigators & GeneralUnderwriting agencyNarrowboats, cruisers and yachts on inland waters Noble MarineBroker · also Newton Crum (closed to new business)Narrowboats, canal boats, widebeams and Dutch barges Porthcawl Insurance ConsultantsBrokerCanal boats and narrowboats, plus yachts QuotezoneComparison siteNarrowboats and other boats, by comparing quotes from insurers Ripe Insurance ServicesBroker · also Craftinsure, GJW Direct, Insure4BoatsNarrowboats and widebeams, plus other boat types Topsail InsuranceBrokerNarrowboats and Dutch barges, plus yachts Velos Insurance ServicesBrokerNarrowboats, Dutch barges and canal boats VisicoverBrokerNarrowboats and canal boats William Taylor InsuranceBrokerNarrowboats, including liveaboards

Boat Safety Hub is not an insurer or a broker. We don't sell policies, pass on your details or take any fee for these listings. Always check cover and terms with the firm, and check the firm on the FCA register.

What insurers will ask you

The boat's age and value: Older boats may need a recent survey before a firm will quote. The age and the kind of survey differ from firm to firm.
Where it's kept: A marina berth, a home mooring or continuous cruising.
Whether you live aboard: Not every firm covers liveaboards. Say so up front.
Where you cruise: Canals, rivers, tidal or coastal waters.
Your claims history: Previous claims on boat policies.

Types of cover

Third-party liability: Covers damage or injury you cause to others. The Canal & River Trust asks for at least £2,000,000 of third-party cover before it sells you a licence.
Agreed value or market value: Agreed value fixes the payout when the policy starts; market value is worked out at the time of a claim.
Salvage and wreck removal: Recovering a sunk or grounded boat can be expensive. Check whether it is covered, and up to what amount.
Contents: Your belongings aboard, usually with a limit per item. Matters most if you live aboard.
Moving the boat: If it goes by road, check it is covered while on the trailer or lorry.

Before you ask for a quote

Your BSS certificate: Most boats need a Boat Safety (BSS) certificate before they can be licensed. It lasts four years. Find a BSS examiner.
A survey, for older boats: Some firms ask for an out-of-water hull survey once a boat passes a certain age.
Where the boat is kept: The marina or waterway, and whether it is a residential mooring.
How you use it: Leisure, continuous cruising or living aboard. Be accurate, or a claim may be refused.

Buying a boat?Arrange cover before you move it. Boats for sale on The Boat Market.