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Do I Need Drone Insurance?
In the past, my vehicles have been involved in accidents where the other person had zero insurance while being at fault. It sure wasn’t fair to me to have to pay for my own damages when I wasn’t even in my vehicle when it happened. Tickets were issued to the person and it was clearly their fault, yet there I stood holding the bill. If it hasn’t happened to you, it is a terrible situation to be in. I don’t want that to happen to somebody else when I am at fault.
Everybody makes mistakes. It is your responsibility as the operator to ensure that all safety measures are taken and any malfunctions that are encountered do not become the issue of innocent bystanders. Ultimately, drone insurance is not sexy, delicious, or fun by any means but having this is the professional thing to do.
Studying for your Part 107 Exam? Have a look at our Study Guide Here!
Required By Law?
Drone Insurance is not currently required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for you to fly your drone anywhere in the US. This is true for Part 107 (Commercial) and Part 336 (Modeler) operations. Local and state regulations are beginning to require Part 107 operations to carry insurance. Make sure you check with local and state laws for your specific flight area.
Just because the powers that be do not require it, does not mean your particular project or mission at hand does not. Some project managers require insurance for anybody that is working on their current projects Insurance is cheap and will cover your tail and theirs in the unfortunate event something were to go wrong.
Even though drone insurance is not required, pay close attention, and make sure your drone is registered and marked properly. See Here For More Info!
Types of Drone Insurance
Drone Insurance can mean many different things and have many different types of coverages and restrictions. You could very well need more than one policy for any given flight. Always read the fine print of your policy to ensure you are covered the way you think you are. When in doubt, email the company to get an answer. Always have things in writing. That has saved my tail a few times by having some proof to fall back on.
Drone Liability Insurance
Liability Insurance will cover any damage you or your equipment could possibly cause. This could be both personal injury or property damage. Most policies have multiple tiers of coverage. Selecting a higher amount of coverage will most likely cause the premium (aka payment) to increase. Typically, you can get coverage up to $1 Million USD. Sometimes you can get up to $5 Million USD by special request. Many apps are offering a ‘by-the-flight’ option for this type of insurance. Some even offer discounts for having a safe-flight record.
Sometimes by joining a club or having a membership, such as the American Modelers Association, will give you some sort of liability protection. Sometimes to get the coverage you may have to fly at one of their designated fields.
Hull Insurance
Hull Damage Insurance will cover any accidental damage done to your drone while flying or even being transported. Do read the fine print, but typically you need to at least bring back some of the identifiable pieces in order to have your claim paid. ie: Fly-Aways and theft might not be covered. Many manufacturers offer hull damage insurance that will cover you in the event of a crash.
Specific to DJI
If you have purchased a DJI drone within the past few days, you could easily be eligible for one of their insurance packages. Unfortunately, not all coverages are available for all models. If DJI Care is something you are interested in, you need to act now to get the coverage before the window of opportunity closes.
DJI Care
DJI Care is the original coverage the company had originally offered. As most would expect, you send your drone into an authorized repair center and they ship it back once it’s fixed. With DJI Care you have a total coverage amount. You can repair your drone as many times as needed until you exceed your covered amount.
DJI Care Refresh
Much like DJI Care, Care Refresh has its limits. But with DJI Care Refresh, water damage is now covered. Instead of being a monetary value, it lets you replace your unit 2 times. By sending your broken unit in, a short time later you will receive a like-new unit back.
DJI Care Refresh Plus
If you haven’t seen the trend yet, each DJI Care gets better and better. This ‘Plus’ package is not any different. This insurance package is an extension of the DJI Care Refresh Package. The DJI Care Refresh Plus starts when the Care Refresh ends and adds many benefits to its arsenal. The first advantage being is you automatically get your factory warranty extended by at least 12 months. With this insurance, you only get one full replacement free of cost or you can pay to have the drone fixed.
Full Coverage Drone Insurance
Full Coverage would ensure you are covered 24/7 for whatever misfortune might come your way. This would include theft, liability, and hull damage. Many major insurance companies offer this coverage. Simply call your current insurance provider and ask them. You might even be surprised to hear they offer a multi-line discount.
When you are comparing different coverages to each other, keep an eye out for the deductibles. One company might be half the price and they could increase your deductible at twice the price. This money would be required for you to pay in the event something were to happen.
How Much Does Drone Insurance Cost?
Most Drone Insurance will start around $10 per flight and can go much higher depending on where you are flying, how far, and what coverages and limits you might need.
How to Buy Drone Insurance
Purchase Only What You Need. By the flight or by the year, or anything in between. Pay close attention to what is covered, what is not covered, deductibles, and any exceptions that could be written in the small print.
Some policies offer discounts for safe fliers. Major insurance companies even give multi-line discounts by having more than one policy with them. Like your auto insurance and your drone insurance.
SkyWatch.AI
By using the SkyWatch App available on iOS and Android, you can buy insurance by the flight and for as much or as little as you need for the occasion. SkyWatch uses location services to pinpoint where you are and offer up-to-the-minute pricing based on where you are. This app also is a little more in-depth with flight planning and pre-planned routes.
VeriFly by Thimble
VeriFly is a little less intense. By using the same location sensors in your phone, VeriFly can give you instant coverage with just a few taps on your phone. Tell them how far you will fly, how long you will be there, and how much liability coverage you need. Once you agree to the terms and for a higher cost, you can have coverage for indoor/outdoor, racing/contests, and up to 35 lbs in weight.
Both apps work quite well and look very similar to each other. But the important part is that you have drone insurance so that everybody can have an enjoyable day.