Insurance for drone pilots

Aerial Entertainment Studios · Jan 11, 2015

Not sure if this was covered in other posts, but does drone insurance exist for hobby users (i.e. with no commercial intent in mind). With the reports of the firmware being unstable and some reports of flyaways, I'm wondering if this makes sense.

Are you aware of any insurance companies that would cover such products? If they do, what exactly is covered. I saw a video where people attach a heavy payload to a phantom and they naturally lose it in the water. Their response is 'it's ok, we are insured'.

I'm not aware of any insurers covering against stupidity so I'm reaching out to see what's out there and what kind of premium we are talking about.

IrishSights · Jan 11, 2015

It depends where you are in the world - care to share? Your profile does not say. I recommend everyone puts there country in there, it really helps to answer questions correctly

Aerial Entertainment Studios · Jan 11, 2015

IrishSights said:
It depends where you are in the world - care to share? Your profile does not say. I recommend everyone puts there country in there, it really helps to answer questions correctly

Thanks, just updated my profile. I'm in Hong Kong.

Upshots · Jan 11, 2015

I insure myself for $500,000 but for liability only, the cost involved for replacement is outrageous, I figure if I crash it it's cheaper to repair or fork out the cash for another one. I am a hobby user at the moment but plan on going commercial very soon.

turbodronepilot · Jan 12, 2015

Upshots said:
I insure myself for $500,000 but for liability only, the cost involved for replacement is outrageous, I figure if I crash it it's cheaper to repair or fork out the cash for another one. I am a hobby user at the moment but plan on going commercial very soon.

What is the name of the insurance company who wrote you a liability policy? Is that through your homeowners ins?

turbodronepilot · Jan 12, 2015

Hey upshots..are you planning on doing airial photography with your inspire1 or maybe crop dusting?

Upshots · Jan 12, 2015

The company I get insurance thru is AVRO, and yes you can get it for recreational flying. I tried getting it thru my home insurance but they thought I was from Mars and had no idea what I was talking about. I had to go to a broker who deals with aviation insurance. Not sure where you are located, I'm in Canada but the minimum liability required for commercial use is 100K, which doesn't go very far in a lawsuit. Price ranged from $800-$1000 for $500,000-$1,000,000.00 liability only. My main use for aerial photography will be for real estate.

turbodronepilot · Jan 12, 2015

Im in the USA and as far as I know there isn't seperate liability policy avaliable at this time..there isn't any exclusions for your home owners insurance policy, if you have a home owners insurance its probably covered,at least this is what my agent has told me..

Mazz · Jan 12, 2015

Called my agent and he said that they do not cover anything man made falling out of the sky and he read me the part in my policy. I even went so far as to say, "so if a piece of a plane falls on my house I am no covered?" He said correct however I'd get a new house from the owner of the plane.... Guess that rules out my homeowners insurance.

turbodronepilot · Jan 12, 2015

Mazz said:
Called my agent and he said that they do not cover anything man made falling out of the sky and he read me the part in my policy. I even went so far as to say, "so if a piece of a plane falls on my house I am no covered?" He said correct however I'd get a new house from the owner of the plane.... Guess that rules out my homeowners insurance.

Right now there isn't any exclusions for homeowners, because they consider the phantom to be a rc toy ..so it would be covered. .if it was classified as an airplane it wouldn't be. .that's coming from an experienced farmers ins agent. ..

worldsoutro · Jan 12, 2015

What about AMA in the US?

turbodronepilot · Jan 12, 2015

worldsoutro said:
What about AMA in the US?

I've read some about the ama insurance, but if you have modified your uav they won't cover it..they say you need a license to fly a modified droid..or if you don't follow their guidines they won't cover you..

bradjward · Feb 21, 2015

I have a policy through Hill & Usher. Ran about $1500 for the year.

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jhardway · Feb 21, 2015

Transport Risk - they have a UAV insurance that is commercial uav liability. There are different levels but for $1,000,000 liability and hull insurance on $4000.00 value copter, its around 1460.00 a year. With the hull insurance with what you pay for it and the deductible included if something does you are out about 20% recouping 80%

Now i am not sure about the inspire but in general I do not think it matters much to them, the insure my self built copter.

RossF · Feb 23, 2015

I am also interested in learning more about options in the USA. I'm a commercial photographer and right now I have a photographers business policy that covers equipment owned, rental equipment, location liability for shoots etc. However each time I do a shoot on location I need to have the location "additionally insured" with a certificate so I don't think that would work for the Inspire. Maybe I should give them a call and ask about it. I should list my Inspire 1 as owned equipment and if it's ever lost or "stolen" maybe I could file a claim too.

I looked at AMA insurance and it says the aircraft must not exceed 2 pounds, which I'm pretty sure the inspire is heavier than.

NextGenUAV · Feb 23, 2015

Having multiple high dollar larger multi rotors insured, i find very good service and programs through Highland Aviation Insurance, they specialize in UAV's and have a program to suit most uses and experience levels. www.highlandinsagcy.com , great folks.

AviationBroker · Jul 22, 2015

Hello,

There is some great information here. I am an aviation specific insurance broker. I am appointed by all of the major aviation specific insurance companies (there are about 15 of them). Currently about 4 of them are writing insurance policies for uav/drone use. I can get a liability only policy, with a limit of $500k, for about $600. If you would like hull coverage, I can do that too but it would be more expensive. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in.

Like many people have mentioned, I would not count on your homeowner's policy to cover you for losses that arise out of the operation of a uav. The FAA is working very hard to regulate hobby drones as full blown aircraft.