Almost everything is insured today. We insure our lives, our homes, our vehicles, and all manner of irreplaceable things of value to us. The increasing ownership of expensive drones for business and pleasure has grown tremendously in the past five years. If the drone you use is expensive and plays a critical role in your business, it’s even more critical to insure this important piece of equipment. Obviously, even if you use the drone for pleasure, if it’s expensive, replacing it with a good BWI Aviation Insurance policy is just smart. Damage insurance is important, but liability insurance for your drone is even more important.
In December 2015, the FAA passed a requirement that you register your personal use drone. This was done to protect the flying public in the event of midair collisions. The liability to you could be very high in the event that your drone causes death, injury, or damage to another aircraft. That makes drone insurance an even more important purchase. Special Rules for Flying a Model Aircraft guidelines can help you prevent such a catastrophe and explain other important considerations in using your drone safely. Flying your drone safely and having fun while doing it requires thoughtful use.
Although you might think of drones as way cool fun toys, the truth is that Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are much more sophisticated than your average Tonka Truck. The FAA has classified most of them as aircraft, and depending on how your home insurance is structured and interprets your use of your drone, you may not have enough coverage under the liability protection in your homeowner policy. The good news is that you have many options if your homeowners insurer plan doesn’t cover you for drone liability. In fact, who would have thought ten years ago that we’d need to think of such a thing?
In addition, if you don’t own a home, you can be sure you don’t have liability coverage for a drone accident that you cause.
Obtaining drone insurance for a private use isn’t as easy as it sounds. You must first prove that you are a serious and frequent drone user. You may even need to provide proof of training to obtain this insurance. The majority of the insurance companies offer drone insurance for the following business: uses only: Archaeology, Agriculture, Construction, Emergency Response, Law Enforcement, Movie making, Security Services, Shipping and Maritime Industries, Surveillance for Site Protection, Traffic Patrol, and Transportation Maintenance. If this is beginning to sound complicated, you can get most of your questions answered by a qualified insurance provider who will know the areas covered for private and business use.
Your insurance will cover you in for the following types of accidents: loss, complete or partial damage, fire, war, terrorism, hijacking, and personal injury. Some companies will provide insurance for liability coverage only, while others for damage only, and some companies offer both types of coverage. It’s always good to ask a qualified insurance broker questions about these items based on your specific needs. A good broker can walk you through the costs and benefits of obtaining this insurance. It’s always wise to get quotes from more than one company before selecting the plan that’s best for you.
If some of these considerations seem like more than you want to worry about, there are lots of fun tech toys that don’t require insurance, training, and certification from the FAA. But if you can afford a drone and the costs of insuring it, happy flying to you. In addition to its many business applications, it’s a fascinating hobby.
