Drone insurance

Insurance Requirement

According to EASA regulations, liability insurance is mandatory for all drone flights that do not fall under purely private use with drones under 250 grams. For commercial flights, insurance is always mandatory.

The insurance must cover liability towards third parties for injury to persons and damage to property.

Insurance Amount Requirements

SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is a currency unit used by the IMF. Insurance companies usually state the amount in Norwegian kroner.

Hobby Flying

Many home insurance policies cover liability for hobby flying with drones, but coverage varies.

• Check if the insurance covers aircraft or drones specifically.
• Verify maximum coverage and whether it meets the EASA requirement.
• Some insurances have exclusions for drones over a certain weight.
• Make sure the insurance covers flying outside your own property.

Commercial Flying

Commercial drone operators need a separate drone insurance tailored for commercial use.

• The insurance must cover all planned types of operations.
• Equipment insurance (comprehensive) is optional, but recommended for expensive drones.
• When working on assignments for others, you should check that the client’s insurance does not transfer the responsibility to you.
• Document proof of insurance and have it available for inspection.

Liability without insurance

Without insurance, you can become personally liable for:

• Personal injury caused by the drone
• Material damage to buildings, cars, or other property
• Consequential damages such as loss of income for the injured party
• Damage to aircraft in a collision

Claims for compensation can be very high, especially in cases of personal injury.

Further reading

• Read about drone flight safety to minimize risk.
• See privacy regulations which can also trigger liability.
• Understand drone categories and the requirements in your category.
• Practice with a free theory test to test your knowledge.