Tips and recommendations on liability, fully comprehensive insurance and professional drone flights
Anyone who uses a drone commercially bears a lot of responsibility - and should find out about the right drone insurance . Whether liability, fully comprehensive or combined package: we show you what options are available, what you should look out for and what special features apply to professional use.
Note: Droniq does not offer drone insurance. However, our drone experts have compiled the most important tips and information for commercial pilots to support safe and professional use.
Is drone insurance compulsory?
Yes - there is a statutory insurance obligation in Germany. Every drone must have liability insurance, whether private or commercial. However, stricter requirements apply to commercial drone flights, meaning that private drone insurance is often not sufficient.
What types of insurance are there for drone pilots?
Commercial drone liability insurance:
This insurance is required by law. It covers damage that you cause to third parties with your drone - for example:
- Personal injury
- Material damage (e.g. to vehicles or buildings)
-
Financial losses due to business interruption
Tip: A sum insured of at least 1.5 million euros, preferably 3-5 million euros, is recommended.
Fully comprehensive drone / hull insurance
This insurance is voluntary, but is particularly recommended for high-quality systems. It covers the following damage, among others:
- Crashes due to pilot error
- Water damage
- Transport damage
- Theft (depending on provider)
Tip: Especially if you are working with high-end drones such as the DJI Matrice 400 or the DJI Matrice 4 series series, fully comprehensive insurance protects your investment. DJI offers DJI Care for its enterprise drones, which covers the drones for the first 12 months (extendable to up to 36 months). In addition, this often covers the replacement of up to two devices per year - with only a small replacement fee.
Why is private drone insurance often not enough?
Many private policies explicitly exclude commercial use. Anyone who flies commercially therefore needs commercial drone insurance that is tailored to aviation risks, data protection requirements andpossible missions abroad.
Cost factors for commercial drone insurance
The insurance premiums vary depending on:
- Drone type and number
- Weight and flight range
- Area of application (e.g. inspection, surveying, BOS)
- Sum insured
- Own contribution
- Flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)
Orientation: Depending on the provider and tariff, commercial liability insurance for drones of smaller weight classes often starts at around €120-150 per year. With additional fully comprehensive cover, the costs can be significantly higher, depending on the type of drone, usage and the amount of cover selected.
Tip: Compare different providers and check exactly which services are included in the tariff. This will ensure that your drone is optimally insured.
What should your commercial drone insurance definitely cover?
- Worldwide insurance cover (optional) - if you also fly abroad
- Flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) - the prerequisite for this is that a corresponding permit has been obtained
- Insurance for multiple drone pilots - particularly important for companies with several pilots
- Use of thermal imaging & LiDAR systems - often only "normal" cameras are covered by insurance; therefore check whether insurance cover also applies to professional sensor technology
- Temporary use of rental drones - in the event that other people's drones are sometimes flown
- Cyber risks -includes damage for e.g. hacking or data loss
Conclusion: Fly professionally secured
As a commercial drone pilot, you are not only responsible - not only for your flight maneuvers, but also for possible damage to people, property or data. Liability insurance is required by law and fully comprehensive insurance can provide additional protection for your equipment. Inform yourself well, compare providers and make sure that your tariff covers all the requirements of your area of operation.
Even if we do not arrange insurance, we provide you with comprehensive support in all other aspects of your professional drone deployment - from permits and BVLOS flights to project planning and deployment strategies.
