Drone insurance policies compared

Overview

Third-party liability (OC) insurance is mandatory for all commercial UAS operators under EASA regulation. For hobby pilots it is required above certain MTOM thresholds — check national requirements.

Specialist UAV insurance products cover third-party injury and property damage. Some policies also include hull insurance (damage to the aircraft itself), which is separate from the mandatory OC coverage.

Rules

When comparing policies, note: 1) insured sum (EASA minimum is set in regulation), 2) aircraft MTOM coverage, 3) activity type (hobby vs commercial), 4) geographic coverage (Lithuania vs full EU).

A hobby policy typically does not cover commercial operations — if you receive any payment for a flight, you must hold a commercial policy. Insurers may refuse to pay if the actual activity did not match the policy conditions.

Licence

Insurance and a certificate are separate requirements — one does not substitute for the other. An operator may hold an A2 certificate but without insurance, commercial flights are not legal.

Some specific mission clients (e.g. energy companies) require higher insurance limits than the EASA minimum. Before signing client contracts, check their specific insurance requirements.

Next step

Compare UAV insurance policies using specialist comparison platforms or UAV insurance brokers. Pay close attention to small-print conditions regarding MTOM limits and activity type exclusions.

For more on operator liability and the importance of insurance see /blog/drone-operator-liability-eu.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum mandatory insurance limit for a commercial operator?

EASA regulation sets the minimum based on aircraft MTOM — the heavier the aircraft, the higher the minimum. Check current regulations as the amounts are periodically updated.

Can one policy cover my entire aircraft fleet?

Yes, most UAV policies are linked to the operator rather than each individual aircraft. Check the policy for maximum MTOM and number-of-aircraft limits.