It’s a common question we see from drone operators in forums and on social media, and it’s a completely reasonable one to ask. You’ve invested money in your drone, camera, and accessories, and you want to protect that equipment. But do you have to buy liability insurance at the same time, or can you insure your drone on its own terms?
The short answer is that it depends on the provider. Some options are designed primarily to repair or replace faulty equipment, such as an extended warranty, which typically covers mechanical or electrical breakdowns. In contrast, insurance policies usually provide broader protection, covering unexpected events such as accidental damage, loss, or theft, and often offer liability cover. Some insurance providers may offer only liability cover or only equipment cover, whereas others combine both in a single policy.
Some providers, including Coverdrone, offer flexible cover that lets you tailor your policy to your specific needs, such as equipment cover, liability cover, or both. So, you can buy drone equipment insurance alongside liability insurance from one provider if you want.
Before you decide which approach is preferable for you, it’s beneficial to understand what each type of drone protection does, how they relate to each other, and why liability insurance may be a requirement depending on your circumstances.
This guide is intended for both recreational and commercial drone operators, helping them consider their insurance options. This guide provides general information only and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It should not be considered advice on selecting insurance products.
What is Drone Equipment Insurance?
Drone equipment insurance, sometimes called hull insurance, can include drone accidental damage insurance and protects your physical drone equipment against loss, damage or theft. Itโs always important to check whatโs included in your equipment cover. For example, at Coverdrone, equipment cover includes the drone itself, cameras and payloads, controllers, batteries, and any associated support equipment, including associated ground equipment. Put simply, if you have equipment that forms part of your UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), it should be covered. Always check your policy wording or with your insurance provider for clarity on what is and isnโt covered if you are unsure.
If you crash your drone into a tree, drop your controller, or have your equipment stolen from your vehicle overnight, you’d claim it under a type of cover sometimes referred to as drone equipment insurance, which can be purchased as a standalone option or combined with other elements of a policy (such as public liability).
What is Drone Liability Insurance?
Liability insurance covers your legal responsibility to third parties, including the people, property, and businesses that could be affected if something goes wrong during a flight. Drone public liability insurance protects you if your drone injures a person or damages someone else’s property. If an incident results in a collision with a vehicle or a low-altitude incident causes injury to a bystander, liability cover responds to the resulting claim.
Can You Have One Without the Other?
Yes, and having the flexibility to have equipment and/or liability cover matters because different operators have different needs. A recreational operator flying a drone in open spaces may feel that equipment cover is their primary concern. Equally, an operator who already has liability cover may want to add equipment cover to complement their existing coverage.
At Coverdrone, you can choose to insure your equipment, purchase liability cover, or have both under a single policy. Our policies are designed to be flexible, allowing you to choose the elements of cover that suit your needs and get a quote that clearly displays your options before committing. Other providers may structure their cover differently, so itโs worth comparing options to find what best suits your needs.
Combining liability and equipment cover into a single, individually issued policy can help simplify your business’s administration, with a single policy document and a single point of contact.
Liability insurance is often required for commercial drone operations in many jurisdictions, including the UK and the EU, where operators must comply with Regulation (EC) 785/2004. However, the exact requirements depend on factors such as the type of operation, aircraft weight, and applicable local regulations. For example, in some countries, liability insurance is a requirement for drone operators who use their drones for recreational purposes. Donโt forget that it is your responsibility as a drone operator to always operate your drone safely and in compliance, including holding the appropriate level of insurance for your operations and location.
Check How Your Liability Cover is Structured
Itโs important to be aware that not all Drone Insurance policies are structured in the same way. If you currently hold drone insurance through a membership scheme or association, it’s worth understanding how that cover is structured and whether it truly belongs to you as an individual. We’ve explored this in detail in our guide titled “Is Your Drone Insurance Actually Yours?“
Can Coverdrone Cover Complement an Existing Policy?
Yes. If you already hold liability cover through another provider or an association, Coverdrone can provide equipment cover that works alongside it. Equally, if you hold equipment cover elsewhere and need standalone drone public liability insurance, we can help you with that, too.
Our cover is designed to be complementary. The aim is to help you review whether you have the protection you need and identify any potential gaps where needed, not to duplicate what you already hold.
At Coverdrone, combining cover under a single policy may reduce overall costs, depending on your circumstances. As well as potentially saving money, by having one policy at Coverdrone, you can utilise our in-house Claims Team if you need to make a claim, rather than having to contact your liability and equipment cover providers separately if you need to make a claim.
What Coverdrone Offers
Coverdrone is a specialist Drone Insurance provider offering cover for a range of drone operators, from recreational to commercial, including sole traders, freelancers, and businesses with entire fleets of drones.
Our commercial drone cover can include:
- Public and Aviation liability insurance – individually issued liability insurance covering your legal liability to third parties
- Equipment cover – protecting your drone, payloads, controller, and ground equipment against accidental damage, loss, and theft
- Flexible policy options – so you can take the cover you need without being locked into a bundled product
If you’re not sure which cover is right for your situation, you can get a quote from Coverdrone to explore your options clearly before deciding.
Making a Decision on Drone Insurance
You can buy drone equipment insurance without buying liability insurance, but when deciding whether you should, you need to take into consideration your situation as an operator and what you need to cover, both to give yourself peace of mind and to ensure you operate legally and compliantly in the area in which you operate.
As with any insurance policy, cover is subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions, so itโs important to review your policy documents carefully to understand what is and isnโt included.
Choosing the right cover depends on your individual needs, how you operate, and the risks you want to protect against. The good news is that flexible Drone Insurance can help you avoid paying for cover you donโt need while still protecting what matters to you. At Coverdrone, we aim to make it straightforward to explore and purchase drone insurance based on your needs.
