Aviation Insurance Designed for Aircraft Owners

Since 1977, BWI Aviation Insurance has been protecting aircraft owners across the country with fast, customized, and affordable aviation insurance policies. Whether you fly a Cessna 172, Cirrus SR22, Piper Cherokee, or operate a small fleet, our team delivers tailored coverage built around your exact aircraft, flight hours, and mission.

We’re not generalists. Aviation is all we do, and our service is as personal as your flying.

 

What Is Aviation Insurance?

Aviation insurance is specialized coverage that protects pilots and aircraft owners from financial loss resulting from accidents, injuries, property damage, weather events, theft, and more. Unlike auto or home policies, aviation insurance must account for aircraft type, airworthiness, pilot experience, and FAA regulations.

The origins of aviation insurance date back to the 1910s, when Lloyd’s of London began issuing the earliest policies for experimental biplanes and barnstormers. Back then, policies were limited, and the risks were extreme. Fast forward to today: aviation is far safer, but the insurance still must address highly specific technical risks.

There is no “standard” aviation policy, every policy is customized based on aircraft make/model, intended use (personal, instructional, or commercial), pilot experience, total time in type, storage method, and geographic location.

At BWI, we help you navigate all of this, from quote to renewal.

 

What Does Aviation Insurance Cover?

Most policies include:

Liability Insurance: This protects you if your aircraft causes bodily injury or property damage. Most policies are written with $1,000,000 in total liability. You’ll often choose between:

• $100,000 per passenger sublimit
• Or “smooth” liability, which has no per-passenger cap

Hull Coverage: Pays to repair or replace your aircraft in the event of damage. Hull insurance can be:

• Ground not-in-motion (while parked)
• Ground in-motion (excluding flight)
• Full Flight (full in-flight coverage)

 

This is based on an agreed-upon hull value you select during the quote process.

 

Medical Payments: Covers medical expenses for injured passengers, regardless of fault. Common limits range from $3,000 to $10,000.

 

Optional Endorsements and Add-Ons:

• Non-owned aircraft liability
• Emergency expense coverage
• Loss of use
• Hangar or tiedown location insurance
• Tool and spare parts coverage
• Search and rescue expense
• Deductible waivers for certain aircraft types

Imagine this: your aircraft is tied down during a storm. Debris strikes it, causing $60,000 in damage. Your hull coverage kicks in. If your aircraft suffers a hard landing, or your hangar burns, you’re covered. If a passenger is injured during boarding, medical payments cover it. If your engine fails and you land off-airport, liability and rescue expenses are on your policy.

Coverage isn’t just paperwork, it’s peace of mind for everything you can’t predict in the air or on the ground.

 

How Aviation Insurance Premiums Are Calculated

Aviation insurance isn’t priced like auto or home. Each quote is individually underwritten based on:

• Your total pilot time
• Time in make and model
• Ratings (instrument, commercial, ATP)
• Aircraft age, performance, and mission
• Whether the aircraft is used for instruction, rental, or business
• Location and storage type
• Past claims or violations

 

Some policies are also influenced by hull value trends in the market (especially on aircraft like Cirrus SR22s or experimental builds where replacement parts fluctuate).

Underwriters assess the full profile, pilot risk + aircraft risk. At BWI, we work directly with multiple carriers, translating your flight history and aircraft details into a compelling submission that earns better pricing.

We don’t just plug your data into a portal, we advocate for you, one-on-one with the actual people writing your policy.

 

Real Aviation Insurance Quote Examples

Here are recent examples from real BWI clients:

Cessna 182 with $120,000 hull, private use:

$1M smooth liability: $1,450/year

 

Cirrus SR22T with $400,000 hull, personal + business use:

$1M smooth liability: $3,600/year

 

Vans RV-10 (experimental) with $210,000 hull:

$1M liability with $100k/passenger: $2,250/year

 

Piper Archer, $80,000 hull, instructional use:

$1M liability with $100k/passenger: $1,800/year

 

Your actual quote may vary, but these give you a sense of what’s possible when we match you to the right underwriter.

 

Why Choose BWI?

You can get a quote from a generalist agent. Or a portal. Or you can work with BWI, a family-owned, aviation-only insurance agency trusted by over 9,000 aircraft owners nationwide.

Here’s why thousands of pilots choose BWI:

• We assign you a real, licensed account manager, not a call center
• We shop the entire aviation market, 7+ A-rated carriers
• We return most quotes in under 24 hours, often same-day
• We don’t just sell, we help you understand your coverage
• We stay with you during claims, renewals, and transitions
• We’ve been doing this for over 45 years

From your first solo to your Vision Jet upgrade, we’ve got you.

 

Types of Aircraft We Insure

We cover almost every kind of general aviation aircraft, including:

• Cessna 150, 152, 172, 182, 210, 414, 421
• Piper Cherokee, Archer, Saratoga, Seneca, Cub
• Cirrus SR20, SR22, Vision Jet
• Beechcraft Bonanza, Baron
• Vans RV series (all models)
• Experimental and kit-built aircraft
• Commercial drones (ag, survey, inspection)
• Robinson R22, R44, R66, Bell 206 helicopters

If you can register it with the FAA and fly it under Part 91 or 61, we can probably insure it.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aviation insurance legally required?

Not under federal law, but most FBOs, lenders, airports, and hangars require proof of insurance. Even if not mandatory, going uninsured exposes you to massive liability.

What is smooth liability?

Smooth liability means you can use your entire policy limit, such as $1,000,000, to pay any single injured party. It provides greater flexibility than the more common $100,000 per passenger sublimit.

Can I insure an aircraft that’s not flying yet?

Yes. Ground-not-in-motion policies cover aircraft that are being restored, stored, or hangared.

 

Do you insure student pilots or low-time owners?

We do. Many underwriters will accept student pilots with proper CFI oversight or if they’re operating under rental agreements. We work to place policies that help new pilots get started affordably.

How long does it take to get coverage?

Most light aircraft and private use quotes are turned around in 24 hours. Some even same day. Once approved, coverage can be bound immediately.

What if I need proof of insurance fast?

We can often provide same-day certificates. Our service team is trained to issue urgent documents quickly and accurately.

Do training and safety programs lower my rate?

Yes. IFR ratings, recurrent training, CSIP participation, and simulator hours can all help reduce premiums, especially for high-performance aircraft.

 

How to Get a Quote from BWI

Getting started is fast and simple.

Step 1: Click “Get A Quote” and fill out our short form

Step 2: A BWI aviation insurance professional will review and contact you

Step 3: We shop your profile to multiple carriers and return your quote

Step 4: Choose your policy, bind coverage, and receive proof, often same day

No phone trees. No bots. Just aviation people who move quickly and care.

 

Helpful Pages You Might Also Need

• Cessna 172 Insurance
• Cirrus SR22 Insurance
• Aircraft Renters Insurance
• Drone Insurance
• Helicopter Insurance
• Experimental Aircraft Insurance
• Alaska Aircraft Insurance

We have specialists for each category, and we’re always happy to answer questions or build custom quotes.

Trusted by 9,000+ Aircraft Owners

When it comes to aviation insurance, we believe in speed, clarity, and deep respect for the responsibility of aircraft ownership. Our goal is to take the complexity out of coverage so you can focus on flying with peace of mind.

BWI is licensed in all 50 states and represents the top aviation insurers in the country. Whether you’re a private pilot, a flight school, a drone operator, or a business owner managing a fleet, we’ll help you get covered quickly and accurately.

Get a Quote Now or call us at 800.666.4359