Drone insurance cost depends on the operation being insured and the protection requested. To get a useful price, start with your drone and payload values, who flies, what the work involves and the liability limits you want considered.
A price quoted for another pilot is not a reliable budget for your business. Use the same details for each quote so you can compare the premium alongside the coverage, deductibles and policy period.
Start with BWI’s drone insurance cost guide, or explore drone insurance coverage and quote requirements.
What information affects your drone insurance quote?
Your work and operating locations
Describe what you do with the drone, where you fly and who your clients are. Photography, surveying, inspections and agricultural work are different activities. Explain any flights around people, buildings or infrastructure, and identify unusual work instead of assuming a general description covers it.
The equipment you want insured
List each drone, camera, sensor and other payload with the value you want reviewed. Identify rented, borrowed or leased equipment separately. Ask which items are covered, how a covered loss would be valued and what deductible applies.
Liability limits and contract requirements
Provide your client’s actual insurance requirements. Ask the broker to explain how the proposed limits, insured parties and endorsements address them. A familiar liability amount or a certificate of insurance does not establish that every contract requirement is satisfied.
Pilots, experience and loss history
Give accurate information about who operates the equipment, their qualifications and experience, training and prior losses. Let the insurer evaluate those details. Do not assume a course or a claim-free history guarantees a particular discount.
Liability-only and equipment quotes are different purchases
Compare proposals that include the same types of protection. Liability coverage addresses covered claims involving others; physical damage or hull coverage addresses insured equipment under the policy’s terms. Payloads and ground equipment may need separate review.
Ask for the proposed premium and deductible for each option you are considering. If a lower-priced proposal omits equipment or uses different limits, resolve that difference before treating it as the better value. Our drone liability guide explains questions to bring to that conversation.
Compare policy periods and the total amount payable
Confirm the start and end dates, payment terms and any fees or financing charges. When comparing an annual policy with a shorter policy period, consider the work you expect to perform during the whole period, not just the first payment.
Some providers offer hourly, monthly and annual options. For example, SkyWatch’s U.S. policy guide describes all three and distinguishes the equipment coverage available. That does not establish what BWI can offer for your particular operation. Ask about available terms rather than assuming that different products are interchangeable.
How to keep the comparison useful
- Use a complete equipment schedule. Update values and remove items you no longer need considered.
- Describe every type of work. An incomplete application can make a cheap-looking quote unsuitable for your needs.
- Discuss deductible choices. Ask what each option changes, and consider the amount you could pay after a covered loss.
- Review the written terms. Compare exclusions, conditions, policy dates and requested endorsements alongside price.
- Ask about changes. Find out how adding a drone, pilot or new activity during the policy period is handled.
For an organized list of what to prepare, use our drone insurance quote checklist.
Request a price for your operation
Have your equipment list, pilot details, planned activities, client requirements and preferred start date ready. BWI currently requires a Part 107 certificate for drone quote requests, including recreational flying; contact the team if you need to confirm eligibility.
Review the requirements and start your drone insurance quote, or call 800-666-4359. For business operations and fleet questions, see commercial drone insurance.
Reviewed November 4, 2026. Premiums and available terms depend on the insurer and the details submitted. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, exclusions and underwriting approval. A quote request does not bind coverage.
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