Drone Insurance Cost – What You Need to Know Before You Buy

How Much Does Drone Insurance Cost?

One of the first questions drone pilots ask us is:

“How much does drone insurance cost?”

The short answer: it depends, but policies can start as low as $250/year for liability-only coverage. The long answer involves a number of factors, which we’ll break down here so you can budget for your protection and get the coverage that fits your needs.

At BWI Aviation Insurance, we’ve been helping pilots protect their aircraft for over 45 years. In this guide, you’ll learn:

Typical price ranges for different drone uses
What factors impact your premium
How to save money without sacrificing coverage
Real-world cost examples for recreational, commercial, and specialized drone operations

Typical Drone Insurance Price Ranges

Below are general estimates for annual premiums. Your actual cost may vary based on your drone, coverage, and risk profile.

Factors That Affect Drone Insurance Cost

Type of Coverage

Liability-Only: Cheapest option; covers injury or property damage you cause to others.
Hull Coverage: Adds protection for your own drone and attached equipment, raises premium based on the insured value.
Payload Coverage: Additional cost for high-value equipment like LiDAR or cinema cameras.
Non-Owned Coverage: Covers drones you rent or borrow, often a must for subcontractors.

Learn more: Drone Liability Insurance | Hull Insurance for Drones

Value of Your Drone

The higher your drone’s replacement cost, the higher your premium if you add hull coverage.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: ~$1,000 replacement value
DJI Mavic 3 Pro: ~$2,200 replacement value
DJI Inspire 2 with X7 camera: $8,000–$12,000 replacement value
DJI Matrice 300 RTK with LiDAR: $20,000+ replacement value

Type of Operation

Commercial flights generally cost more to insure than recreational flights because they involve more exposure, higher equipment values, and contractual requirements.

Recreational hobbyist → lowest premiums
Commercial real estate photographer → moderate premiums
Industrial or agricultural operator → higher premiums due to risk factors

Coverage Limits

Higher liability limits = higher premiums.
$1M is common for commercial operations; some contracts require $2M, $5M, or even $10M.

Pilot Experience & Training

Pilots with FAA Part 107 certification, formal UAV training, and a clean safety record often get better rates.

See: Part 107 Drone Insurance

Duration of Coverage

Annual Policies: Best long-term value for frequent flyers.
Short-Term Policies: More expensive on a per-day basis but useful for one-off events or seasonal work.

See: Temporary Drone Insurance

Drone Insurance Cost Examples:

Recreational Pilot with DJI Mini 4 Pro

Coverage: $1M liability
Cost: ~$250/year
Add hull coverage for $1,000 value: ~$90–$150 more per year

Real Estate Photographer with DJI Mavic 3

Coverage: $1M liability + $2,200 hull
Cost: ~$600–$800/year
Meets typical client and venue requirements

Agriculture Operator with DJI Matrice 300 RTK + LiDAR

Coverage: $1M liability + $20K hull + $12K payload
Cost: ~$1,200–$1,500/year
Essential for large-scale, high-value operations

How BWI Helps You Save on Drone Insurance

We shop the top aviation insurers to get you the most competitive rates.
Custom coverage so you’re not paying for what you don’t need.
Multi-drone policies for operators with multiple UAVs.
Fast quotes so you can start flying with coverage in place.

See: About BWI

BWI vs. DJI Care Refresh on Cost

Many DJI pilots compare DJI drone insurance to BWI’s policies. DJI Care Refresh is a service plan that covers repair/replacement but not liability, meaning you could still face massive out-of-pocket costs if your drone injures someone or damages property.