Whether you’re a student pilot flying with multiple CFIs, a shared owner with friends, or simply want flexibility with your aircraft, there’s one clause in your policy that matters more than most.
The Open Pilot Warranty.
At BWI, we write dozens of Cirrus SR20 policies every year, and open pilot warranties are one of the most misunderstood parts of the coverage.
In this post, we’re breaking down:
- What open pilot warranties are
- Why they matter
- And how to make sure yours fits how you actually fly
What Is an Open Pilot Warranty?
An Open Pilot Warranty (OPW) is a clause in your insurance policy that defines who else can fly your aircraft, without needing to be named on the policy.
Without it, your coverage might be restricted to only you or only listed pilots.
That means if you let your CFI or a safety pilot fly your SR20, even for a short hop, you could void your policy if they don’t meet the criteria.
What Does a Typical OPW Include?
Most underwriters set requirements like:
- Minimum total time (ex: 250 hours)
- Minimum time in make/model (ex: 25 hours in SR20 or similar)
- Pilot certificate level (Private, Commercial, etc.)
- Recent flight review or medical
- No claims or violations in the last 5 years
If another pilot meets all of those criteria, they can fly your aircraft legally under your policy.
If they don’t?
You’re taking a serious risk.
What Happens If You Don’t Have One?
Let’s say you let your CFI fly your SR20 solo to reposition the aircraft, and your OPW isn’t written to include instructors.
If something happens during that flight, you may not be covered.
We’ve seen policies denied for that exact reason.
Who Needs an OPW?
Open pilot warranties are especially important for:
- Student pilots with multiple instructors
- Aircraft co-owners
- Flying clubs or partnerships
- Anyone who occasionally has a CFI or friend fly their aircraft
If any of those apply to you, your OPW matters, a lot.
How We Customize Your Warranty at BWI
At BWI, we customize every SR20 policy based on:
- How you fly
- Who else flies the aircraft
- Whether you’re training or instructing
- Whether you need instructor-specific language or shared ownership coverage
We work directly with underwriters to make sure your OPW gives you flexibility, without risking your coverage.
Ready to Review Your Policy?
If you’re not 100% sure who can fly your SR20 under your current policy, let’s fix that today.
Call (800) 666-4359 or click below to get a fast, clear quote, with the right open pilot warranty for how you fly.
GET A CIRRUS SR20 QUOTE
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