Liability Insurance for My New Drone… Any Tips?

Drone Insurance Forum
1

Hey everyone,

I’m new to drones and just got a Mini 3 for fun. I’ve been watching tutorials and reading up on the basics, and I’ve seen a lot of stories about drones falling out of the sky or accidentally flying into someone’s house.

I hope I never have to deal with that, but I’m thinking it might be wise to get liability insurance just in case. I tried searching online, but I didn’t find much info on where to get it.

Do beginners usually get liability insurance? I looked into AMA and SkyWatch, but their annual fees are more than I paid for my drone. Anyone know of other options that might be more affordable for beginners?

Thanks for your help!

2

Honestly, no need. A small drone like the Mini isn’t going to cause serious damage. The worst that could happen is it crashes into a window, and you’re out maybe $200 to replace it. Nothing major.

3

Hollis said:
Honestly, no need. A small drone like the Mini isn’t going to cause serious damage. The worst that could happen is it crashes into a window, and you’re out maybe $200 to replace it. Nothing major.

But what if the drone falls on a car or hits someone? In the US, people sue for everything, even minor accidents. The costs could add up fast.

4

@Arie
Yeah, that’s what worries me. It doesn’t take much for someone to file a lawsuit. Even minor damage could lead to a big problem, and I’ve heard of people being sued years later, claiming long-term issues.

5

@Lior
I still don’t think it’s necessary. I mean, I could trip and knock something over, but I don’t carry ‘walking insurance.’ If you hit someone at full speed with a Mini, it’s unlikely to do much damage.

6

@Hollis
Tripping and piloting a drone are not the same. If your drone fails mid-air or you lose control, you’re responsible for any damage.

7

Arie said:
@Hollis
Tripping and piloting a drone are not the same. If your drone fails mid-air or you lose control, you’re responsible for any damage.

I just can’t see it causing real harm. Maybe if someone wants to make a fuss, they’ll claim ‘emotional distress’ every time they see a drone.

8

@Hollis
What if your drone falls out of the sky and hits a moving car? The driver could swerve and cause a serious accident. Would insurance cover all that?

9

Jory said:
@Hollis
What if your drone falls out of the sky and hits a moving car? The driver could swerve and cause a serious accident. Would insurance cover all that?

If that ever happened, I’d make sure to help anyone who got hurt… and quietly recover the drone so no one could trace it back to me, haha!

10

I have similar concerns. The FAA holds the remote pilot responsible for everything that happens during a flight. Even if you’re flying legally and something goes wrong, you could be liable.

When I looked into insurance, I was told it’s cheaper if you get your Part 107 certification and take some training courses. I’m studying for my 107 now!

11

There’s a free game on Steam that’s a drone simulator. You can connect your controller and practice flying without any risk.

12

Keelan said:
There’s a free game on Steam that’s a drone simulator. You can connect your controller and practice flying without any risk.

Do you know what the game is called?

13

Lior said:

Keelan said:
There’s a free game on Steam that’s a drone simulator. You can connect your controller and practice flying without any risk.

Do you know what the game is called?

It’s called ‘Google,’ lol.

14

Lior said:

Keelan said:
There’s a free game on Steam that’s a drone simulator. You can connect your controller and practice flying without any risk.

Do you know what the game is called?

It’s called FPVSkyDive.

15

@Keelan
Thanks! This is super helpful.

16

@Keelan
Hey, I tried FPVSkyDive, but it doesn’t seem to work with my DJI RC remote. It only supports DJI’s FPV controllers. Do you know of any other simulators that might work with the DJI RC?