Norwest NSW
Drone Insurance
Drones are now part of everyday work. Surveyors, builders, farmers, photographers, real estate agents and inspection crews all use them. They're also easy to lose. One bad gust, a flat battery or a moment's lost signal, and you could be looking at a wrecked aircraft or a claim from someone on the ground.
The catch is that most standard business policies don't cover drones. Public liability policies often exclude aircraft, and that includes unmanned ones. If you fly a drone for work, you'll usually need cover of its own.
Looking for a local broker? Talk to insurance brokers in Norwest about drone cover for your work.
Who it suits
Drone cover for work and high-value flying
Surveyors, mapping and inspection operators
Builders, engineers and property managers
Farmers and agricultural operators
Real estate agents and marketing businesses
Recreational pilots with a high-value drone
What it can cover
- Damage to the drone. Crashes, collisions, fire, theft and, depending on the policy, loss of the aircraft in flight.
- Liability. Injury to people or damage to property caused by your drone.
- Payload and attached equipment. Cameras, sensors, thermal and LiDAR units, gimbals and controllers.
- Accessories and ground equipment. Remotes, batteries, chargers and cases, in some policies.
- Worldwide or interstate cover, if you fly away from home.
What to check
- Whether you're flying commercially. Insurers treat commercial and recreational flying differently, and your cover has to match what you do.
- Your approvals. CASA has registration, accreditation and licensing rules that depend on the weight of the drone and how it's used. Insurers will often ask about them. Check casa.gov.au for the current requirements.
- Pilot experience. Many insurers ask about hours flown and training.
- Where you fly. Flying near people, roads, airports or over crowds changes the risk.
- Exclusions. Flying outside the rules, flying in unsuitable weather and mechanical failure are common ones.
- The liability limit. Some clients and sites ask for $10 million or more.
Case study
An example
A building inspector is using a drone to survey a roof when it loses signal and drops onto a parked car. The car is badly damaged and the drone is a write-off. Liability cover can respond to the owner's repair bill, and the drone's hull cover can pay for the aircraft and the thermal camera on it, less the excess. Without a drone policy, the inspector pays for both.
Illustrative example only. Cover depends on your policy wording.
Contact us
To put a quote together, we'll ask about:
We're based at Suite 2.02, 2-8 Brookhollow Ave, Norwest NSW. Call 02 8660 2305 or email admin@idealbrokers.com.au.
Based in Norwest — see our insurance brokers in Norwest hub for other local covers.
Ideal Insurance Brokers, Norwest NSW 2153. Ideal Brokers Pty Ltd (CAR No. 001262504 | ABN 65 623 205 952) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Metrix Connect Pty Ltd ACN 635 286 136 as the trustee for the Metrix Connect Hybrid Trust ABN 55 742 327 931 | AFSL No. 525491. This page contains general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying.
Drone insurance FAQs
Often not. Many public liability policies exclude aircraft. Send us your policy and we'll check.
It's not the same as a business, but if your drone is expensive or you fly near people and property, cover is worth thinking about.
Some policies do, some don't. We'll tell you straight what yours says.
Only if the payload is included. Tell us what you attach to the drone.
Yes. We can arrange a certificate of currency when a client or site asks for proof of cover.
Cover can be extended in some policies. Tell us where.