Drones and insurance... a warning.

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Eloise

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Eloise
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Just a warning to everyone... if you have a drone and think it’s covered on household insurance because you have personal possessions coverage which covers your photographic equipment: check your policy as you may not be covered.

Insurers apparently consider drones as vehicles, and as such are excluded from many policies’ personal possessions clause.

An expensive assumption to make...
 
Eloise said:
Just a warning to everyone... if you have a drone and think it’s covered on household insurance because you have personal possessions coverage which covers your photographic equipment: check your policy as you may not be covered.

Insurers apparently consider drones as vehicles, and as such are excluded from many policies’ personal possessions clause.

An expensive assumption to make...
Click to expand...

....If drones are specifically excluded from cover, then that's how the cookie crumbles. But drones are not 'vehicles' - Vehicles are land based. Fundamentally, drones are a form of aircraft and no doubt aircraft are also excluded from household insurance. What about model aeroplane insurance?

Some drones have a built-in camera and most can have a camera attached and so it might be argued that they are a flying camera. However, the insurance company has the last word.

Surely an insurer could include drones under household but with the proviso that their insurance does not cover while in flight.

All my photographic gear is insured on my household policy while flying worldwide (in any aircraft).
 
RedRobin said:
But drones are not 'vehicles'
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Well drones are officially “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” ... so yes they are vehicles under that.

Anyway I wasn’t wanting to start a debate about the rights and wrongs of the insurance definition, just raise it to people’s attention.

I perhaps should have said “Many Insurers apparently consider drones as vehicles, and as such are excluded from many policies’ personal possessions clause.”
 
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This is also the case with many specialist photography policies too. Mine specifically excludes drones. At the moment it makes no difference to me but it also certainly makes me less likely to buy one in the short term.
 
It's never worth 'assuming' anything with insurance companies. Always check if your latest 'toy' will be included/covered, and if so, any restrictions that apply.
 
Ploddles said:
It's never worth 'assuming' anything with insurance companies. Always check if your latest 'toy' will be included/covered, and if so, any restrictions that apply.
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Exactly... that was the point of my post. Often it’s commented “I have my camera as personal possessions on household insurance” when someone asks about insurance. Well you should check especially with drones!
 
Have a word with the BMFA, they cover all sorts of RC aircraft for use in most circumstances. If they cannot cover you for your specific needs then I am sure they will be able to point you in the right direction.

P.S. I don't know of anybody who covers first party damage loss, this sort of insurance is third party! Given that there are people like me flying things very fast and very close to the ground - only a fool would offer first party cover!;)
 
I have a Mavic Pro and have had drones since the phantom,
Morethan home insurance won’t even look at it due to it being an aircraft,
They cover all my camera gear but just not the drone,
Some other insurers may be different
 
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