Coveragejet

Widespread use of drones—private and commercial—poses various risks, ranging from safety to privacy of individuals. Risks arising from the use of drones could best be managed by property and casualty insurers, but only once defined drone operational requirements and performance standards are in place. Complete and clear drone regulation, by the states and the FAA, is necessary before insurers can meet policyholder needs.

 Recently, federal regulators announced that recreational drone operators will soon need to register their aircraft. This will allow authorities to trace a drone back to an owner which means it's vital that you're in compliance with laws and regulations and have the appropriate insurance coverage.

What about Drone insurance? RE

Drone insurance under your policy

If your homeowners or renters insurance policy does cover recreational drones, it likely would:

Reimburse you if the drone is stolen, or if it’s damaged by a disaster covered in the policy, such as a fire.

Good to know: The deductible — the amount subtracted from a claim check — would apply. There might also be a dollar limit on coverage. Ask your insurance company if you can buy more coverage if your drone is worth more than the limit. A renters or homeowners policy will not cover your drone if it crashes or you lose it.

 Pay medical expenses if the drone injures someone.

Good to know: The policy would not cover injuries to family members or pets. The expenses it pays would be limited to the amount of no-fault medical coverage in the policy. If those expenses exceeded the limit and you were sued, then your liability insurance would kick in.

Pay legal expenses and court awards if you’re sued for injuries or property damage the drone causes.

Good to know: You’re on the hook for any damages above the policy’s liability limit. Home or renters insurance will not cover damage by your drone to your own home or car. But your car insurance would cover vehicle damage if you purchased comprehensive insurance, an option that covers damage from falling objects and other disasters.

 What renters or home insurance doesn’t cover

Your renters or homeowners insurance won’t cover you if your drone is used for the following reasons:

 For business purposes. A renters or home insurance policy doesn’t cover business use. Even a simple transaction — say a friend pays you 20 bucks to take photos of his backyard — would count as business use, Hilton says.

To spy on somebody, Hilton says. For example: You hover the drone outside a neighbor’s window, take photos and then are sued for invasion of privacy. Insurance policies won’t cover intentional acts.

A homeowners insurance policy might cover you if you inadvertently take photos of someone else and are sued, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

No insurance policy, though, will cover you for deliberate acts, such as trying to hurt someone or spy on others.

 Where else to find drone insurance

Look for coverage elsewhere if you don’t have home or renters insurance, or if you want more protection than a home or renters insurance policy provides.

 REMOTE CONTROL AIRCRAFT CLUB MEMBERSHIP

One way to get drone insurance is to join a remote-controlled aircraft club that offers insurance. Annual membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics comes with:

Drone insurance coverage is an unavoidable necessity given the anticapated popularity of these machines. Do your homework to determine if you have coverage.