Updated: October 14, 2025

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Key Takeaways
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Drone business insurance costs $277 to $346 annually on average, varying by coverage type, location and industry specifics.

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Your drone insurance rates depend on where you operate, past claims and team size.

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Shop multiple business insurers, bundle coverage, raise deductibles and pay yearly to lower drone insurance costs.

How Much Is Insurance for a Drone Business?

We found average business insurance costs for drone companies for commonly needed coverage are as follows:

  • Complete Drone Insurance Bundle: $158 per month or $1,891 yearly for combined BOP, workers' comp and professional liability coverage.
  • General Liability Cost: $17 monthly or $201 annually
  • Workers' Compensation Cost: $27 per month or $322 per year
  • Professional Liability Cost: $106 per month or $1,273 annually
  • Business Owners Policy (BOP) Cost: $25 monthly or $297 annually
BOP$25$297
General Liability$17$201
Professional Liability (E&O)$106$1,273
Workers' Comp$27$322

Note: We based these rates on small businesses with two employees across 79 major industries, focusing on four coverage types: general liability, professional liability/errors and omissions (E&O), workers' comp and business owner's policy. Your actual rates will vary based on your specific business factors and location.

Get Matched to Cheap Drone Business Insurers

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Industry
State

Drone Business Insurance Cost of General Liability Coverage by State

Your drone business insurance cost for general liability coverage depends on where you operate. Maine delivers the lowest rates at $15 monthly compared to the $17 national average, while New York reaches $19 monthly.

Alabama$16$196
Alaska$15$179
Arizona$16$190
Arkansas$16$193
California$19$224
Colorado$17$199
Connecticut$18$218
Delaware$18$215
Florida$18$218
Georgia$17$204
Hawaii$17$209
Idaho$16$191
Illinois$18$221
Indiana$16$196
Iowa$16$191
Kansas$16$195
Kentucky$16$186
Louisiana$19$223
Maine$15$174
Maryland$16$192
Massachusetts$18$211
Michigan$16$190
Minnesota$16$188
Mississippi$17$202
Missouri$17$198
Montana$17$200
Nebraska$16$190
Nevada$19$228
New Hampshire$17$200
New Jersey$19$228
New Mexico$17$202
New York$19$234
North Carolina$15$174
North Dakota$15$175
Ohio$16$187
Oklahoma$16$187
Oregon$16$187
Pennsylvania$19$232
Rhode Island$18$221
South Carolina$17$207
South Dakota$16$188
Tennessee$16$196
Texas$17$203
Utah$16$191
Vermont$16$193
Virginia$15$183
Washington$19$228
West Virginia$18$211
Wisconsin$16$197
Wyoming$15$186

Note: We based these general liability rates on drone businesses with two employees across different states. Your rates will vary based on your location, claims history and the types of services you provide.

Drone Business Insurance Cost of Workers’ Compensation Coverage by State

The cost of workers' compensation insurance for drone businesses differs across states. Maine offers the most affordable rates at $23 monthly, while New York costs $31 monthly. State regulations and claim histories drive these pricing differences.

Alabama$26
Alaska$25
Arizona$25
Arkansas$26
California$30
Colorado$26
Connecticut$29
Delaware$29
Florida$29
Georgia$27
Hawaii$28
Idaho$25
Illinois$29
Indiana$26
Iowa$26
Kansas$26
Kentucky$25
Louisiana$31
Maine$23
Maryland$26
Massachusetts$28
Michigan$26
Minnesota$25
Mississippi$27
Missouri$27
Montana$26
Nebraska$26
Nevada$31
New Hampshire$27
New Jersey$31
New Mexico$27
New York$31
North Carolina$23
Oklahoma$25
Oregon$25
Pennsylvania$31
Rhode Island$29
South Carolina$28
South Dakota$25
Tennessee$26
Texas$27
Utah$26
Vermont$26
Virginia$24
West Virginia$28
Wisconsin$26

Note: We based these workers' comp rates on drone businesses with two employees across different states. Your workers' comp requirements and costs will vary by state since each has different regulations.

Drone Business Insurance Cost of Professional Liability Coverage by State

Professional liability cost depends on your state location. Businesses pay $107 monthly nationwide on average. North Dakota offers the most affordable rates at $91 monthly, while Pennsylvania businesses face the highest costs at $124 monthly.

Note: We based these professional liability rates on drone businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will depend on your services offered and location.

Drone Business Insurance Cost of BOP Coverage by State

Drone business insurance costs vary based on your state, with business owner's policy (BOP) coverage showing the most dramatic price differences. BOP insurance cost ranges from $22 monthly in Maine to $29 in Pennsylvania for the same coverage level.

Alabama$24
Alaska$22
Arizona$23
Arkansas$24
California$27
Colorado$25
Connecticut$27
Delaware$27
Florida$27
Georgia$25
Hawaii$25
Idaho$23
Illinois$27
Indiana$24
Iowa$24
Kansas$24
Kentucky$23
Louisiana$28
Maine$22
Maryland$24
Massachusetts$26
Michigan$24
Minnesota$23
Mississippi$25
Missouri$25
Montana$25
Nebraska$23
Nevada$28
New Hampshire$25
New Jersey$28
New Mexico$25
New York$28
North Carolina$22
North Dakota$22
Ohio$23
Oklahoma$23
Oregon$23
Pennsylvania$29
Rhode Island$27
South Carolina$26
South Dakota$23
Tennessee$24
Texas$25
Utah$24
Vermont$24
Virginia$23
Washington$28
West Virginia$26
Wisconsin$24
Wyoming$23

Note: We based these BOP rates on drone businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will vary based on your business size, location, and coverage needs.

Drone Business Insurance Cost by Provider

Drone business insurance costs vary widely by provider, ranging from $38 to $52 monthly. These price differences reflect each insurer's market focus and risk assessment strategies, which shift based on profitability and coverage expansion opportunities.

Chubb$52$620
Coverdash$43$521
Hiscox$45$535
NEXT Insurance$41$493
Nationwide$48$574
Progressive Commercial$42$510
Simply Business$44$529
The Hartford$38$457
Thimble$44$532
biBERK$42$507

Drone Business Insurance Cost Factors

Drone business insurance costs depend on multiple factors insurers review when determining your policy rates:

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    Geographic location

    Operating territory impacts insurance costs through airspace restrictions and regulatory complexity. Drone businesses near major airports, military installations or dense urban areas face heightened scrutiny and elevated premiums. 

    States with emerging drone regulations or high-value property concentrations create different risk environments affecting your rates.

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    Safety record and claims history

    Your flight history and incident record heavily influence insurance availability and pricing. Previous crashes, property damage or privacy complaints remain on your profile for years. 

    Pilots maintaining FAA Part 107 compliance, logging incident-free flight hours, and documenting safety protocols secure better rates than operators with checkered records.

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    Employee count and payroll

    Pilot headcount and crew composition determine workers' compensation expenses. Solo operators flying part-time maintain lean insurance costs, while companies employing multiple remote pilots, visual observers and data processors see premiums increase. 

    Ground crew face different risks than pilots, with each role carrying distinct workers' comp classifications.

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    Services offered

    Additional capabilities beyond basic aerial photography alter your risk profile. Offering thermal imaging, LiDAR scanning or photogrammetry mapping introduces technical failure exposures and professional liability for data accuracy.

    Providing editing, 3D modeling or inspection reporting services layers errors and omissions coverage beyond standard aviation liability.

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    Business size and revenue

    Annual income signals flight frequency and insurance requirements. Weekend pilots earning $25,000 from occasional real estate shoots need basic protection, while full-time operations generating $300,000 through commercial contracts require comprehensive coverage.

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    Coverage limits

    Liability limits you establish create major premium variations. Many operations start with $1 million coverage, though commercial clients and certificate of insurance requirements often demand $2 million to $5 million. 

    Hull insurance protecting your aircraft, non-owned hired drone coverage, and invasion of privacy protection all add costs beyond basic liability.

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    Equipment and vehicle values

    Your aircraft inventory fundamentally shapes hull and liability insurance costs. Hobbyist-grade drones under $1,000 need minimal coverage, while professional operations flying $20,000+ cinema drones or specialized industrial UAVs require substantial protection. 

    Fleet size, aircraft payload capacity and whether you carry expensive cameras or sensors all influence premium calculations.

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    Credit score and financial stability

    Financial health affects aviation insurance accessibility. Drone operators with excellent credit receive 18% to 40% discounts versus those with credit difficulties. 

    Strong credit demonstrates business stability in an emerging industry where insurers remain cautious about long-term viability and professional commitment.

How to Get Cheap Drone Business Insurance

Cutting your drone business insurance costs takes smart planning and careful comparison. Our guide helps you find cheap business insurance for your drone operations while improving your overall risk profile and protecting your business as it grows.

  1. 1
    Choose the right coverage types for your business

    Drone businesses require aviation liability to cover property damage and injuries from crashes, hull insurance for your aircraft and expensive camera equipment and general liability for ground-based risks at job sites. 

    Add professional liability if you provide services like roof inspections or surveying where errors in your deliverables could cause client losses.

  2. 2
    Shop multiple insurance companies

    Drone insurance premiums differ based on whether you fly for real estate photography, construction site mapping or complex cinematic productions. 

    Request quotes from three to four providers, comparing price and coverage for international flights, night operations, and flights over people if your work requires these.

  3. 3
    Bundle your coverage types

    Combining aviation liability, hull insurance, and general liability can save 12% to 18% compared to separate policies. Some insurers offer UAV-specific packages that include equipment coverage for multiple drones, batteries and ground control stations at reduced rates. 

    Bundling ensures coordinated coverage when a single incident involves both aircraft damage and third-party property claims, like crashing into a building.

  4. 4
    Increase your deductibles

    Hull insurance deductibles of $500 to $2,500 reduce premiums, but choose carefully based on your drone's replacement cost and how often you fly in challenging conditions. 

    Professional pilots with advanced certifications and clean safety records can often justify higher deductibles for better savings. Keep liability deductibles low since third-party damage claims from drone accidents can escalate quickly, especially if involving vehicles or structures.

  5. 5
    Pay annually instead of monthly

    Monthly installment plans for drone insurance add 5% to 9% in administrative charges that reduce your per-project profit margins. 

    Paying annually removes these fees entirely and may earn you a 6% to 8% discount for upfront payment. For a $3,000 annual policy, this combination could save $300 to $500 yearly, which you can reinvest in equipment upgrades or additional pilot training.

  6. 6
    Review and adjust your coverage annually

    Review coverage annually or whenever you purchase new drones, add pilots to your team, or expand into specialized services like thermal imaging or agricultural spraying. If you've obtained advanced waivers from the FAA for operations over people or beyond visual line of sight, notify your insurer as these approvals may affect your premiums.

Insurance for Drone Business Cost: Bottom Line

Drone business insurance costs between $23 and $29 per month, but your exact premium will depend on factors such as location, business size, and claims history. You can often lower your costs by comparing quotes from multiple insurers, bundling policies, selecting higher deductibles, and choosing annual payments over monthly ones.

Drone Insurance Cost: FAQ

Drone business owners commonly ask about insurance costs. We answered the most frequent questions below:

What is the cheapest type of drone business insurance?

How much does drone business insurance cost in expensive states like California and New York?

How much can I save by bundling my drone business insurance policies?

What factors make my drone business insurance more expensive?

Should I choose a $500 or $2,500 deductible for my drone business insurance?

How much does workers' compensation cost for drone businesses by state?

Is business owner's policy (BOP) worth the extra cost for drone companies?

How often should I shop around for drone business insurance quotes?

How We Determined Drone Business Insurance Costs

We collected drone business insurance quotes from companies across different states. For consistent comparisons, every quote used the same business setup:

  • Two employees (three people in total, including the owner)
  • $150,000 annual payroll
  • $300,000 annual revenue
  • Already insured status
  • $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all coverage except BOP, which includes the same limits plus $5,000 business property coverage

We used a typical small drone business profile requiring comprehensive coverage. We chose companies offering broad national coverage and online quote capabilities, prioritizing insurers that serve the drone industry.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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