Drone insurance through Hienfeld
In law a drone is an aircraft. That is why damage caused with one rarely falls under an ordinary liability policy and a separate policy is needed.
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- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
Finass acts as an intermediary through Hienfeld, among others, a party focusing on unusual risks that do not fit a standard policy. The wider range is set out at Hienfeld. We compare that objectively with other insurers. Drone insurance consists of two parts. The liability cover pays for injury and damage to property that you cause to others with the aircraft, under Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code. The own-damage cover pays for damage to or loss of the aircraft itself, including the camera and the gimbal.
The reason for a separate policy is the aircraft exclusion. Both personal liability insurance and the business public and employers' liability insurance normally exclude damage caused by powered aircraft. Some private policies cover a light drone under a model aircraft extension, but often only up to a limited weight and solely for hobby use. As soon as you fly for payment, that exception falls away.
European rules apply to the flying itself. Pilots register as an operator, obtain a certificate of competency for the open category and keep to the subcategory in which the aircraft is certified. Heavier aircraft, flights beyond visual line of sight or over people fall within the specific category and require an operational authorisation. Insurers link cover directly to those rules: if you fly outside your category, cover falls away.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare professional indemnity insurance (BAV).
The same independent view, whatever insurer
We work with dozens of insurers and choose whichever fits your situation best — not whichever pays us the most. That means advice built around you, not around one brand.
Insurers
Independent
AdviceWhy arrange it through Finass Verzekert?
We look at the terms as well as the premium, and stay your point of contact when there is a claim.
Independent
We are not tied to one insurer and compare on the basis of an objective analysis of several companies.
One fixed adviser
You call or email someone who knows your file. No menu options, no changing call centres.
Switching without hassle
We cancel your old policy and align the start date, so you are never a day without cover.
Help with claims
We report the claim and monitor how it is handled. In urgent cases you can reach us on the emergency line.
What to look out for
Four conditions that make the difference between cover and no cover when using a drone.
Flying outside the rules is flying without cover
Almost always excluded is flying without valid registration or a certificate of competency, over crowds, in prohibited areas such as the vicinity of airports and nature reserves, and beyond visual line of sight or in the dark without the required exemption. Print out or keep digitally your registration number, your certificate of competency and the flight preparation. Those documents are requested when you claim.
Own-damage cover has its own limitations
Usually not covered are wear, inherent defect and software faults, damage during maintenance or modification carried out by you, and loss of the aircraft without an identifiable cause. An aircraft that flies away is judged differently from a collision. Update the firmware, keep the flight logs and follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. That is your evidence.
Privacy and image rights are not damage to property
A complaint about filming near homes, a request for removal or a dispute about the use of footage gives rise to pure financial loss. That falls outside liability cover for injury and damage to property. If you fly professionally, that risk belongs on a professional indemnity insurance. An administrative fine is for your own account in any event, because a penalty is not compensation for loss.
Hobby or profession is a fundamental difference
If you fly for inspections, property photography, events or agricultural surveys, that is business use and it changes both the premium and the cover. Report it when you apply. If you conceal the commercial use, the insurer can rely on Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and reduce or refuse the payout under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code.
What does your premium depend on?
- Weight and type of aircraft: determines the category and the potential for damage
- Value of the drone and the camera: the basis for the own-damage cover
- Hobby or professional use: commercial flights weigh more heavily
- Flight category: open or specific category with authorisation
- Flying area: the Netherlands, Europe or beyond
- Experience and certificates of competency: demonstrable training reduces the risk
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | AVP | Drone insurance |
|---|---|---|
| A gust of wind pushes your aircraft against a facade and a window is broken | No | Yes |
| A bystander suffers cuts from the propellers during take-off | No | Yes |
| A 250-gram aircraft falls on the neighbour's car during hobby use | Provided that | Yes |
| The gimbal and camera are damaged in a hard landing on a field | No | Yes |
| You are filming a wedding for payment and damage the marquee structure | No | Provided that |
| Your drone is stolen from the car after the flight | No | Provided that |
The liability cover is about what you do to someone else, the own-damage cover about the aircraft itself. You rarely have both automatically.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Is my drone covered on my liability insurance at home?
Usually not in full. Most private policies exclude aircraft and at most make an exception for light model aircraft in hobby use, up to a limited weight. If you fly something heavier, above the permitted height or for payment, there is no cover. Read the exclusion word for word and, if in doubt, ask for written confirmation before you assume anything.
What if my drone hits someone?
You are liable if the damage can be attributed to your act or omission, under Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code. Personal injury can run high because of loss of income and lasting consequences. The liability cover of the drone insurance is the safety net for that. Report the incident straight away, even without a claim, because Article 7:941 DCC requires you to report in good time.
Does the policy apply abroad as well?
Only within the area of cover set out on the policy schedule. Many policies cover the Netherlands or the European Union; beyond that you have to arrange it separately. Note too that aviation rules differ from country to country in maximum height, distance from people and registration requirements. A flight permitted here can be an offence elsewhere and therefore fall outside the cover.
Am I insured if someone else flies my drone?
That depends on the description of the insured parties. Some policies cover only the pilot named on the policy, others any authorised user with a valid certificate of competency. Have co-users expressly included if you share the aircraft within a club or a business. Without that mention, the user faces the costs themselves if there is damage.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
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