They cover different things, so many pilots have both. DJI Care Refresh is a replacement plan for your own DJI drone: if you crash it, drop it in water or (once) lose it in a flyaway, DJI replaces it for a set service fee. Drone insurance usually means liability coverage: it pays if your drone injures someone or damages property. Hobby flyers often only need Care Refresh. Anyone flying for money should carry liability insurance, because clients ask for it and Care Refresh doesn't cover other people.
What DJI Care Refresh covers
From DJI's US Care Refresh page, for camera drones:
- Collision, water damage, flyaway and natural wear.
- 1-year plan: 2 replacements, including 1 for flyaway. 2-year plan: 4 replacements, including 2 for flyaway.
- Official warranty extended for the plan period.
- DJI Care Express to ship a replacement quickly (not for flyaway cases).
- Free shipping on replacement products.
Each replacement has a service fee set by DJI for your model. Flyaway coverage needs the drone bound to your DJI account and linked to its controller. See DJI Care Refresh explained and how to claim.
The catch: buy it with the drone or within 48 hours of activation. After that, DJI requires a video check. Coverage and prices vary by model, so check that a US plan exists for yours; see is Care Refresh available in the US.
What drone insurance covers
- Liability: bodily injury and property damage you cause. Typical client requirement: $1 million.
- Hull (optional): damage to or loss of your own drone and payload, priced on its value.
- Formats: on-demand hourly, monthly or annual policies.
The FAA doesn't require insurance for recreational or Part 107 flights. Typical liability prices are covered in drone insurance cost.
Is DJI Care Refresh worth it?
For most new pilots, yes. It costs a fraction of the drone, most crashes happen in the first weeks, and a replacement fee is far cheaper than a new drone. At our prices, a 1-year plan is $98 for the Mini 4 Pro, $76 for the Avata 2 and $164 for the Air 3S. It's especially good value for FPV drones like the Avata 2 that fly close to obstacles.
Is drone insurance worth it?
- Commercial work: yes. It's usually a condition of the job.
- Hobby flying: consider liability coverage if you fly near people, roads or property. Check whether your homeowners policy excludes drones, and note that AMA membership includes liability coverage for recreational flying under AMA rules. See does homeowners insurance cover drones.
- Expensive enterprise drones: hull coverage can make sense where Care Refresh isn't offered.
Our recommendation
| You are | Get |
|---|---|
| Hobby pilot with a Mini or Air | Care Refresh |
| FPV pilot | Care Refresh, plus liability if you fly near people |
| Part 107 pilot doing paid work | Liability insurance, plus Care Refresh for the drone |
| Drone you can't get a US Care plan for | Hull plus liability insurance |
Add a plan when you buy: Care Refresh for Mini 4 Pro or for Air 3S. Comparing plan lengths? See Care Refresh 1-year vs 2-year.
Related guides
- Can DJI Care Refresh be transferred to a new owner?
- DJI Care Refresh 1-year vs 2-year plan: which to buy?
- DJI Care Refresh explained
- How to buy and activate DJI Care Refresh (48-hour rule and video verification)
- How to file a DJI Care Refresh claim (and what it costs)
- Is DJI Care Refresh still available in the US?
Not sure which to pick?
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