The FAA doesn't require insurance for recreational or Part 107 flying in the US. But most clients, venues and property managers require liability insurance before you fly for them, usually $1 million. Liability covers damage or injury you cause to others; it doesn't fix your own drone. For that you need hull coverage or a plan like DJI Care Refresh.
The two kinds of coverage
| Liability | Hull (equipment) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays for | Injury or damage you cause to people or property | Damage to your own drone and gear |
| Who asks for it | Clients, venues, cities, property managers | Nobody requires it |
| Common limit | $1 million | The drone's insured value |
| Alternatives | Homeowners policy (sometimes), club membership | DJI Care Refresh |
Liability is the one that protects you from a large bill. A drone that hits a parked car, a roof or a person can cost far more than the drone itself.
Hull coverage makes sense for expensive drones and payloads. For a Mini or Air, DJI Care Refresh is usually the simpler way to cover crashes.
How you can buy it
- On-demand (hourly or daily). Buy coverage for a single job from an app. Typical advertised prices run about $10 to $15 per hour for $1 million in liability. Good for a few jobs a year. See on-demand drone insurance.
- Monthly. Useful for a wedding or real estate season.
- Annual. Best once you fly paid work most weeks. Typical advertised starting prices are several hundred dollars a year for $1 million. Full ranges are in drone insurance cost.
Recreational pilots
- Homeowners or renters insurance sometimes covers hobby drone liability, but many policies exclude aircraft, and some define aircraft to include drones. Ask your agent in writing. See does homeowners insurance cover drones.
- Club membership. Academy of Model Aeronautics membership includes liability coverage for recreational members flying under AMA rules.
- Flying abroad. Several European countries require liability insurance for drones.
How DJI Care Refresh fits in
DJI Care Refresh isn't insurance. It replaces your damaged DJI drone for a fixed service fee, covering crashes and water damage, and on many 1-year plans one flyaway. It never pays for harm to others. Most pilots who fly for money pair Care Refresh with a liability policy instead of buying hull coverage on a small drone.
Two rules to know:
- For most drones, you must buy it within 48 hours of activating the drone.
- It has to be bought in the same country or region as the drone.
Plans in our store: Care Refresh for Mini 4 Pro ($98) and Care Refresh for Air 3S ($164).
What policies usually exclude
- Illegal flights, such as controlled airspace without authorization or flying inside a TFR
- Business use on a personal policy
- Flights outside the time or area you bought, for on-demand plans
- Your own drone on a liability-only policy
- Some higher-risk work, like crop spraying or flights over crowds, which may need a specialist policy
Flyaways are a gray area. Read does drone insurance cover flyaways before you rely on hull coverage for a lost drone.
How to choose a policy
- Ask your clients what they require: the liability limit, and whether they must be named as an additional insured.
- Decide whether you need hull coverage, or whether Care Refresh covers your drone well enough.
- Get quotes from two or three drone insurers, at the same limit.
- Read the exclusions, especially for flyaways, theft and flying abroad.
- Save the certificate of insurance where you can send it to a client in a minute.
Quick answers
Is drone insurance required by law in the US? Not by the FAA. Some cities, parks and venues require it to fly on their property.
Do I need insurance for a Mini under 250 g? Not by law. Liability is still worth having if you fly near people or property.
Does Part 107 include insurance? No. The certificate is a pilot credential only.
Rules and prices current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Starting a drone business? Read how to start a drone business for licensing, insurance and gear.
Related guides
- DJI Care Refresh vs drone insurance: which do you need?
- Does drone insurance or DJI Care cover a lost or flyaway drone?
- Drone insurance for flying in Europe (what US pilots need)
- Protecting your DJI Air 3S: Care Refresh, warranty and insurance
- Protecting your DJI Mini 4 Pro: DJI Care Refresh, warranty and insurance
- Protecting your DJI Mini 5 Pro: DJI Care Refresh, warranty and insurance
Not sure which to pick?
Tell us what you'll fly and your budget. One of our drone pilots will reply with a recommendation.
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