For hobby flying with a drone under 20kg, insurance is optional under the CAA's rules, but you remain personally liable if you cause injury or damage. For paid work, or any aircraft of 20kg or more, third-party liability insurance is required. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
These points come from the CAA's Drone and Model Aircraft Code (March 2026 edition), as of October 2026. Rules and policy terms change, so check both before you rely on them.
When insurance is required
| Use | Weight | Insurance position |
|---|---|---|
| Fun, recreation, sport or hobby | Under 20kg | Optional, though you remain personally liable |
| Any other use, such as paid filming, surveys or work | Under 20kg | Third-party liability insurance required |
| Any use | 20kg and above | Third-party insurance always required |
The test is the purpose of the flight, not the camera or the price of the drone. If you are paid, or the flight supports a business, treat it as non-hobby use. If you are unsure if your flying counts as hobby use, ask the CAA or a qualified adviser.
What a policy usually covers
Drone policies commonly include third-party liability, meaning injury to other people or damage to their property. Some also cover loss, theft or damage to the drone itself. These are separate parts of cover, so check which ones a policy includes rather than assuming.
Third-party liability matters because the cost of a collision with a car, a person or a building can far exceed the value of the drone. The CAA is explicit that hobby flyers remain personally liable without it.
What to check in the policy wording
- Territory: does it cover the UK, and does it cover flights abroad if you travel?
- Excess: how much you pay on a claim.
- Exclusions: conditions or locations that are not covered, such as night flying, flying near airports, or flying without valid IDs.
- Who can fly: whether cover continues if a friend or family member flies your drone.
- Compliance conditions: some policies require you to hold a valid Flyer ID and Operator ID, so confirm yours are current. See UK drone rules: Flyer ID and Operator ID.
- Sum insured for the third-party element, and whether it is per claim or per year.
- Whether the drone is covered only while flying, or also in storage and transit.
Annual cover or pay-as-you-fly
Annual policies suit regular flyers, since the cost is spread over many flights. Short-term or per-flight options can suit occasional users or one-off jobs. Compare the total cost across a year based on how often you realistically fly, and compare the wording as well as the price. Policies from different providers vary in what they exclude.
Cover for the drone itself is a separate question. Compare the replacement cost with the premium and the excess, and consider whether a manufacturer's own care plan fits better. Terms vary, so read them.
Why hobby flyers still consider it
The CAA states that without insurance you remain personally liable. Think through a plausible bad outcome: a drone failing and landing on a parked car, a window or a person. The repair cost or a claim from the injured person would fall on you. For some flyers that risk is small enough to carry themselves. For others, particularly those flying near property, busy paths or events, cover is a sensible expense. This is a personal decision, and nothing here is advice on what you should buy.
Home insurance policies may have their own wording on drones. Read the document or ask the provider in writing, rather than assuming your existing cover applies.
Questions to ask before you buy a policy
A good policy summary should answer these without hunting. If it does not, ask the provider in writing and keep the reply.
- Does the policy match my use, hobby or paid, and say so in the schedule?
- What third-party limit applies, and is it per incident or per year?
- Are there conditions about IDs, weight, class mark or where I fly?
- What happens if I fly abroad, or if I lend the drone to someone?
- What is the excess, and how do I make a claim?
Keep a copy of the policy with your drone documents, together with your Flyer ID and Operator ID details, so you can show them to a landowner, event organiser or client who asks.
Other things insurance does not fix
Insurance does not make an unlawful flight lawful. Flying without required IDs, in a restricted zone or over crowds can breach the rules regardless of cover, and may also breach your policy conditions. Read where you can fly a drone in the UK to stay within the rules.
If you plan to fly for payment, the Open Category hobby position no longer applies and third-party insurance is required. Commercial operations can also involve additional CAA permissions, so check the CAA's guidance on remote pilot qualifications before accepting work.
Frequently asked questions
Is drone insurance compulsory for hobby flying?
Not for aircraft under 20kg flown for fun or hobby, but you remain personally liable for any damage or injury.
When is third-party insurance required?
For any use other than hobby under 20kg, such as paid filming, and always for aircraft of 20kg or more.
Does insurance cover damage to my own drone?
Only if the policy includes it. Third-party liability and cover for the drone itself are separate, so read what is included.
Does the policy cover someone else flying my drone?
It varies by policy. Check the wording on who is allowed to fly and whether valid IDs are a condition.