Flying a drone can prove to be expensive, especially if you’re a beginner. Having reliable drone insurance can mitigate concerns regarding drone and property damage, or any unprecedented accidents. Additionally, Transport Canada requires all commercial drone operations to be insured. Therefore, here is a list of some of the best drone insurance providers in Canada:
Factors to consider before purchasing drone insurance
Coverage: Some companies only offer liability coverage that covers property damage or bodily injuries caused by their drone. Therefore, if the insurance company offers both liability and hull coverage (physical damage to your drone) it may be a better option. You may also find add-on coverage options for equipment, remote controls, etc.
Plans: This is another important factor to keep in mind while choosing drone insurance. For recreational drone pilots, purchasing an expensive annual plan wouldn’t be the best option. Therefore, hourly, monthly, and annual plans must be looked at and some companies also offer customized plans.
Coverage Amount: This is a good factor to watch for. The heavier the drone is the riskier it is for the people and property on the ground. Therefore, choosing a drone insurance provider which has a high liability coverage can help mitigate the concern of damage in case of a mishap.
Type of Drone: The type of drone insurance you buy largely depends on the type of drone you have and the operation. If it is a medium-sized drone, weighing around 2kg, operating around a lot of people and buildings, you may want a high liability and hull insurance. However, if you’re an FPV pilot flying in controlled and closed surroundings, recreational drone insurance with just hull coverage will do just fine. Therefore, analyze the type of drone and its operation to better understand your needs.
Best Drone Insurance Providers in Canada
1. Skywatch.ai
Skywatch.ai is one of the best drone insurance providers that offers its services both in the US and Canada. Therefore, if you’re a drone pilot who operates in both these regions, Skywatch is an ideal option. It has flexible annual, monthly, and hourly plans for UAV insurance. Skywatch has a mobile app from which pilots can purchase insurance only when they require it. The liability coverage ranges from $500,000 to $10 million. Users can ask for a free quote from Skywatch, provided that you have a drone registration number. Hourly plans start at $7 per flight, and that monthly plans range from $42 to $208. Annual plans are also available starting at $500. Learn more about Skywatch’s drone insurance here.
- Flexible hourly, monthly, and annual plans.
- Mobile app for purchasing insurance.
- Liability coverage up to $10 million
- Innovative features like Skywatch Map and Flight App
2. Capri Insurance
Capri Insurance is an insurance provider closely linked with Transport Canada and is also a corporate member of Unmanned Systems Canada. Therefore, this will help clients navigate the Canadian drone insurance sector with much ease. This insurance provider is best suited for professional drone operations. Learn more about Capri here.
- Liability Coverage
- Hull Coverage
- Ground Based Equipment
- Premise Liability
- Program Specific to the Film Industry
3. CoverDrone
CoverDrone is a UK-based drone insurance provider which offers its services in Canada as well. It offers plans for both commercial and recreational pilots. Its coverage options include data protection and invasion of privacy, plus many other core features. Coversure also offers Flysafe, a companion app for airspace maps, environmental conditions, low-flying manned aircraft, and dynamic restrictions. Learn more about Coverdrone here.
- Specialist drone insurance provider
- Cover for commercial and recreational drone operations
- Global coverage
- Flysafe companion app
- Training cover with no drone or operator limits
4. Intact Insurance
Intact Insurance is Canada’s largest home, auto, and business insurance company. Drone insurance is the company’s latest addition to its product list. They specifically cater to small and medium-sized businesses that rely on drone operations. Learn more about Intact Insurance here.
- Largest insurance company in Canada
- Best for commercial drone insurance
- Consistently high customer satisfaction
- Flexible policy construction based on your needs
5. Hub International
Hub International offers both hull and liability insurance to commercial as well as recreational drone pilots. UAV insurance is the company’s latest offering. Hub International offers drone insurance both in Canada as well as the United States. Learn more about Hub International here.
- One of the largest insurance companies in the world
- Commercial and Recreational drone insurance
- Hull and liability coverage
- Coverage in both Canada and the United States
6. Drone Insurance Depot
Drone Insurance Depot provides commercial and recreational drone pilots with public liability coverage. The company is backed by Lloyd’s of London. Their liability coverage ranges from $100,000 to $5,000,000. However, Drone Insurance Depot does not provide hull coverage yet. Learn more about the company here.
- Provider of liability coverage of up to $5,000,000
- Backed by Lloyd’s of London
- Commercial and Recreational coverage
7. Air1 Insurance
British Columbia-based Air1 Insurance is an offshoot of Park Insurance, a well-established insurance provider since 1965. Air1 Insurance offers several insurance packages for a variety of operations such as Real estate, surveying, agriculture, forestry, aerial photography, etc. Learn more about Air1 Insurance here.
- A well-established insurance firm
- A variety of packages covered
