Insurance for drone pilots and aerial imaging in Germany
For drone pilots and aerial imaging businesses in Germany, insurance is not optional: no drone may take off without owner's liability cover. The expensive surprises often come from elsewhere, though, such as a camera drone at the bottom of a lake or survey data the client cannot use. Here is what is compulsory, what the rest costs and what the Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, LBA) expects from you.
Is my personal liability insurance enough if I fly paid jobs?
No. Personal liability policies in Germany often exclude drones altogether or only cover private use up to a certain weight. As soon as you fly for money, you need drone liability cover that explicitly includes commercial use. The German Aviation Act requires the owner of every drone to hold liability insurance.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Crash onto people or cars
Signal loss, a flat battery, a gust at the roof ridge: a camera drone weighing several kilos lands on a road, a car or a spectator.
02
The drone is gone
A crash into water, a tree, theft from the car. Professional drones with thermal cameras cost five figures.
03
Unusable data
Faulty survey results, gaps in a roof inspection, a missed shoot: the client wants the fee and follow on costs back.
04
Privacy and image rights
Neighbours, guests or number plates in the shot: published aerial footage leads to cease and desist letters.
05
Trouble with authorities
Flying in a geographical zone without approval or without the right certificate leads to fines that cost money and time.
06
Accidents on the ground
Setting up on a roof, an embankment or an industrial site: the pilot falls or injures a helper.
Public liability for damage on the ground, for example while setting up on a client's site. Damage caused in flight is only covered by the drone policy.
Income protection if your eyes, hands or health no longer allow you to fly.
What it costs: example prices
The premium depends on the weight and number of drones, the type of work, the limit and the excess. Inspection flights over industrial plants cost more than property photos.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Drone insurance
One drone under 5 kg, commercial use, €3 million limit, open category
about €150 to €350 a year
Drone insurance
Three drones up to 25 kg, inspection and surveying, €5 million limit, specific category
about €500 to €1,200 a year
Electronic equipment
Drone and camera worth €8,000 new, crash and theft, €500 excess
about €450 to €900 a year
Professional indemnity
Aerial imaging, inspection and surveying, financial loss up to €250,000
about €250 to €700 a year
Business liability
Sole trader without a workshop, €3 million limit
about €100 to €250 a year
For comparison: Liability and hull cover for a professional drone cost about as much per year as two days of roof inspection work.
All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax,
as of October 2026.
The duty to insure and the minimum are set in the German Aviation Act;
registration and competence are described by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Six things drone pilots really go through, all on one windy working day. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€23,800
During a roof inspection a gust pushes the drone into the solar array; two panels crack.
€2,600 · Paid by: Drone insurance
The drone itself breaks on impact.
€4,200 · Paid by: Electronic equipment
While setting up on a client's site, the tripod knocks against a company car and scratches the paint.
€900 · Paid by: Business liability
Survey data for a building pit is wrong and the excavator digs too deep.
€12,000 · Paid by: Professional indemnity
A neighbour's lawyer sends a cease and desist letter over a published photo of his garden.
€1,800 · Paid by: Business legal expenses
Signal loss over a car park; the drone lands on a car bonnet.
€2,300 · Paid by: Drone insurance
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €23,800
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Check that your drone liability policy includes commercial use, every drone and every pilot you use.
Choose a limit well above the legal minimum; €3 to €5 million is common for jobs over roads and buildings.
Register as an operator with the LBA and put the number visibly on every drone.
Keep your competence certificate and any approval to hand; insurers ask for them after a loss.
Keep a flight log with place, time and weather; after a crash it is your most important record.
Have hired drones and client equipment explicitly included in the hull cover.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We know the aviation rules
Compulsory cover, registration, competence and categories all fit together. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert checks whether your policy matches the work you fly.
Drone, camera and data
Liability, hull and financial loss cover are arranged together, so no gap opens between the policies.
Claims seen from the inside
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves and know which records an insurer wants after a crash.
Broker since 1989
A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is insurance compulsory for commercial drones in Germany?
Yes.
Under § 43 of the German Aviation Act the owner of every drone must hold liability insurance.
The minimum for aircraft under 500 kg is 750,000 units of account under § 37 LuftVG.
Do I have to register with the LBA?
Yes, if your drone weighs 250 grams or more, or carries a camera and is not a toy.
The registration number must be shown visibly on the drone.
Which drone licence do I need?
From 250 grams a certificate of competence is compulsory.
For A1 and A3 an online test with the LBA is enough;
for A2 you add practical self study and a theory exam at a designated body.
What does commercial drone liability cost?
For one drone under 5 kg with a €3 million limit we expect about €150 to €350 a year.
More or heavier drones and work in the specific category cost more.
Is the drone itself insured?
Not by the liability policy.
For crashes, water and theft you need hull or equipment cover that explicitly includes drones.
Who pays if my survey data is wrong?
That is a financial loss.
Professional indemnity covers it, not the drone liability or the public liability policy.
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