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Does my personal liability insurance cover my drone?

In short

Often yes, but only if three things come together: your personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) names drones expressly, the take-off weight is below the limit in the policy (250 grams, 2.5 or 5 kilograms depending on the tariff) and you fly purely privately. If one point is missing, you need separate drone liability, about EUR 40 to 55 a year for private use. Every drone flown outdoors must be insured.

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Does my personal liability insurance cover my drone?

What it costs

Guide figures from published tariff overviews and comparisons, premiums including German insurance tax unless stated otherwise.

Example	Typical range
Good personal liability insurance for singles, drones included depending on the tariff	about EUR 20 to 40 a year
Good personal liability insurance for families	about EUR 46 to 60 a year
Separate private drone liability up to 5 kilograms, EUR 5 to 50 million cover	EUR 36 to 46 net, about EUR 43 to 55 a year with tax
Commercial drone liability, EUR 3 to 10 million cover	about EUR 120 to 180 a year

Guide values as of September 2026. The personal liability premiums apply to recommended tariffs and say nothing about the weight up to which drones are covered; that is only in the terms. That premium tariffs usually include drones at no extra cost is a guide value from our quoting practice.

Worked example

Hobby pilot with a 900 gram drone

How to find out whether you need to buy extra cover.

Take-off weight with battery	900 grams
Personal liability insurance covering drones up to 250 grams	not enough
Option 1: switch to a tariff covering drones up to 5 kilograms	about EUR 20 to 40 a year for singles
Option 2: keep the old policy and add separate drone liability	about EUR 43 to 55 a year on top

If your personal liability insurance is old and weak anyway, switching is usually cheaper and also gives you better cover in everyday life.

Why insurance is mandatory

Under the German Air Traffic Act (Luftverkehrsgesetz) a drone is an aircraft. As its keeper you are liable for damage it causes even if you did nothing wrong, for example if a gust of wind pushes it onto a parked car. § 43 of the Air Traffic Act requires liability insurance for this.

This applies from the very first gram and also to toy drones as soon as they fly outdoors. Only flights purely inside closed rooms are not covered by the rule.

If you are checked, you must be able to show an insurance confirmation under § 106 of the Aircraft Licensing Regulation. Without it you risk a fine, even if you actually have cover.

When personal liability insurance really is enough

Personal liability insurance is the German policy that pays when you accidentally injure someone or damage their property. Many tariffs include drones, but in very different ways. Basic tariffs often take only devices up to 250 grams, better tariffs go up to 2.5 or 5 kilograms. What counts is the take-off weight with battery and attachments, not the brochure weight without accessories.

Watch the wording. Some older terms exclude model aircraft that are subject to compulsory insurance. Since every drone flown outdoors is subject to that obligation, practically no cover is left, even though drones seem to be mentioned.

Also ask whether the insurer issues a separate confirmation for the drone stating the legal minimum sum. Without that sheet the policy is not enough in practice, even if it would pay in a claim.

Your situation	Is personal liability insurance enough?
Drone under 250 grams, tariff names drones	usually yes
Drone 250 grams to 5 kilograms, better tariff	yes, if the limit in the policy fits
Tariff does not mention drones at all	no, separate policy needed
Clause excludes models subject to compulsory insurance	no, despite the mention
Paid footage, even on the side	no, commercial drone liability
Drone over 5 kilograms	almost never, separate policy needed

Where personal liability insurance stops

As soon as you earn money with your drone, private cover ends. That includes photos for an estate agent, paid wedding videos or a channel that brings in advertising revenue. Some separate drone tariffs allow a small side income, personal liability insurance usually does not.

Flights abroad are not always covered either. Many tariffs cover drones only in Europe. If you fly on trips, read the territorial scope first.

And liability insurance never pays for your own drone. If it crashes and breaks, that is your loss. For that there is separate hull cover.

When you do not need a separate drone policy

If you have good personal liability insurance that includes your drone and its weight, and you only fly privately, a second policy would mean paying twice. The confirmation from your insurer is then enough.

A separate drone liability policy is worth it if your tariff excludes drones, the limit is too low, you fly several drones or you occasionally earn something with them.

Step by step

Look up your drone's take-off weight with battery and attachments.
Search the terms of your personal liability insurance for Drohnen, Flugmodelle or unbemannte Luftfahrzeuge (drones, model aircraft, unmanned aircraft).
Compare the weight limit, territorial scope and exclusions with how you fly.
Ask your insurer for an insurance confirmation for the drone.
If something does not fit: switch tariffs or take out separate drone liability.

Checklist

Drones expressly named in the policy
Weight limit above your drone's take-off weight
No exclusion for model aircraft subject to compulsory insurance
Insurance confirmation issued and carried with you
Territorial scope fits your trips
Private flights only, no paid jobs

Common mistakes

Trusting the word drone in an advert without checking the weight limit
Using the weight without battery and accessories
Shooting paid footage for friends and losing private cover
Not carrying an insurance confirmation
Believing liability insurance also pays when your own drone crashes

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Do I need insurance for a drone under 250 grams?

Yes. The obligation does not depend on weight. Light drones are, however, included at no extra cost in many personal liability tariffs.

Where do I get the insurance confirmation?

From your insurer. Many issue it for the drone on request, often as a PDF to print or keep on your phone.

Does a video with advertising revenue already count as commercial?

Often yes. As soon as you regularly earn money with the footage, tell the insurer and choose a suitable policy.

Is a friend covered when flying my drone?

Each policy handles this differently. Separate drone tariffs often include other pilots with your consent; for personal liability insurance you need to read the terms.

Am I covered on holiday?

Within Europe usually yes, outside often only to a limited extent. Check the territorial scope and the rules of the country before your first flight.

What happens if I fly without insurance?

You risk a fine and are personally liable for every loss, which in a personal injury case quickly means five or six figure sums.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Drone insurance

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Drone insurance in Germany (liability and hull cover)

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