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How much does drone insurance cost in Germany?

In short

Separate drone liability insurance for private flying usually costs EUR 35 to 50 a year in Germany. If you fly commercially, expect from about EUR 119 to 150. Often it costs nothing extra, because your personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) already includes drones. Hull cover for damage to your own drone starts at about EUR 24 a year, but only pays off for expensive drones.

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How much does drone insurance cost in Germany?

What it costs

Published tariff examples for Germany, as of 2026.

Example	Typical range
Private drone liability, drone up to 5 kilograms	usually under EUR 50 a year, some tariffs from about EUR 35 to 40
Private drone liability, other providers	about EUR 68 to 95 a year
Commercial drone liability	from about EUR 119 to 150 a year
Drone included in personal liability insurance	often EUR 0 extra
Drone hull cover	from about EUR 24 a year
Registration with the Federal Aviation Office	EUR 20 one-off, companies EUR 50

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples. The factor of three to four between private and commercial is calculated from these ranges; the hull cover for a drone of about EUR 1,000 in the worked example and the EUR 1,500 threshold are guide values from our quoting practice. Your premium depends on use, weight and cover; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Camera drone for EUR 1,000, 595 grams, private use

A hobby photographer who flies in Germany and on holiday in Europe. Two ways to meet the legal requirement, and the question of hull cover.

Option 1: personal liability insurance covers drones up to 2.5 kilograms	EUR 0 extra
Option 2: separate drone liability policy	about EUR 35 to 50 a year
Registration with the Federal Aviation Office	EUR 20 one-off
Hull cover, optional, with deductible	about EUR 50 to 100 a year

The legal requirement is met for EUR 0 to 50 a year plus EUR 20 one-off. Hull cover doubles the cost or more and is only worth it if you do not want to carry a total loss yourself.

What drives the price

The biggest jump is between private and commercial use. If you shoot photos for clients, inspect roofs or film properties, you usually pay three to four times as much, because you fly more often, for longer and closer to people.

Next come weight and scope. Light drones up to about 5 kilograms are cheap, heavier ones need special tariffs. Worldwide cover including the USA and Canada costs extra. A higher sum insured, on the other hand, rarely makes a big difference to the price.

Factor	Effect on the premium
Private or commercial use	strong, commercial usually three to four times as much
Weight of the drone	cheap up to 5 kilograms, special tariff above
Sum insured	usually small, compare in the quote
Territorial scope	Europe cheaper, worldwide with the USA more expensive
Deductible	lowers mainly the hull cover premium noticeably
Value of the drone	only matters for hull cover

Liability: often already paid for

Before buying a separate drone policy, read your personal liability insurance. In Germany this is the policy that pays when you accidentally damage other people's property or injure someone, and many newer tariffs include drones up to a set weight at no extra cost, good ones up to 2.5 kilograms. Then you already meet the legal requirement and save the whole premium.

A separate drone liability policy makes sense if drones are not included, your drone is too heavy, cover abroad is too narrow or you fly commercially. If you have no personal liability insurance at all, take that out first: it often costs hardly more and covers your whole everyday life too.

Hull cover: only for expensive drones

Hull cover (Drohnenkasko) pays for damage to your own drone, for example after a crash, a water landing or theft, depending on the tariff. The premium depends on the value of the drone and the deductible. Basic tariffs start at about EUR 24 a year.

With a EUR 400 drone and a EUR 150 deductible, little is left in a claim. Be honest with yourself: if you can carry the loss, save the premium. For drones from about EUR 1,500, or for commercial work where downtime costs you jobs, the picture changes. Check whether the tariff pays new value or current value; some tariffs pay new value for up to 18 months after purchase.

Extra costs that come with it

Besides insurance, registering as an operator with the Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) costs a one-off EUR 20 for private persons and EUR 50 for companies. You need it if the drone weighs more than 249 grams or carries a camera.

From 250 grams you also need a proof of competence, which you take online with the Federal Aviation Office. Commercial operations in the specific category need permits that come with their own fees.

Where saving becomes expensive

Cheap tariffs often have low weight limits, apply only in Germany or only cover damage you caused through fault. For drones you need cover for strict liability (Gefährdungshaftung), because as the keeper you are liable even if you did nothing wrong.

The sum insured is not a place to save either. The legal minimum is around EUR 0.9 million, and a single personal injury can cost far more. A higher sum rarely adds much to the premium.

Step by step

Check your personal liability insurance for drone cover, weight limit and cover abroad.
Clarify your use: purely private or also for money.
If cover is missing, choose drone liability with at least EUR 10 million.
Only consider hull cover if losing the drone would really hurt you.
For hull cover compare new value, theft and deductible.
Complete the registration and carry your proof of insurance.

Checklist

Strict liability as the keeper included
Weight limit fits all your drones
Sum insured EUR 10 million or more
Territorial scope fits your travel destinations
Commercial use covered if you fly for clients
Hull cover only for an expensive drone, with the deductible in mind

Common mistakes

Buying a separate drone policy although your personal liability insurance already covers it
Ignoring the weight limit when comparing prices
Flying occasional paid jobs on a private policy
Buying expensive hull cover for a cheap drone
Saving on the sum insured without knowing what a higher sum would cost

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How much is drone insurance per month?

For private flying usually EUR 3 to 4 a month, often nothing if your personal liability insurance includes drones. Commercial from about EUR 10 to 13 a month.

Why is commercial drone insurance so much more expensive?

Commercial pilots fly more often, for longer and often closer to people and buildings. The risk is higher, and personal liability insurance does not cover this use.

Is hull cover worth it for a drone under EUR 500?

Usually not. After the deductible little is left in a claim, and over a few years you pay a good part of the purchase price in premiums.

Does a higher sum insured cost much more?

Usually not much, but it varies by tariff. Ask for quotes with both sums, because a personal injury can quickly exceed the minimum.

Can I insure several drones in one policy?

For liability often yes, because the keeper is insured, not the device. For hull cover each drone is usually insured separately at its value.

Is drone insurance tax deductible?

For commercial use as a business expense. For private use usually not; ask a tax adviser about your case.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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