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Who pays if a friend causes damage with my drone?

In short

Who pays? First you: as the drone's keeper (Halter) you are liable under § 33 of the German Air Traffic Act even if a friend causes the damage and you did nothing wrong. Your drone liability insurance pays if it covers other pilots flying with your permission; many policies do for EUR 39 to 95 a year. Damage to the drone itself is only covered by hull insurance.

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Who pays if a friend causes damage with my drone?

What it costs

What cover for other pilots and borrowed equipment costs in Germany, as of October 2026.

Example	Typical range
Stand-alone drone liability cover including other pilots	about EUR 39 to 95 a year
Personal liability with drones and other pilots included	about EUR 76 a year
Family liability cover including borrowed items	about EUR 55 a year, around EUR 7 more than without
Limit for borrowed items	in many policies at most EUR 10,000, in some EUR 50,000 or more

Guide figures as of October 2026, from published tariff examples.

Whether a policy includes other pilots or borrowed drones is set out only in its terms.

That drones in personal liability insurance often apply to the insured persons only,

and that some policies exclude aircraft from borrowed items, is a guide value from our quoting practice.

The damage amounts in the example are guide values too.

We obtain the exact quote.

Worked example

Friend flies your 600 gram drone into a parked car

A gust pushes the drone onto a bonnet while landing. Paint and bonnet are damaged, the drone is a write-off.

Damage to the car	about EUR 1,800
Paid by your drone liability cover including other pilots	EUR 1,800, EUR 0 for you
Without that inclusion	you as keeper may have to pay yourself
Drone broken	about EUR 900
With your hull cover	replacement minus excess
Without hull cover	only via your friend's liability cover, if it covers borrowed items and drones

With the right drone liability cover the car is sorted. Whether the EUR 900 for the drone are replaced depends on hull cover and policy terms, not on the friendship.

Why you are liable although you were not flying

Drones count as aircraft under German law, and aircraft come with strict keeper liability: if someone is injured or property is damaged while the drone is operated, the keeper has to pay, even without any fault. The keeper is whoever bought the drone and decides how it is used.

Lending the drone does not change that. The law states that the keeper remains fully liable if he handed the aircraft over himself. The injured party does not need to find out who was at the controls and can go straight to you.

When your friend is liable too

Your friend is liable alongside you if he was at fault, for example taking off in strong wind, losing sight of the drone or flying over people. The injured party can choose whom to claim from, but can only be paid once.

It is different if someone takes the drone without your permission. Then that person is liable. You remain liable only if your own carelessness made it possible, for example by leaving drone and remote control lying openly in the car.

Situation	Who is liable	Whose policy pays
Friend flies with your permission, no mistake	you as keeper	your drone liability cover, if other pilots are included
Friend flies with your permission and makes a mistake	you and your friend	usually your drone liability cover, otherwise his if it covers other people's drones
Someone flies it secretly	the pilot	his own insurance, if any
Secretly, but you made it easy	the pilot and you	check both policies
Drone crashes and is broken	your friend, if at fault	your hull cover or his liability cover for borrowed items

Is the other pilot covered by your policy?

This is the key question and the answer is in your terms. Many stand-alone drone policies expressly cover other people flying with your permission. If the drone is only included in your personal liability insurance, cover often applies to the insured persons only, meaning you and your family.

Without that inclusion there is a gap: you are liable as keeper, but your insurer may not pay because someone else was flying. Ask before lending the drone and get it confirmed in writing.

What happens to the drone itself

Liability insurance only pays for damage to others. It never replaces your own drone, whoever was flying. That is what drone hull insurance (Kasko) is for, covering crashes, breakage and often theft.

Without hull cover you can claim from your friend if he caused the crash. Whether his personal liability insurance pays depends on whether it covers damage to borrowed items. Many policies do, often with limits of a few thousand euros, but some exclude aircraft or gross negligence.

When there is nothing to worry about

If your drone liability cover includes other pilots and your friend holds the required certificate, damage to third parties is taken care of. For an inexpensive drone you could afford to lose, you do not need hull cover either.

It gets tricky when that inclusion is missing, your friend flies without a certificate or an expensive drone is lent without hull cover. Then it is better to keep the remote control yourself.

What to agree between friends

Agree three things before take-off: that your policy includes your friend, that he holds a valid certificate, and who pays if the drone crashes. That prevents arguments that often cost a friendship more than the drone.

If your friend breaks the rules, for example by flying in a no-fly zone, your insurer may reduce its payment or reclaim money. That falls on you as keeper first.

Step by step

Look for the inclusion of other pilots in your policy terms.
If it is missing, ask your insurer or switch policy.
Check that your friend holds a valid certificate for the drone's weight.
Agree who pays for the drone if it crashes.
Hand over the insurance confirmation, it must be carried when flying.
After damage, take photos, note witnesses and report the claim straight away.

Checklist

Other pilots flying with your permission expressly covered
Cover in the millions
Friend with a valid proof of competency from 250 grams
Your e-ID clearly visible on the drone
Hull cover if the drone is expensive
Agreement on who bears damage to the drone

Common mistakes

Assuming only the pilot is liable because you were not at the controls
Lending the drone although the policy only protects you and your family
Expecting liability insurance to replace your own drone
Letting a friend fly without a certificate
Leaving drone and remote control lying around so others can use them unnoticed

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does my friend need his own drone insurance?

The obligation lies with the keeper, so with you. It still makes sense for him if he often flies other people's drones, because he is personally liable for his own mistakes.

Will my friend's personal liability insurance pay if he flies my drone?

Only if it expressly covers flying other people's drones. Many policies only cover drones owned by the insured persons.

Can my insurer claim the money back from my friend?

Possibly, if he was grossly negligent or broke the rules. If he is covered under your policy, insurers usually waive this for ordinary mistakes.

Who is liable if the drone is stolen and causes damage?

The person who used it without your permission. You remain liable only if your own carelessness made the use possible.

What if I lend the drone for money?

Then it is no longer private use. Private policies usually do not cover it; you need commercial cover.

Do I have to report the claim if my friend was flying?

Yes. It is your contract and your duty: report the damage promptly and name the pilot.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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