Key takeaways

• Drone insurance is mandatory in Germany. It doesn’t matter if you use it for a hobby or commercial purposes.
• Good private liability insurance also covers the damages caused by drones.
• You must follow the regulations set by the Federal Aviation Ministry while flying a drone.
• Damages caused by drones can go in the millions. Hence, ensure that the insurance sum is at least 50 million euros.

This is how you do it

• Register your drone with the Federal Aviation Ministry if it weighs over 250 grams.
• Get good private liability insurance that also covers damages caused by drones. You can compare tariffs on Verivox*, Tarifcheck*, Feather*, and Getsafe*.
• Get independent drone insurance if you plan to use it for commercial purposes. You can get one at Getsafe*.
• Get acquainted with the drone regulations before flying the drone in Germany.

Table of Contents

There are around 415,000 drones in Germany [1]. The majority (approximately 80%) are used for private purposes. 

From a legal point of view, drones are aircraft. Hence, they fall under the Aviation Act.

Thus, if you own a drone in Germany, you must have drone liability insurance and register as an operator.

What is drone liability insurance in Germany?

In Germany, you are responsible if your drone causes damage to a third party. It doesn’t matter if the drone crashes due to your fault or external factors. 

Drone liability insurance is an insurance type that covers the damages caused by drones to third parties. It covers personal injuries, financial loss, and property damage.

Why do you need drone liability insurance in Germany?

• Taking drone liability insurance has been required by law since 2005 (Section 43 of the Aviation Act).
• If the drone causes any damage, the owner is responsible for paying the damage costs.
• The damage costs can be in the millions and can financially ruin you.
• Drone liability insurance is enough if you use the drone for private purposes. You must get special drone insurance if you use the drone for commercial activities.

Common damages caused by drones in Germany

You may wonder what damage a small drone may cause. But you’ll be surprised how often and expensive damages have been reported in Germany.

• The drone crashed into a vehicle on a highway
• The drone collided with a plane near an airport. 
• The drone breaks the windows of the neighbors or injures people.

What should you pay attention to when buying drone liability insurance in Germany?

• Weight of the drone: Insurance providers charge different premiums based on the drone’s weight. So, ensure your drone has the right liability insurance.
• Where can you fly the drone? Some contracts say that you can fly only on a flying site or that you should be a member of a model flying club. 
• At least 50 million in insured sum. The damages can quickly reach millions. Hence, we recommend a high insurance sum for all liability insurance in Germany.
• Insure your family members if they also fly the drone. Your friends are not covered. But you can get liability insurance that covers people other than family members. 
• Check if your current private liability insurance covers damages caused by drones. Older private liability insurance contracts don’t cover drones. But new premium tariffs usually also offer drone coverage.

NOTE: Private liability insurance only covers the drones used for private purposes.

How much does drone liability insurance cost in Germany?

You can insure the drone via your private liability insurance. A good personal liability insurance costs around 40 € a year for singles and 60 € a year for families.

You can also take independent drone liability insurance.

If you only use the drone privately, you can get a good drone liability insurance policy for 30 € per year. Drone liability insurance for commercial use costs around 120 € per annum.

You can compare personal liability insurance plans on Verivox*, Tarifcheck*, Feather*, and Getsafe*.

If you want to take out drone liability insurance, check Getsafe*.

German regulations regarding flying drones

The Federal Ministry of Transport has set drone regulations that you must abide by as a drone owner and pilot. The regulations specify who can fly a drone, where you can fly it, and which technical features apply.

The German government divided the drones into three categories: open (Offen), special (Speziell), and requires approval (Zulassungspflichtig).

• Open: To fall into this category, the drone must meet the following requirements.
  • It weighs less than 25 kg
  • It’s in direct line of sight throughout the flight.
  • Maximum flight altitude must not exceed 120 meters.
  • It’s not used to transport objects and dangerous goods.
• Special: Drones that don’t meet the requirements set in the “Open” category fall into this category. For example, drones that weigh more than 25 Kg or can reach a flying altitude of more than 120 m.
• Requires approval: All the large or heavy drones used for transporting people or dangerous goods come in this category.

Different regulations apply to you based on the category in which your drone falls.

Regulations that apply to you as a drone pilot in Germany

• Drones must always avoid human-staffed aircraft and unmanned balloons.
• Register your drone online with the Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)). Paste the registration number (e-ID) to the drone, and it should be clearly visible.
• You don’t have to register your drone if it weighs less than 250 gm and has no camera or sensor to record personal data. This also applies if the drone is certified as a pure toy.
• You should be at least 16 years old to fly a drone that weighs 250 gm or more.
• If your drone weighs more than 250 gm, you must successfully take an exam to prove your knowledge. You can take the exam online on the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) website.
• You also need permission to fly a drone in Germany. However, this doesn’t apply to drones in the “open” category.
• You are not allowed to fly the drone
  • in and over sensitive areas, such as hospitals, correctional facilities, industrial facilities, nature reserves, airport arrival and departure zones, and police and rescue service locations.
  • over residential properties if the drone can receive, transmit, or record radio signals.
• You are only allowed to fly the drone over undeveloped areas and up to an altitude of 120 meters.

NOTE: The drone liability insurance provider doesn’t cover the damage costs if you don’t follow the regulations set by the Federal Aviation Office. 

If you plan to take the drone outside Germany, check the regulations of the country you are going to and insurance coverage outside Germany.

References

• https://www.finanztip.de/haftpflichtversicherung/drohnen-haftplichtversicherung/
• https://www.check24.de/haftpflichtversicherung/drohnenversicherung/
• https://www.verivox.de/privathaftpflicht/themen/drohnenversicherung/
• https://www.allianz.de/recht-und-eigentum/privat-haftpflichtversicherung/drohnen-versichern/