Drone insurance is a must-have for aerial applicators, but premiums can add up. The good news is, your actions directly impact your insurance costs. By prioritizing safety and risk management, you can unlock more affordable protection for your agricultural drone operations.
How Insurers Calculate Premiums
Understanding how insurers think is key to lowering your costs. They look at:
- Experience: Licensed pilots with many flight hours can get more companies interested and offer perks like waiver of 1st in motion deductibles.
- Type of Drone: Larger, more expensive drones usually mean higher premiums.
- Safety Record: A history of accidents or incidents will drive up costs. You will need to check with your agent on how turning in a loss will affect your premiums.
- Flight Operations: Spray operations can very from seeding and fertilizing only to exclusively herbicide work. Herbicide operations will carry higher premiums.
- Acres Flown: This is a newer underwriting criteria but is becoming more important as companies come into the market.
Safety Tips = Savings
Here’s how to demonstrate your commitment to safe drone operations:
- Training & Certification: Get your Part 107 license and consider additional specialized training. Most distributors offer training after purchasing your drone.
- Maintenance Matters: Regularly inspect your drone and make sure there are no systems errors or loose motors.
- Pre-flight Checklists: Establish a routine to verify equipment and conditions before every flight.
- Responsible Flying: Stay within visual line of sight, avoid risky maneuvers, and respect airspace restrictions
- Risk Assessment: Analyze your fields and plan flights to minimize hazards (e.g., power lines). Mapping a field the day before is a good practice.
Bonus: Document Your Safety Practices
Don’t just be safe, prove it! Keep these records, which can be helpful when negotiating with insurers:
- Flight Logs: Maintain detailed records of each flight.
- Maintenance Logs: Document all inspections and repairs.
- Training Certificates: Keep copies of your pilot license and any additional training.
VT Insurance Agency: Partnering for Savings
At VT Insurance, we reward safe operators. We’ll work with you to understand your risk profile and find coverage that’s both comprehensive and cost-effective. Let us help you save money while protecting your ag drone investment.
