Contractors and engineers that are using drones soon may be able to buy more types of insurance coverage from a greater number of insurers.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO), which among many other services provides policy language to the industry, has recently announced that it will have up to three different endorsements adding business use drone coverage to commercial General Liability Policies by June 2015.
Specifically, the endorsements will be part of commercial general liability and commercial liability umbrella and excess programs. At this point ISO, which is part of Verisk Analytics, has not introduced any rating information related to the new drone-related endorsements
The available endorsements, according to ISO, will provide third party liability coverage, including but not limited to liability coverage for property damage.
Only about four or five insurance companies currently are offering coverage. Rates for drone coverage are declining as coverage becomes more widely written and available, says Grant Goldsmith, vice president of Avalon Risk Management and president of Overwatch.