You now have two options when renting a drone from us:
Pay a refundable 80% security deposit, which is returned after the rental.
OR choose short-term hull insurance (via Precision Autonomy).
Submit a hull insurance application via this link!
If you choose the insurance option:
The policy must include hull coverage and list DFH as an Interested Party
You’ll need to provide a Certificate of Currency before dispatch.
The insurance premium is non-refundable, but frees up your capital.
What is Hull Insurance?
Hull insurance is a type of insurance coverage that protects the property (eg. drone) itself from damage or loss. It means that if the rental unit is accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen during your rental, the insurance can cover repair or replacement costs. It is a great way to financially protect both parties during the rental period.
The optional short-term hull insurance on the rented units is through Precision Autonomy Insurance (PAI). Precision Autonomy provides drone coverage and offers policies that include hull coverage. This will effectively cover the value of the drone during your rental period, and allow us to waive the standard security deposit requirement. This trade-off is attractive for high-value rentals, it frees up your capital rather than locking up with the safety deposit.
PAI will require you to pay for an insurance premium on the order of only a few hundred dollars (exact figures depend on PAI’s rates and your coverage needs). When you go through PAI’s application, you can tailor the coverage to the drone and equipment you’re renting. You will purchase an insurance policy (or add a rider to an existing policy) that insures the rented drone for the duration of your hire. We will then require proof that the insurance is in place (a certificate of currency will be provided by PAI once it has been paid for).
Keep in mind that the insurance premium is non-refundable (it’s the cost of coverage).
DFH must be noted as an interested party on the policy (meaning the insurer acknowledges DFH’s interest in the equipment).
How to Apply for Hull Insurance (Step-by-Step)
Request the Hull Insurance Option: When you submit your rental inquiry or booking with us, let us know that you’d prefer to use hull insurance instead of paying the security deposit.
Get a Rental Quote & Info for Insurance: We will provide you with a rental quote as usual, this includes the rental unit cost and shipping fee. We’ll also give you any information you need. This includes:
The registration number of the drone (will be confirmed at a later stage along with the proforma invoice, to continue with getting a quote from PAI, simply put in “TBA” in the Regi
stration/ Serial number section).
The manufacturer, drone model and model year.
Agreed value (for how much it needs to be insured).
The rental duration/dates.The name of the interested party to list (DFH’s details).
Get a Proforma & finalizing the Insurance policy: Once you confirm proceeding with the hire,let us know and we will send over a proforma invoice. This will include the drone SN for you to finalize the insurance policy (and payment) with PAI.
Purchase Hull Insurance via PAI: You will then need to arrange a hull insurance policy for the drone directly with Precision Autonomy. You will need to go to their website for an online quote in minutes → https://login.precision-autonomy.com/landing/dronesforhire
Precision Autonomy will send you a quote for the insurance premium. If you’re happy with the coverage and cost, you can purchase the policy with them. (PAI will also provide the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination during this process for you to review, as required by law). Once payment is made, the coverage is active for the specified dates.
Remember to let them know that DFH must be noted as an interested party on the policy (meaning the insurer acknowledges DFH’s interest in the equipment).
Provide Proof of Insurance to DFH: After purchasing, Precision Autonomy will issue you a Certificate of Currency as proof of the drone’s coverage. Make sure this certificate lists Drones For Hire as an interested party (simply request from them when asking for a quote).
Send this certificate back to us, together with your ReOC, RePL (if applicable to your job type), signed rental agreement
Our team will verify that the policy is adequate. With that confirmed, you’re all set!
You can then proceed to pay only the rental fee (since the deposit is waived) and we will dispatch the equipment to you as scheduled.
Rental requirements (DFH)
A valid Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and Remote Operator's Certificate (ReOC) - depending on your job type.
Hull Insurance listing all asset serial numbers and including DFH as an interested party.
Covers the full agreed replacement value of the drone and payloads.
Fully paid quote.
Important:
The insurance premium is non-refundable, while a deposit is returned if all goes well. For short or lower-value rentals, a deposit might be more cost-effective. But for high-value drones or longer hires, insurance often offers better value and peace of mind.
PAI’s hull insurance covers the drone itself but doesn’t include third-party liability. If your job requires liability coverage (e.g. $20M public liability for commercial work), PAI can bundle this too. DFH’s deposit policy never covered liability.
Important Notes & Disclaimer
No Financial Advice: Drones For Hire is not providing financial or insurance advice in offering this option. We are making it available for your convenience, but whether you choose to use hull insurance (and which policy) is entirely your decision. We encourage you to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and any other documentation provided by Precision Autonomy to understand the policy terms, conditions, and suitability for your needs. If you have questions about what the insurance covers or requires, it’s best to consult PAI or a licensed insurance advisor. DFH staff can guide you through the process administratively (e.g., what information you need to provide to get coverage), but we cannot advise you on insurance matters like coverage levels or whether it’s the right choice for you.
Referral to Precision Autonomy: When you opt for hull insurance, you’ll be dealing directly with Precision Autonomy Insurance (or their platform DroneInsure). DFH’s role is simply to facilitate the introduction. Any insurance contract is between you and PAI, not with DFH. Our primary goal is to help you access a reliable insurance solution; any commission is a standard industry practice and does not affect our impartiality in presenting this option.
Compliance and Eligibility: The hull insurance option is available to most renters, but there may be certain eligibility criteria or conditions. For example, PAI may require that the drone is operated by a properly licensed individual (e.g., a RePL – Remote Pilot Licence – if required for the operation, or under a company with a ReOC – Remote Operator’s Certificate for commercial use). This is to ensure the risk is managed and legal requirements are met. DFH will likely ask you for proof of any necessary certifications during the rental setup (as we normally do for certain rentals). Make sure to provide accurate information to PAI about who will operate the drone and for what purpose, so that the insurance coverage is valid. Additionally, note that insurance will not cover reckless or illegal acts, so all standard DFH rental terms and operating guidelines still apply when you choose the insurance route.
In conclusion, DFH’s optional hull insurance program (through PAI) is here to give you more flexibility and confidence when renting drones. We’re excited to offer this alternative to the hefty deposit, and we believe it will make renting high-end drones more accessible to many of our clients. If you’re interested in using this option or want to learn more, please contact us and we’ll happily walk you through it. And if you prefer the traditional deposit method, that’s absolutely fine, it remains available. Our aim is simply to provide the best rental experience for you, with choices that suit your needs.