Owned Insurance
 

Aviation Insurance Definitions

 

Q: Why should I use a broker instead of going directly to an insurance company?

A: Aviation insurance is a highly specialized field. Most aviation underwriters only work through authorized brokers, not directly with the public. We leverage our relationships across the market to help you find the coverage that fits your needs.

Q: What is "Hull Coverage"?

A: Hull Coverage covers physical damage to the aircraft itself. It comes in three flavors:

• Ground Not-in-Motion: Covers the aircraft while it's parked or stored.
• Ground Including Taxi: Covers the aircraft any time it's on the ground, moving or not.
• Full-Flight (Flight & Ground): The most comprehensive option where your aircraft is covered at all times, including while in the air.

Q: What is considered a modification to an aircraft or aircraft component?

A: Modifications can include (but aren't limited to): a larger engine, clipped wings, STOL kits, additional camera holes, or data sampling booms. If you're unsure whether something counts, just ask us. It's always better to confirm upfront.

Q: What is "Insured Value"?

A: Aviation hull policies list a specific "Insured Value", or sometimes “Agreed Value”. Insured Value represents the dollar amount you and your underwriter agreed on when the policy was written. If your aircraft suffers a total loss, that's exactly what gets paid out (minus any applicable deductible). No guessing, no negotiating after the fact.

Q: Does my insurance cover me if another pilot is flying my aircraft?

A: Yes, as long as the pilot is either listed as a Named Pilot on your policy, or meets the Open Pilot Warranty (OPW) requirements (if your policy includes one). Any person you add on the "Add Pilots" screen in your application will be added as a Named Pilot on your application. Heads up, if someone flies your plane without meeting either of those criteria, your coverage may not apply during that flight.

Q: What does "Liability Coverage" include?

A: Liability coverage protects you if you cause bodily injury or property damage to third parties. Think of it as your financial safety net if something goes wrong and others are affected.

Q: What is a "smooth" policy?

A: A “smooth” policy sets one single dollar limit that applies to the total of all claims from a single incident, whether those claims are for bodily injury, property damage, or a combination of both from both passengers and non-passengers. It eliminates the commonly used “per passenger sub-limit”. You can read more about smooth policies in this blog post.

Q: What are sub-limits?

A: Sub-limits are caps within your policy that restrict how much can be paid out for a specific category of claim. For example, a policy might have $1,000,000 in total liability coverage but limit payouts to $100,000 per passenger. Even if your total limit is higher, any single passenger's claim would be capped at that sub-limit amount.

Q: Am I covered if I fly outside the United States? 

A: Most standard policies cover the Lower 48 states, Canada, and Mexico, but there are exceptions. If you're heading anywhere outside that area, reach out to us so we can arrange a Territorial Extension. One important note about Mexico: even though it may be within your coverage territory, Mexican law requires all aircraft policies to be issued through a Mexican insurer. Without a Mexican policy, your aircraft could be impounded by local authorities. We'll help you get that sorted before you go.

The terms of your policy are always the source of truth for the covered geographic territory. Always double check before you fly.

Rate Calculation

 

Q: How are my premiums calculated?

A: Each insurer uses their own formula, but they all look at similar risk factors when setting your rate:

• Pilot experience
• Whether the aircraft is hangared
• Aircraft type
• Location
• Usage. For example, pleasure vs. business flying, or whether the aircraft is used for instruction, rental, or commercial charter

Q: Is the difference in insurance premium substantial for a hangared vs. non-hangared aircraft?

A: It can be quite significant, depending on where you're located. Aircraft in the Southeast U.S., for instance, face greater hurricane exposure, while planes in the central U.S. are more vulnerable to hail. Hangaring your aircraft can make a real difference in those higher-risk areas.

Q: Does getting more training help lower my rates?

A: Absolutely! Earning additional certificates, getting an Instrument Rating, and logging more time in your specific make and model are all great ways to reduce your premium and unlock access to higher liability limits. Training is one of the best investments you can make for both safety and your wallet.

Our Quoting Process

Q: Is coverage available for General Aviation only? I have a small Part 135 operation — will you cover me?

A: Yes! Select “Other” when asked “What type of flying do you do” in the application process. 

Q: Are there benefits for EAA or AOPA members?

A: Yes! Different insurers choose the benefits available to EAA and AOPA members ranging from discounts to higher included limits.

Q: Where do I add co-owners or additional pilots? Do I need to add myself?

A: You can add up to 5 pilots to your policy. If you have more than 5 pilots regularly flying the aircraft, that's typically considered a flying club.. Contact us at insurance@foreflight.com if you have more than 5 pilots.

Q: Is there a limit to how many Named Pilots I can add?

A: You can add up to 5 pilots to your policy. If you have more than 5 pilots regularly flying the aircraft, that's typically considered a flying club, and we'd handle that a bit differently.

Q: Will my current insurance agent or broker find out I got a quote from you?

A: No. Your current broker will not know you used our Aviation Insurance Marketplace. You're free to explore your options. You can read more about shopping for aircraft insurance without affecting your current coverage in this blog post.

Q: Is my existing ForeFlight flight data used to evaluate my risk or set my premium?

A: Absolutely not. We do not share your flight data with insurers. Period. We offer the option to import data from your ForeFlight Logbook and Aircraft tab purely to save you time filling out your application. Before purchasing a policy, you'll be able to review everything we provide to insurers when you sign your application.

Q: How do I contact someone if I have questions or run into issues?

A: We're here to help! You can reach a live agent via:

• Chat: https://plan.foreflight.com/insurance
• Email: insurance@foreflight.com
• Phone: 1-866-344-6359

Q: Will my policy documents be saved to my account? How do I access them later?

A: Yes! Your policy documents are saved and accessible at any time at https://plan.foreflight.com/insurance.

Fair Price Tool FAQs

 

Q: How did you come up with my fair price?

A: We collected data from similar pilots and developed an algorithm to measure the relationships between aircraft value, pilot flying history, and other factors to determine an average insurance premium for pilots like you. We’re continuing to improve the algorithm as more pilots use the Fair Price Tool and share their policies, so the results will become even more accurate with greater usage.

Q: What type of document should I upload?

A: You can upload your policy or a binder. We can't accept certificates of insurance.

Q: What information will you use from my policy?

A: We use the same information insurers typically use: aircraft type and value, hours logged, pilot age, and claims history among others. In order for the algorithm to be as accurate as possible, we need the same information furnished as part of your insurance application.

Q: Are there any restrictions on where my aircraft is located?

A: Currently the Fair Price Tool only supports U.S.-registered aircraft.

Q: Will you retain my insurance policy?

A: Yes, we will retain your policy to continue training our algorithms to improve document data extraction and pricing estimates. We will never share your data with any third parties.

Q: Can I upload my renter's policy?

A: No. Currently the Fair Price Tool only supports aircraft owner policies.

Q: Can I provide a liability-only policy?

A: We currently only accept policies that include liability and damage premiums (including both in-motion and not-in-motion coverage). We hope to support liability-only policies in the future.

Q: What if I have other questions?

A: We're more than happy to address any questions or concerns you have by emailing insurance@foreflight.com.