Drone Insurance in Portugal: Is It Mandatory?

In this article

TL;DR:

Civil liability insurance is mandatory in Portugal for drones above 900 g, whether the use is recreational or professional; below that weight it is not legally required
Prices depend on the insurer, the drone’s weight, the insured amount and the use
Fidelidade, Allianz and AXA are the main insurers with drone-specific products
Insurance covers damage to third parties — it does NOT cover damage to your drone (you need additional insurance for that)
Flying a drone above 900 g without insurance is an offence, with a fine of €2,000 to €3,500 for individuals

Drone insurance is boring and bureaucratic, but here’s the hard truth: if you fly a drone above 900 g without insurance in Portugal, you’re breaking the law. And if something goes wrong, you could face a serious financial hole. Let me make this as clear as possible.

Is It Really Mandatory? Above 900 g, Yes.

The obligation comes from Portuguese law, not from the European regulation: Decree-Law No. 58/2018 and Ordinance No. 2/2021 make civil liability insurance mandatory for drones above 900 g, since 3 February 2021. It depends on the drone’s weight, not on the use: recreational or professional, a drone up to 900 g does not legally need insurance.

If you want to better understand the full legal framework, I recommend reading about the new drone law in Portugal.

Are There Exceptions?

Yes, a wide one: every drone up to 900 g, with or without a camera, used for fun or for paid work, is outside the legal obligation. Popular models like the DJI Mini 4 Pro (249 g) fall into this group, so insurance is not legally required for them, although it is highly recommended.

What Mandatory Insurance Covers

Mandatory insurance is civil liability: it covers damage to third parties (people and property), NOT your drone.

What’s Covered (Civil Liability)

Bodily injury to third parties — If your drone falls on someone and causes injuries
Property damage to third parties — If your drone hits a car, window, or structure
Legal defence costs — Some policies include legal assistance

What’s NOT Covered

Damage to your own drone — If you crash or lose it, that’s on you (unless you have optional hull insurance)
Illegal flights — If you were flying in a prohibited zone or without proper authorizations, the insurer may refuse coverage
Intentional use — Obviously
Privacy invasion — Filming people without consent isn’t covered as an “accident”

For a more detailed analysis of what is and isn’t covered, see our article on drone insurance coverage.

Insurers in Portugal: Who Offers Drone Insurance

The drone insurance market in Portugal is still relatively young, but you already have decent options. Here are the main ones, with actual prices I collected in February 2026.

Fidelidade — “Drone Insurance”

Price: From €59/year (recreational use, drone up to 2kg)
Liability Capital: €750,000 (standard) or €1,500,000 (professional option)
Hull damage: Optional, +€80-150/year depending on drone value
Process: Online at Fidelidade’s website, approval in 24-48h
Opinion: Most popular. Good online process, fair price, reasonable claims handling.

Allianz — “UAS Aerial Liability”

Price: From €75/year (recreational), €120-180/year (professional)
Liability Capital: €1,000,000 (minimum)
Hull damage: Optional, upon assessment
Process: In-person or via broker — no 100% online process
Opinion: Higher capital, good for professionals. More bureaucratic process (broker needed).

AXA — “Professional Drone Insurance”

Price: From €95/year (more oriented toward professional use)
Liability Capital: €1,500,000
Hull damage: Included in the complete version (€150-200/year)
Process: Via broker or agent
Opinion: Best for serious professional use. High capital, hull damage included. Most expensive.

European Alternatives

Coverdrone (UK/EU): Drone-specific insurance, available in Portugal online. From ~€50/year for basic liability. English interface.
Verifly: On-demand insurance (by the hour or day). Useful for occasional flyers. ~€5-10 per flying session. Availability in Portugal is intermittent — check the website.

Price Comparison — Summary Table

To make it easier, here’s a direct comparison (February 2026 values):

Recreational use (drone up to 2kg): Fidelidade €59 | Allianz €75 | AXA €95 | Coverdrone ~€50
Recreational use (drone 2-25kg): Fidelidade €89 | Allianz €110 | AXA €130
Professional use (up to 2kg): Fidelidade €95 | Allianz €120 | AXA €150
Professional use (2-25kg): Fidelidade €140 | Allianz €180 | AXA €200
Hull damage (additional): +€80-200/year (depending on insured drone value)

Note: These prices are indicative and may vary. Always request an updated quote.

How to Get Insurance: Step by Step

Decide the type of use — Recreational or professional? This affects price and coverage.
Identify your drone’s weight — Sub-250g, 250g-2kg, 2-25kg. Price brackets change.
Get quotes — From at least 2-3 insurers. Compare not just the price, but the insured capital and exclusions.
Check exclusions — Read the fine print. Some policies exclude flights above 120m, night flights, or flights in specific zones.
Purchase and keep proof — You need to be able to show insurance if authorities (ANAC, PSP, GNR) ask. Keep it on your phone.

What Happens If You Fly Without Insurance?

I’ll be direct: don’t risk it.

Administrative offence: for a drone above 900 g, a fine of €2,000 to €3,500 (individual)
Drone seizure: Authorities can seize your equipment
Unlimited personal liability: If you cause damage without insurance, you’re liable with your personal assets. An 800g drone that falls on a €50,000 car or causes injuries to a person — YOU pay

Inspections aren’t frequent, but when they happen, lack of insurance is one of the first things checked. Not worth the risk.

Insurance for Professional Use — What Changes?

If you use your drone professionally (filming, inspection, photogrammetry, precision agriculture), the legal obligation is the same (it depends on weight, not on use), but clients and operations often ask for more:

Recommended minimum capital: €1,000,000 (many corporate clients require at least this amount)
Equipment insurance: Essential when the drone + payload costs €3,000-15,000
Business interruption coverage: Available in some professional policies
Specific insurance for Specific category operations: If you operate under an STS declaration or a PDRA authorization, the insurer may require additional conditions

For professionals, compare the coverage, the insured amount and the deductible before choosing. If you do professional drone filming, insurance is a business cost.

Practical Tips

Keep the policy on your phone — PDF or photo, always accessible. In case of inspection, you need to show it immediately.
Check the expiry date — Seems obvious, but an expired policy easily goes unnoticed. Set a calendar reminder.
Declare all drones — If you have more than one drone, check if the policy covers all of them or if you need to add each one. Some policies are “per operator” (cover any drone you fly), others are “per equipment.”
Read exclusions about night flying — Some policies exclude night flights. In the open category, flying at night needs no ANAC authorization, but a flashing green light is mandatory: see the night flying rules.
Request an English version — Useful if you fly in other EU countries.

Is Hull Insurance Worth It?

This is the million-dollar question: hull cover costs more because the premium depends on the value of the drone. In my opinion:

Worth it if:

Your drone cost more than €800-1,000
You fly regularly in challenging conditions (wind, cliffs, urban areas)
You use the drone professionally and can’t afford to be without it

Probably not worth it if:

You have a DJI Mini (€300-500) — the insurance cost over a couple of years almost pays for a new drone
You fly occasionally in favourable conditions
You have DJI Care Refresh (which already covers accidental damage, with a deductible)

Hull insurance makes more sense on an expensive drone than on a small one. Do the math for your situation.

Conclusion

Drone insurance in Portugal is mandatory for drones above 900 g, whatever the use; below that weight it is not required by law, but it is common sense. The price depends on the insurer, the drone’s weight and the insured amount. Get the insurance, keep proof on your phone, and fly with peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DJI Care Refresh replace mandatory insurance?

In Portugal, the general liability-insurance requirement applies above 900 g maximum operational mass. Commercial use alone does not make insurance mandatory below that threshold. Check any additional conditions attached to your operation and policy. Source: ANAC.

Does insurance cover flights across the European Union?

Premiums depend on the insurer, equipment, insured limits, exclusions and declared use. Compare written quotes for equivalent cover; there is no universal annual price.

If my drone falls on its own due to technical failure and causes damage, am I covered?

No. DJI Care Refresh is a product service subject to plan terms and replacement fees. It does not replace third-party liability insurance. DJI terms.

Can I insure multiple drones under one policy?

Check the maximum operational mass of your configuration against the above-900 g threshold. Commercial use alone does not change that general threshold. Voluntary liability cover may still be useful, and operational conditions can impose additional requirements.

Miguel Santos

DroneFlyBlog

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