Aviation Insurance Designed for Aircraft Owners

Aircraft Renters

Alaska

Cessna 180/185

Cirrus Aircraft

Experimental Aircraft

Hangar Coverage

Industrial Aid Aircraft

Rotor Wing

Seaplane

Since 1977, BWI Aviation Insurance has helped aircraft owners across the country find fast, customized, and affordable aviation insurance. Whether you fly a Cessna 172, Cirrus SR22, Piper Cherokee, or operate a small fleet, our team builds coverage around your aircraft, flight hours, and mission.

We’re not generalists. Aviation is all we do, and our service is as personal as your flying—whether you
need non-owned aircraft insurance, hangar insurance, or a tailored owner policy.

What Is Aviation Insurance?

Aviation insurance is specialized coverage that protects pilots and aircraft owners from financial loss
resulting from accidents, injuries, property damage, weather events, theft, and more. Unlike auto or home
policies, aviation insurance must account for aircraft type, airworthiness, pilot experience, and FAA
regulations.

The origins of aviation insurance date back to the 1910s, when Lloyd’s of London began issuing the
earliest policies for experimental biplanes and barnstormers. Back then, policies were limited, and the
risks were extreme. Fast forward to today: aviation is far safer, but the insurance still must address highly
specific technical risks.

There is no “standard” aviation policy, every policy is customized based on aircraft make/model, intended
use (personal, instructional, or commercial), pilot experience, total time in type, storage method, and
geographic location.

At BWI, we help you navigate all of this, from quote to renewal.

Common Types of Aviation Insurance Policies

Aircraft owner insurance (Part 91): Designed for privately owned aircraft and typical personal flying.
Renter / non-owned coverage: For pilots who rent or borrow aircraft and want liability protection. See aircraft renters insurance.
Hangar and storage coverage: Helps protect your hangar or tiedown-related exposures. Learn more about hangar insurance.
Rotorcraft coverage: Policies tailored for helicopter operations. See helicopter insurance.
Specialty aircraft programs: Including experimental aircraft insurance and seaplane coverage.

What Does Aviation Insurance Cover?

Most policies include:

Liability Insurance

This protects you if your aircraft causes bodily injury or property damage. Most policies are written with $1,000,000 in total liability. You’ll often choose between:

$100,000 per passenger sublimit
Or “smooth” liability, which has no per-passenger cap

Hull Coverage

Pays to repair or replace your aircraft in the event of damage. Hull insurance can be:

Ground not-in-motion (while parked)
Ground in-motion (excluding flight)
Full Flight (full in-flight coverage)

This is based on an agreed-upon hull value you select during the quote process.

Medical Payments

Covers medical expenses for injured passengers, regardless of fault. Common limits range from $3,000
to $10,000.

Optional Endorsements and Add-Ons

Non-owned aircraft liability (see non-owned aircraft insurance)
Emergency expense coverage
Loss of use
Hangar or tiedown location insurance
Tool and spare parts coverage
Search and rescue expense
Deductible waivers for certain aircraft types

Imagine this: your aircraft is tied down during a storm. Debris strikes it, causing $60,000 in damage. Your hull coverage kicks in. If your aircraft suffers a hard landing, or your hangar burns, you’re covered. If a passenger is injured during boarding, medical payments cover it. If your engine fails and you land off-airport, liability and rescue expenses are on your policy.

Coverage isn’t just paperwork, it’s peace of mind for everything you can’t predict in the air or on the ground.

How Aviation Insurance Premiums Are Calculated

Aviation insurance isn’t priced like auto or home. Each quote is individually underwritten based on:

Your total pilot time
Time in make and model
Ratings (instrument, commercial, ATP)
Aircraft age, performance, and mission
Whether the aircraft is used for instruction, rental, or business
Location and storage type
Past claims or violations

Some policies are also influenced by hull value trends in the market (especially on aircraft like Cirrus SR22s or experimental builds where replacement parts fluctuate).

Underwriters assess the full profile, pilot risk + aircraft risk. At BWI, we work directly with multiple carriers, translating your flight history and aircraft details into a compelling submission that earns better pricing.

We don’t just plug your data into a portal, we advocate for you, one-on-one with the actual people writing your policy.

Real Aviation Insurance Quote Examples

Here are recent examples from real BWI clients:

Cessna 182 ($120,000 hull, private use): $1M smooth liability – $1,450/year
Cirrus SR22T ($400,000 hull, personal + business use): $1M smooth liability – $3,600/year (see Cirrus SR22 insurance)
Vans RV-10 (experimental) ($210,000 hull): $1M liability with $100k/passenger – $2,250/year (see experimental aircraft insurance)
Piper Archer ($80,000 hull, instructional use): $1M liability with $100k/passenger – $1,800/year

Your actual quote may vary, but these examples show how aircraft type, hull value, and use-case can impact price.

Why Choose BWI?

You can get a quote from a generalist agent. Or a portal. Or you can work with BWI, a family-owned, aviation-only insurance agency trusted by over 9,000 aircraft owners nationwide.

Here’s why thousands of pilots choose BWI:

We assign you a real, licensed account manager, not a call center
We shop the entire aviation market, 7+ A-rated carriers
We return most quotes in under 24 hours, often same-day
We don’t just sell, we help you understand your coverage
We stay with you during claims, renewals, and transitions
We’ve been doing this for over 45 years

From your first solo to your Vision Jet upgrade, we’ve got you.

Types of Aircraft We Insure

We cover almost every kind of general aviation aircraft, including:

Cessna 150, 152, 172, 182, 210, 414, 421
Piper Cherokee, Archer, Saratoga, Seneca, Cub
Cirrus SR20 / SR22, Vision Jet
Beechcraft Bonanza, Baron
Vans RV series (all models)
Experimental and kit-built aircraft
Commercial drones (ag, survey, inspection)
Robinson R22, R44, R66, Bell 206 helicopters (see helicopter insurance)

If you can register it with the FAA and fly it under Part 91 or 61, we can probably insure it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aviation insurance legally required?

Not under federal law, but most FBOs, lenders, airports, and hangars require proof of insurance. Even if not mandatory, going uninsured exposes you to massive liability.

What is smooth liability?

Smooth liability means you can use your entire policy limit, such as $1,000,000, to pay any single injured party. It provides greater flexibility than the more common $100,000 per passenger sublimit.

Can I insure an aircraft that’s not flying yet?

Yes. Ground-not-in-motion policies cover aircraft that are being restored, stored, or hangared.

Do you insure student pilots or low-time owners?

We do. Many underwriters will accept student pilots with proper CFI oversight or if they’re operating under rental agreements. We work to place policies that help new pilots get started affordably.

How long does it take to get coverage?

Most light aircraft and private use quotes are turned around in 24 hours. Some even same day. Once approved, coverage can be bound immediately.

What if I need proof of insurance fast?

We can often provide same-day certificates. Our service team is trained to issue urgent documents quickly and accurately.

Do training and safety programs lower my rate?

Yes. IFR ratings, recurrent training, CSIP participation, and simulator hours can all help reduce premiums, especially for high-performance aircraft.

How to Get a Quote from BWI

Getting started is fast and simple.

Step 1: Click “Get A Quote” and fill out our short form

Step 2: A BWI aviation insurance professional will review and contact you

Step 3: We shop your profile to multiple carriers and return your quote

Step 4: Choose your policy, bind coverage, and receive proof, often same day

No phone trees. No bots. Just aviation people who move quickly and care.

Helpful Pages You Might Also Need

If you’re looking for aircraft-specific coverage, these related resources may help:

Each page explains common coverage considerations by aircraft type and mission profile.

Trusted by 9,000+ Aircraft Owners

When it comes to aviation insurance, we believe in speed, clarity, and deep respect for the responsibility of aircraft ownership. Our goal is to take the complexity out of coverage so you can focus on flying with peace of mind.

BWI is licensed in all 50 states and represents the top aviation insurers in the country. Whether you’re a private pilot, a flight school, a drone operator, or a business owner managing a fleet, we’ll help you get covered quickly and accurately.

Get a Quote Now or call us at 800.666.4359