Recently updated on March 23rd, 2023 at 11:54 am
Paramotor insurance is something that’s very often overlooked, I was guilty of this myself in the beginning, but after a few emergency landings I soon realised why it’s so important. In this post we’ll find out why pilots should always have valid insurance, and also look at where you can get good cover at the best prices. We’ll also look at some insurance options available for schools and instructors.
When I started paramotoring I flew for a whole 2 years without any cover. Foolish I know, but I simply wasn’t aware how easily things could go wrong, and how important liability insurance actually is. Fortunately I didn’t need it, but I was eventually forced to buy it to attend a fly-in event, and I’ve renewed it every year since.
Why paramotor insurance is important
We’re all so busy enjoying the sport, and we forget that there are times when things don’t go according to plan. I’ve seen some of the most experienced pilots get into trouble, and without insurance in place they would have been paying fees and damages for the rest of their lives.
PARAMOTOR ACCIDENTS
I’ve seen two experienced pilots hit power lines! Imagine the cost to repair this. One of these pilots had over ten years experience at the time, so it just goes to show that it could happen to any of us. This particular pilot also had a lengthy stay in hospital, and had to get skin graft surgery, something else that would have cost thousands with no insurance, not to mention the income he lost from missing work. Luckily both of these pilots had insurance, and they’re both still enjoying the sport.
The insurers listed in this post will cover the costs of accidents like this, but hospital stays and surgery may not be covered. If you don’t have free health care in your country then you’ll need to declare your love of paramotoring on your health insurance policy.
Pilots in the UK who wish to add health accident cover can use sports cover direct listed at the bottom. They cover for things like loss of limbs, permanent disablement, and accidental death.
TRANSPORTING
Paramotor accidents aren’t the only concern, you’ll also need to think about accidents that could occur transporting your paramotor while travelling to your launch spot. You’ll likely be driving with all of your equipment in the car, and you may have your paramotor on the back of the vehicle mounted to the tow bar. A simple rear end smash could completely destroy your paramotor, a more serious accident could easily damage all of your gear.
Bare in mind that the insurance companies listed in this post probably wont cover you for this. You’ll need to speak to your car insurance provider to see if they cover it, or if not ask them if they can add this cover to your existing policy.
THEFT
Another concern is theft of your equipment. Although my pride and joy stays inside my house when it’s not being flown, many pilots keep their paramotors in garages and sheds. If a thief spots you unloading your expensive paramotor from your vehicle, you can bet that he’ll soon be back to check out your outbuildings.
Paramotors aren’t registered aircraft, so unless you stamp your name and address onto your paramotor’s frame (not a bad idea), there’s no other way to prove it’s yours, so thieves can easily sell stolen equipment on selling sites with no worry of repercussions.
Again, the insurers listed below probably won’t cover theft, speak to your home insurance provider and tell them about your paramotor gear and they should cover it, it may be already covered in your policy.
What to look for in paramotor insurance
You now understand that paramotor insurance is an essential aspect of flying safely and responsibly. It provides protection in the event of an accident, injury to others, or damage to property while flying your paramotor.
If you’re still not convinced paramotor insurance is necessary check out my paramotor accidents post here.
The best paramotor insurance is one that offers 3rd party liability coverage at an affordable price. Here are some factors to consider when looking for paramotor insurance:
- Coverage: Look for an insurance policy that offers coverage for third-party liability at the very minimum. This should include coverage for damage to property, emergency rescue costs resulting from accidents, and any legal costs associated with a claim. You’re not likely to find a company that will offer comprehensive cover that includes things like injury to yourself or damage to your own equipment, so this will need to be bought separately, or added to your current health insurance policy.
- Cost: While cost is an important factor to consider, it should not be the only deciding factor. Make sure to compare policies from different providers to find the best balance between cost and coverage.
- Reputation: Look for an insurance provider with a good reputation in the paramotoring community. Check reviews and ask for recommendations from other pilots to ensure that the provider is reliable and trustworthy.
- Flexibility: Look for an insurance policy that is flexible and can be tailored to your specific needs. This may include coverage for different types of flying, different types of equipment, different wings and maybe even coverage for international travel if you like the idea of flying abroad.
- Customer Service: Look for an insurance provider that offers excellent customer service and support. This can include 24/7 assistance, prompt claims processing, and clear communication.
If you have a quick google you’ll find various companies and brokers offering paramotor insurance. I’ve sifted through a few of these to find policies available for both UK and US pilots all listed below. Don’t forget to talk to the insurers to see if they can tailor the policy to your specific needs, this shouldn’t be a problem in most cases, but insurance offered through clubs cannot usually be changed.
PARAMOTOR INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR PILOTS IN THE USA
O2 SPORTS INSURANCE
O2 sports insurance, inc. offer 3rd party liability insurance for ultralight or light sport aircrafts. Their policy offers you $1,000,000 of liability coverage. This is important as it is often requested by airfields, public airports or hanger locations.
To qualify for their paramotor insurance you must be a member of the USPPA and the USUA (United States Ultralight Association).
Find out more and get a quote here.
USPPA
As we just mentioned the USPPA (United states hang gliding & paragliding association) it’s worth updating you on the current insurance situation.
If you’ve been searching for paramotor insurance you’ve probably already seen the USPPA members insurance highly recommended. The USPPA used to offer insurance to all of their members for an additional price. Unfortunately this is no longer available, but we’ll keep a watch on their website and update this post if it ever becomes available again.
STATEWIDE INSURANCE ADVISORS
This one comes highly recommended by the USPPA. State wide insurance advisors offer accidental coverage, critical Illness / life, and dental cover. This is available to all PPG pilots, and you don’t need to be a member of any club or organisation to qualify.
For details and rates contact:
Michael A. Kerr Agent/Owner
Statewide Insurance Advisors Agency, Inc.
269-623-4583 Office
616-734-9151 Cell
877-486-0270 Fax
You can also request a quote online here
XINSURANCE (for paramotor schools and instructors)
Insurance is especially important for paramotor instructors, and you should never teach a student without full cover in place. Xinsurance offer a liability policy especially for schools and instructors, but you’ll need a USPPA Instructor rating or equivalent to qualify for the policy.
Contact them directly to get your cover sorted:
Logan Fitzgerald
Senior Vice President, Marketing / Special Counsel to the CEOPowered by Evolution Insurance Brokers
Phone: (801) 304-5562 Fax: (801) 233-5262
Email: loganf@primeis.com
Or take a look at their website here.
PARAMOTOR INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR PILOTS IN THE UK
BHPA
The BHPA (British hang gliding and paragliding association) offers 3rd party insurance to all of their members with £5,000,000 of liability coverage. Insurance is offered as part of the membership, so all you have to do is join them to be covered.
When you join you’ll pay a £25 joining fee, which will only apply once upon joining. The membership cost which includes 3rd party insurance and a monthly Skywings magazine starts at £149 per year with a £7 discount if you pay annually by direct debit.
If you plan to renew next year you can get a bigger discount by choosing their introductory offer of a 2 year membership priced at £254. There are lots of other membership options, including a 3 month trial membership.
Reading the small print you’ll find that there is a £250 excess on their insurance, and that you can fly anywhere in the world except the USA and Canada. There is also no cancellation provision, so you will not get any refund if you cancel the policy.
AXA Insurance Agency for Aviation (UK and EU pilots)
AXA have been providing 3rd party liability paramotor insurance for many years, they’re the most popular insurance provider for UK paramotor pilots outside of the BHPA, and it’s the company that I’ve been using since 2015.
They offer €1,500,000 liability cover that is valid worldwide except for USA, US territories and Canada, and you don’t need to be a member of any club or organisation to qualify.
You may have heard that AXA no longer offer paramotor insurance, but that is incorrect. Back in 2017 AXA did stop opening new policies and only offered their services to already insured pilots wishing to renew, but this came to an end in mid 2019. They are currently offering their services and opening new paramotor insurance policies as normal.
Insuring with AXA is fairly easy, and can be completed online HERE, it’ll cost you €140 (this price hasn’t risen since I started using them), and you can pay by PayPal for your peace of mind.
Romero sports and leisure (schools and instructors)
This is the insurance broker that the BHPA use, so you can go directly to them if you run a paramotor business or school.
They specialise in working with businesses in the sports and leisure industry, and cater for a variety of businesses from skydiving to karting. They claim to cater to each individuals requirements, so you can speak directly to them to add any specifics that you need for your paramotoring business.
Talk to them directly at 0113 281 8110
Or go to their website here to find out more.
Insurance while paramotor training in the UK
SPORTS COVER DIRECT
When you take your training you may be asked to get your own insurance cover sorted, this is something I had to do when training with Skyschool. One company worth looking at is Sports Cover Direct who offer a special insurance policy for paramotoring under instruction with £2,000,000 liability cover from £70 per week.
The policy has various options and can cover you if you have an accident and need medical assistance or emergency repatriation. They also have an option that covers worldwide trip delays and cancellations, and lost or stolen baggage, which is handy if you’re doing your paramotor training abroad.
Rounding up
Hopefully you’ll never need to make a claim, and you can make this less likely by learning how to avoid mistakes of the pilots that came before you. Check out the death and accident rate of this sport, and learn how to avoid these unfortunate mistakes HERE.
I hope this guide helps you to get the paramotor insurance cover you need. I’ll keep searching for companies that offer a wider range of cover options, as a fully comprehensive cover would be much more desirable. Unfortunately most insurers don’t want to get involved in high risk sports, especially in the current climate.
If you have any other good paramotor insurance providers that I can add to the list please let me know in the comments below. I’d like to add options for pilots in other countries so any suggestions are appreciated.