Why Non-Owners Insurance Doesn’t Cover Ferry Flights — And Why That Should Matter to You
When choosing a company to relocate your aircraft, insurance coverage should be one of your top concerns. It’s a detail that’s often misunderstood and, unfortunately, sometimes misrepresented by pilots or operators who don’t have the right kind of protection—or the experience to know better.
One of the most common red flags in the ferry industry today is when a pilot or company claims that they’re “insured” through a renters (non-owners) aircraft policy. While this type of insurance has its place, it does not cover ferry flights conducted for compensation. And if you're trusting someone to move your aircraft, this matters more than you might think.
What Renters Insurance Really Covers
Renters (aka non-owned) insurance is designed for pilots who occasionally fly aircraft they don’t own—typically in flight school environments or shared-use rental aircraft. These policies usually offer:
Personal liability protection
Some coverage for damage to the non-owned aircraft
However, these policies are explicitly limited to personal, non-commercial flying. If the pilot is being paid or compensated in any form to move an aircraft from one location to another, that flight no longer qualifies as personal use. It’s a commercial operation—and renters insurance doesn’t apply.
What Happens When a Ferry Flight Isn't Properly Insured?
If a pilot flying under a renters policy damages your aircraft during a ferry flight, their insurance won’t cover it. Worse yet, it could jeopardize your own claim if your insurer wasn’t informed or didn’t approve the pilot. In today’s aircraft insurance landscape, flight hour and experience requirements are becoming increasingly specific on open pilot policies - making the likelihood of this safety net not catching you in the unfortunate event of a claim, high.
This puts you, the aircraft owner, in a vulnerable position:
You could be responsible for repair costs
Your insurer could deny your claim
The ferry pilot might have zero financial liability, despite their mistake
This is why correct coverage is critical, and why understanding the insurance structure behind your ferry provider is essential—not optional.
How Ferry Insurance Actually Works in Today’s Market
Here’s the reality: for domestic ferry flights within the United States, dedicated commercial ferry insurance policies for light aircraft are rarely available anymore—unless the aircraft is being exported or flown internationally.
So how do professional ferry services ensure proper coverage?
The accepted and responsible approach is to:
Add the ferry pilot as a named pilot on the aircraft owner’s existing insurance policy.
This ensures that:
The ferry pilot is vetted and approved verbatim by your insurer
Coverage applies for both liability and hull during the relocation
There’s no gap in protection for your aircraft
This process is routine for professionals in the industry and ensures that the aircraft is fully protected, legally and financially, during its movement.
Why This Sets Us Apart
At Craver Aeronautics, we follow industry best practices—not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it’s the only responsible way to operate.
Unlike many part-time or time-building pilots, we do not rely on renters insurance. Instead, we work directly with your insurer to ensure that your aircraft—and your interests—are fully protected. We’ll help you navigate the process of getting us added to your policy as a named pilot, and we’ll make sure all parties have what they need before a single engine is started.
We’re a professional ferry operation—not a side gig for low-time pilots trying to pad their logbooks. Underwriters recognize our experience, and aircraft owners choose us because they know we’re operating within the bounds of what insurance companies expect and approve.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire Any Ferry Service
Before you hand over the keys to your aircraft, ask:
What insurance specifically covers this ferry flight?
Are you listed on my insurance policy, or relying on a renters policy?
Have you worked with aviation insurers before for named pilot approvals?
What experience do you or your pilots have ferrying aircraft of this type?
If you don’t get clear, confident answers—or if they tell you their renters insurance is “enough”—you’re better off walking away.
Do It Right. Don’t Settle.
Moving an aircraft involves more than just flying from A to B. It’s about doing it right—legally, safely, and with the proper protections in place. That’s where we come in.
At Craver Aeronautics, we’ve built our reputation on professionalism, not shortcuts. We understand the insurance process, work directly with underwriters, and ensure every flight we conduct is done the right way, from paperwork to touchdown.
Have questions? Want help understanding how ferry insurance works? We’re happy to walk you through it. Because when it comes to your aircraft, nothing less than professional is acceptable.