Do I really need insurance?

[UnAnswerd]

I got this application from AOPA in the mail today. It states that for $26 per year, I can get insurance coverage. First, why is it so cheap? I don't even have my student pilot certificate yet...

Second, should I respond? I though that in the event of clipping taxiway lights, or smashing up the airplane, that the flight school would have coverage. If not, would it be better off dying in an accident, so you can get out of having to pay for the damaged airplane?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[urflyingme?!]

My school had a 5k premium. OUCH!

 

[jbDC9]

I got this application from AOPA in the mail today. It states that for $26 per year, I can get insurance coverage. First, why is it so cheap? I don't even have my student pilot certificate yet...

Second, should I respond? I though that in the event of clipping taxiway lights, or smashing up the airplane, that the flight school would have coverage. If not, would it be better off dying in an accident, so you can get out of having to pay for the damaged airplane?

In a nutshell, yes, you need "non-owned aircraft", aka "renter's" insurance. I've been flying other people's airplanes for 20 years and haven't had a problem... but I figured my good luck would run out one of these days and I bought renter's insurance a few months ago. The flight school does have insurance coverage on their planes, but it's there to cover their asses, not yours. If you bend an airplane, their insurance comapny will take care of the repair bill instead of the FBO paying for it. But guess what happens next? The big, bad insurance company is gonna come after you to get their $$ back. I've seen it happen several times at my local 'drome...

Seriously, get a cheap policy... at the very least you won't have to try and kill yourself in a crack-up to avoid paying for the plane.

 

[wxman13]

AOPA offers a couple different kinds of insurance. From the price, it looks like what you got was for their legal services plan. Basically, if you get an FAA Enforcement Action against you, AOPA has lawyers that will represent you for greatly reduced/no fee if you're part of the plan (I'm sure there are caveats...)

Separately, you can get renter's insurance from AOPA and other companies, which covers the deductable on your flight school's insurance policy (which YOU would be responsible for otherwise) and also gives you liability insurance. I'm paying about $250 for $500,000 liability insurance and $5000 hull coverage (they call it something else, but covers deductables) per year, and I'm a commercial pilot (though the insurance doesn't cover me if I'm exercising CP privileges). Hope that helps clarify things. Getting the latter kind of insurance is a good safety net for you to have if you get in an accident as an renter, I think.

Peter