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AOPA Insurance Agency's Owners Insurance FAQ Where do I send my payment:

Mail your payment to:
AOPA Insurance Agency, Inc.
PO Box 9170
Wichita, KS 67277

If you are using an express service send your payment to:

AOPA Insurance Agency
1995 Midfield Road
Wichita, KS 67209
Altitude!


Do you take credit cards?

Nonowned policies may be paid for by credit card. Currently, we do not take credit card payment for owners policies. Owners can take advantage of a premium finance program through Cananwill.
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Who is Cananwill?

Cananwill is a premium finance company. Owned aircraft policyholders, may elect to finance their insurance premium through Cananwill, prior to the start of the policy period. As with all finance companies, interest charges and miscellaneous fees apply and are detailed on the Cananwill contract.
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Where do I send my application?

Mail your application to:

AOPA Insurance Agency, Inc.
PO Box 9170
Wichita, KS 67277

If you are using an express service send your application to:

AOPA Insurance Agency
1995 Midfield Road
Wichita, KS 67209
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I already filled out a renewal application, why did you send me another?

The initial application, sent 90 days before renewal, is a questionnaire designed to capture your updated flight times, changes in address, airport location, etc. From the information you provide on that application, we produce the second application which should reflect all changes made at renewal, it is this application that the insurance companies must have as a condition of the contract.
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How do I cancel my policy?

Should you need to cancel your insurance policy, you may choose one of two methods.

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What is an "open pilot warranty"?

An open pilot warranty is a clause in many aircraft insurance policies, which allows pilots with certain minimum qualifications to fly the aircraft on an occasional basis without being named to the policy.
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Is my CFI covered under my policy? How can I get him (her) covered?

Coverage for commercial operations is excluded by all pleasure and business policies. If your CFI is exercising a commercial privilege (e.g. giving you or anyone else instruction), then there is no coverage for him under your policy, even if you name him as an approved pilot. Your CFI should purchase his own insurance policy to cover this type of flying. Non-owned CFI policies are available through AOPA Insurance Agency, Inc.
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I am an airline pilot, why do I have to attend annual recurrent training in my aircraft?

Many aircraft (especially pressurized aircraft) are uninsurable unless the pilots obtain annual manufacturer's approved ground and flight school. The systems and behavior of typical airliners, are different enough from the personal-use pressurized aircraft, that the insurance companies will not accept airline recurrent training to fulfil this requirement.
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Can I change my deductible to lower my premium?

In nearly all cases, aircraft insurance companies have moved to a fixed deductible, which cannot be changed by the insured in exchange for premium credit. The exception to this, may be the aircraft with a very high insured value (one million dollars plus), in which case a higher deductible may be negotiated.
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Where do I send my premium payment?

Mail your payment to:

AOPA Insurance Agency, Inc.
PO Box 9170
Wichita, KS 67277

If you are using an express service send your payment to:

AOPA Insurance Agency
1995 Midfield Road
Wichita, KS 67209
Altitude!


I have more flight experience now, why did my premium increase?

Pilot experience is only a part of the rating equation. Also factored in, are loss ratios for the general aviation fleet, loss history on the risk involved, geographic location, claims related expenses (especially the price of parts), loss history by aircraft type, and competitive pressures among insurance companies. It is very possible to have received additional credits for flight experience and yet see an overall premium increase, if the other rating factors negatively affected your insurance premium.
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I have more flight experience now, can I receive a rebate on part of my insurance premium?

Aircraft insurance contracts are written and priced on an annual basis. Midterm credits are not given.
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Why do prices vary so much between companies?

As in most cases, the devil is in the details. Every insurance contract is different, especially when it comes to coverages. Be sure to read your insurance contract to make sure you are getting all the coverage you need. In the event of a claim, the amount of your premium will be the furthest thing from your mind, what will be important to you is whether or not you were properly covered.

Also, competitive pressures in the market place often produce wild rate swings. Any company needing or wanting to build market share can do so by under-pricing the risk for the first year. If you have multiple quotes for your aircraft insurance and one premium amount is substantially lower than the others, you should ask yourself some questions. Does the cheaper company insure substantially safer pilots than the others (probably not)? What will happen to my insurance rate in subsequent years? What will happen to the marketplace if insurance companies are unable to sell their policies at prices necessary to pay the claims?
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My local FBO has the aircraft insured, why do I need nonowned coverage?

The FBO's policy does not protect you, it protects them. If you damage the aircraft, the FBO's insurance company may come after you personally to recover what they paid the FBO. More importantly, you need liability protection designed to protect you from the really large claims (bodily injury to others and property damage).
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How much coverage should I buy?

For liability coverage, as much as is available and you can afford. For nonowned hull coverage, it depends on the value of the aircraft you typically rent and whether or not you want to fully be covered in the event of a total loss.
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I just had an accident, what do I do?

It is important to protect your aircraft from further damage and to prevent it from becoming a safety hazard to others. That means the aircraft can be moved if necessary and a guard can be hired to stay with the aircraft if there is risk of avionics theft.

Do not admit fault. Do not discuss the accident with anyone except AOPA Insurance Agency, your insurance company, and government officials (FAA, police, etc). At the time of an accident you cannot know all of the circumstances that may have contributed to it, that information will come out of the investigation.

Notify AOPA Insurance Agency promptly by calling (800) 622-2672 during regular business hours.
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What will I have to do during the claims process?

Provide the insurance company with any documents that they request (aircraft logbooks, pilot logbooks, estimates, photographs, sworn statements, etc) as promptly as possible. You will be an integral part of the claims settlement process, make sure you and your adjuster are communicating regularly. The most frequent cause of a delay in the claims settlement process, is that the insurance company did not receive previously requested documents from the insured.
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I had a claim, what is going to happen to my insurance rates?

That depends on many factors. We cannot adequately address all possible scenarios here. It is fair to say however, that in most cases aircraft insurance companies do not surcharge for a claim, especially if it was not pilot related. The risk is either acceptable to them or not acceptable to them. Premium surcharges are unlikely to do much in the way of recovering aircraft accident claim costs. If a pilot shows particularly bad judgement (e.g. runs out of fuel) then the insurance company may be unwilling to renew or may offer coverage only at a much higher premium level. It is also possible for the renewal premium to increase even if the insurance company did not attach a claim surcharge because aircraft insurance rates change all the time.
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When it comes to Liability Coverage, what are the differences between "split limits," combined single limit or "smooth" coverage and sub-limited coverages?

Some policies place a limit on the maximum coverage they provide for Bodily Injury and Property Damage. These "split limits" appear on the policy as separate amounts. For example: $100,000 property damage, $100,000 bodily injury, $200,000 each occurrence. This is an older form of liability coverage and most insurance companies no longer write "split limits."

Combined Single Limit coverage, also known as "smooth limits," combines your coverage for both Property Damage and Bodily Injury per occurrence into a single limit with no further limitation. In other words, regardless of whether the claim against you arises from injuries or death to persons or from damage to other's property, the amount of protection you have is the total Combined Single Limit. It is usually expressed as a single number, for example: $1,000,000 each occurrence. In general this type of coverage provides more protection when compared to sub-limited coverage, but it is also more expensive.

The most common liability coverage is a sub-limited coverage. Sub-limited liability coverage is also a Combined Single Limit coverage, but it places a limitation on your coverage for a specific loss in the form of a lower amount than the each occurrence amount. Most commonly, these sub-limits apply to all or a type of Bodily Injury. For example, $1,000,000 each occurrence limited to $100,000 per person places a maximum amount of coverage for death of or injuries to any person at $100,000. This amount is part of, and not in addition to, the $1,000,000 each occurrence limit.

Sub-limits may also be worded on a per passenger basis. This wording provides superior coverage over the per person wording since it only reduces coverage on passengers. A per person limit reduces your coverage for bodily injury to all persons.
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What are "family sub-limits"?

Family sub-limits reduce the amount of coverage provided under your policy for injuries or death of a family member. These limitations can drastically reduce your coverage for family members to as little as $12,500 regardless of what amount of liability coverage you purchase.

Determining whether or not your policy contains family sub-limits can be tricky. Unlike a per passenger or per person sub-limit described above, family sub-limits normally don't appear on your policy's Coverage Information Page. This makes them hard to find when reviewing your policy. Check the Liability Coverage portion of your policy or ask your insurance company or agent if your policy contains these.
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What limit of liability should I purchase?

Again, each individual's situation is different. Liability Coverage is the protection you have against claims arising from bodily injury or property damage . These can range literally into millions of dollars. The higher limit of liability you buy, the more expensive it can be. In general, most insurance professionals will advise you to purchase the highest limit of liability that is available and that you can afford, since "pinching pennies" on this coverage could leave you responsible for the amount of loss which exceeds the limit you bought.
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What is Physical Damage Coverage?

Physical Damage or "Hull" Coverage is the amount of protection you have against damage to your aircraft. The limit for this coverage is known as your aircraft's "Insured Value." The common options for Physical Damage Coverage define when coverage will apply. These options are usually "All Risk Ground and Flight," "All Risk Not In Flight" and "All Risk Not In Motion." For a full description of these coverages and which is right for you, check with your insurance company or agent.
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Are there any requirements for carrying aircraft damage (hull) coverage?

If the aircraft is financed, the bank will require you to carry ground and in-flight hull coverage. However, after the loan has been paid, some aircraft owners may remove the hull coverage to reduce the costs of aircraft ownership. If the cost of ground and in-flight hull coverage can't be justified, the aircraft owner should at least consider a hull coverage that will cover the aircraft while it's hangared or tied down.
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How much should I insure my aircraft for?

There's no single right answer to this question. Each individual's situation is different, but in general, you should probably insure your aircraft for what it would cost to replace it with a similar like/kind aircraft. This is also known as its "Market Value." Sources of current aircraft value information are aircraft sales magazines and aircraft price guides. These are only a guide however, since aircraft condition, options, avionics and equipment can vary greatly. Your agent or insurance company should be able to assist you in determining a range suitable for your aircraft. Finally, remember aircraft physical damage coverage is usually written on an "agreed value" basis. This means that you and the insurance company will agree on what amount will be paid to you in the event of a total loss.
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What types of changes will increase the insured value of my aircraft?

Here are some prime examples:
  • An engine overhaul
  • New paint or interior
  • New avionics
  • Conversion/modification kits (i.e., engine, STOL)
There are some limitations to increasing the aircraft's insured value. If you purchased $10,000 worth of avionics, don't expect the insured value to be increased by that amount. In this example, an insurance company may only increase the value by $5,000 to $7,000.
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How does an insurance company determine total loss?

Some companies declare the aircraft a total loss when the estimated cost of repairs exceeds a certain percentage (i.e., 70%) of the insured value. If a company does not use a percentage, they will usually declare an aircraft a total loss when the estimated cost of repairs and the aircraft salvage value (the damaged aircraft's value prior to repairs) exceeds the insured value. After the aircraft has been declared a total loss, the insurance company will pay the policyholder the insured value, less any deductible. After payment has been made, the insurance company will retain the salvage. An aircraft that has been stolen or disappears will be considered a total loss if it is not found within a specified period of time.
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What are the problems of either overinsuring or underinsuring an aircraft?

A good rule of thumb for determining your aircraft's insured value is to insure it for the cost of replacing it with another airplane just like it. With an overinsured aircraft, an insurance company may repair an aircraft that would have been declared a total loss had it been properly insured. Consequently, an aircraft that has been repaired after suffering extensive damage may never be the same, and it may be difficult to sell at a fair price later on. If an underinsured aircraft has been declared a total loss, the owner will not have enough money from the claim settlement to replace the aircraft with one just like it. For this reason, it is very important for an owner to have the insured value increased immediately after adding equipment (i.e., avionics) or making any improvements to the aircraft. Keep in mind that the more an aircraft is underinsured, the more likely the insurance company will declare it a total loss if it's substantially damaged. To avoid either overinsuring or underinsuring, have your agent evaluate the aircraft's value each time your policy comes up for renewal.
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What is medical payments coverage, and should I carry it on my policy?

This coverage pays the immediate medical expenses for injuries sustained in an accident. It also covers injuries that occur while entering or leaving the insured aircraft. Most insurance companies offer medical payments coverage on their liability policies. It is usually written in limits ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per person, and depending on the policy, it may or may not cover the pilot. Because its purpose is to pay for initial medical treatment, most policies have a time limit on the medical services provided. It is considered "no-fault" insurance, which means liability does not have to be established for medical payments to be made. Carrying medical payments coverage on your policy is a good idea because it covers the smaller injury claims without filing a claim against your bodily injury liability coverage. Additionally, it can pay expenses not covered by your personal health insurance.
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What should I be aware of when completing an insurance application?

Answer all questions and requests for information truthfully and accurately. A misleading statement or false information on an application could result in a claim denial.
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What can I do to reduce my insurance rates?

Of course, it depends on your insurance company, but here are some possible methods:
  • Obtain an instrument rating
  • Keep the aircraft in an enclosed hangar
  • Participate in a pilot proficiency program (i.e., the FAA's Wings program)
  • Increase your flight time
  • Maintain a claim-free status for a certain period of time

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If I let someone borrow my aircraft, what precautions should I take?

If the borrower isn't a named pilot on your policy, make sure he/she meets the requirements of your policy's open pilot warranty. This should be confirmed by reviewing the individual's pilot logbook. In other words, make sure the logged flight time meets the open pilot warranty. Also verify that he/she has a current medical certificate and biennial flight review.
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If I let someone borrow my aircraft, can I receive any reimbursement in return for their use of the aircraft.

Insurance policies vary on this, but in general some companies do allow for reimbursement of some costs associated with the flight. The broadest form of reimbursement allows for reimbursement so long as no financial profit is made. To be sure what your policy allows, check with your agent or company.
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Do aircraft insurance policies provide coverage for the use of non-owned aircraft?

Most policies provide liability coverage for the use of non-owned aircraft, and depending on the company, it may or may not include physical damage coverage, Be aware that non-owned coverage will only apply in certain situations. With most policies, this coverage applies anytime you use a non-owned aircraft, but only if you or you and your spouse are the policyholder. It can also apply to your use of a non-owned aircraft when your aircraft is down for maintenance. Because most people are unaware that this type of coverage exists on their policy, take the time to review this part of your policy. If you don't understand the coverage and how it applies to you, contact your agent for assistance.
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What restrictions may an older pilot encounter when obtaining aircraft insurance?

Underwriting guidelines vary from company to company. Some places have no restrictions on older pilots. Others may reduce the limit of liability available and/or require an annual medical or proficiency check.
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How can I tell if my agent or the underwriting company through which my aircraft is insured is legitimate?

You need to contact your state insurance commissioner's office. Because the insurance commissioner has the authority to license all agents, brokers, and insurers (underwriting companies), their office can tell you whether or not your agent, or the insurer, is authorized to conduct insurance business in your state. If you insure your aircraft through an unauthorized company and you have a claim that is not honored, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the insurance commissioner to assist you in recovering any money for your loss.
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California License #0B18071         AOPA INSURANCE AGENCY • PO BOX 9170 • WICHITA, KS 67277 • 800-622-AOPA (2672)
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