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Aircraft insurance cost estimator
A rough range for a US owner-flown piston airplane with $1M liability and full hull cover. Only an underwriter can quote you.
How the estimate works
Premium ≈ liability + hull × base rate × pilot factor. Base rates (0.40% trainer, 0.50% complex, 0.60% high-performance) are our calibration, chosen so the defaults land inside published quote bands. Pilot factors: instrument-rated 1.0, private without IFR 1.75, student 2.6 (from Sunset's SR22 ladder of $8k / $14k / $21k); under 100 total hours ×1.4 (BWI's $1,700 vs $1,200 example); 100–499 hours ×1.15 and under 10 hours in type ×1.15 (assumptions); tie-down ×1.12 (BWI: hangared often 10–15% less). The range shown is −20% / +25% of the midpoint (assumption).
Published quote ranges
| Airplane and hull | Annual premium | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172, $50k–$100k | $700–$1,250 | BWI quotes 2025–26 |
| Cessna 172, $100k–$200k | $1,200–$1,700 | BWI quotes 2025–26 |
| Piper PA-28-140, $50k–$100k | $850–$1,400 | BWI quotes |
| Piper Archer, $150k | $1,200–$1,900 | BWI |
| 172 / Cherokee $80k–$150k, experienced | $1,200–$2,500 | FLYING Finance |
| Cirrus SR22, $450k, IFR pilot | $2,800–$4,800 | BWI |
| SR22 / Bonanza $250k–$500k | $3,500–$8,000 | FLYING Finance |
| SR22 $800k: IFR / working on IFR / student | $8,000 / $14,000 / $21,000 | Sunset via Pilot-Next |
A future "get a quote" link can go here once a broker partnership exists.
Sources
- BWI Aviation Insurance: how premiums are determined (Cessna 172 $100k hull $1,100–$1,800; Piper Archer $150k $1,200–$1,900; Cirrus SR22 $450k $2,800–$4,800; 100-hour pilot ~$1,700 vs 1,000-hour IFR pilot ~$1,200) and BWI 2026 rates (light single $1,200–$2,800; high-performance single $3,000–$6,000; hangared often 10–15% less)
- Pilot-Next: airplane insurance cost (BWI quotes Jun 2025–Jun 2026: C172 $50k–$100k hull $700–$1,250, $100k–$200k $1,200–$1,700; PA-28-140 $850–$1,400; PA-28-180 $750–$1,300; Sunset SR22 $800k hull: $8,000 private+IFR, $14,000 working on IFR, $21,000 student)
- FLYING Finance: aircraft insurance guide ($80k–$150k 172/Cherokee, experienced pilot $1,200–$2,500; $250k–$500k SR22/Bonanza $3,500–$8,000)
Common questions
How much is insurance for a Cessna 172?
BWI's 2025–26 quotes put a 172 insured for $100,000 to $200,000 at about $1,200 to $1,700 a year, and $700 to $1,250 under $100,000, for full hull cover with $1 million liability.
Why do low-time pilots pay more?
Underwriters price pilot risk heavily. In one broker's SR22 example, the same airplane cost $8,000 a year for an instrument-rated pilot and $21,000 for a student.