State Farm To Use Drones to Examine Insurance Claims

Jim Anderson -- Illinois Radio Network

State Farm is planning to use unmanned aircraft to examine insurance claims.

State Farm says it's the first insurance company to receive an FAA permit to use drones.

"Whenever there's a big catastrophe, or a big storm is another way to put it, we'll be able to use these devices to go up and inspect roofs. Right now our claim representatives climb up on the roofs with ladders, and with these drones, we feel that we're gonna be able to be much more efficient," spokesman Missy Dundov said.

Flying will be done by trained pilots, not the claims adjustors.

The company has two models undergoing testing near the company headquarters in Bloomington. The company isn't saying how much it paid for them, but in general they're only a few thousand dollars. The company wants to be in the field with them "soon."