What Does the DJI Warranty Cover?

DJI is well-known worldwide for making some of the best drones. Featuring top-of-the-line specifications and innovative features, DJI drones are very deserving of their enduring popularity. However, the drones are not exactly cheap.

DJI offers a limited warranty on their drone products to provide a measure of safety for buyers in case their expensive drones get damaged or have manufacturing defects. In this article, we tackle what DJI’s warranty policy covers, what to avoid doing so you can make claims under the warranty, and we show you how to check if the drone you purchased is actually brand new.

What are the terms of the DJI limited warranty policy?

All brand new DJI drones automatically come with the limited warranty policy. The policy only applies to DJI products that have been purchased directly from DJI or from authorized retailers. In order to qualify for the warranty, it’s important that you make sure that you purchase from an authorized retailer when buying on Amazon too. We list good places to buy DJI drones here. Many refurbished drones purchased directly from DJI also have the warranty.

What does the warranty cover?

Under the limited warranty, DJI guarantees that the products you purchased from there are free of defects due to the manufacturing process and the materials that were used. Moreover, DJI guarantees that the drone or the parts will function normally as long as they are utilized within the realm of normal use as defined by the product material and manuals published by DJI. These product materials may include the product manual, specifications, communications from DJI, and in-app notifications. There are different warranty periods for different products, and the warranty period commonly starts on the day of delivery of the product.

If you find that the product you purchased does not function as intended within the warranty period, you may contact DJI’s after sales service. They will attempt to diagnose and resolve your problem remotely by phone, email, or chat. This part of the process might involve the DJI representatives asking you to install upgraded software or requiring you to send them a copy of the flight log. These steps are undertaken to prioritize easy repairs that do not require you having to ship the drone back to them.

If the problem cannot be resolved over these communication channels, then you have the option of sending in your drone or other products to a DJI service center. Any repair or replacement service will come at no cost as long the problem falls within the scope of the limited warranty.

Keep in mind that sending in your drone to DJI gives them the right to either repair your drone and send the same unit back to you or send you a refurbished drone that retains the same appearance and functionality of a brand new drone. Do not be surprised if you receive a drone with a completely different serial number, as DJI guarantees that the drones they send for replacement are practically new.

What should I avoid doing?

The coverage of the limited warranty sounds great, but you have to keep in mind that the warranty can be easily nullified by a number of actions in the part of the user. For instance, the warranty does not cover damage of the drone that are not associated with manufacturing errors. This may include several causes such as pilot error, improper use of the drone, and crashes due to low battery power. Make sure that you only fly your drone in an area without radio interference, as this can also lead to damage that is not covered by the warranty.

We also discourage buying and using parts from unauthorized dealers, as this is another quick way to lose your warranty. Making unauthorized changes, modifications, and repairs to your drone will also render your warranty void.

Should you run into problems with your DJI drone during the warranty period, we strongly recommend getting in touch with their after sales service to make sure that you are covered. The worst that could happen is that you lose your drone for a few weeks, but you can rest assured that you will have a functioning drone again after the prescribed period.

How do I make sure that I have a brand new drone?

With all the talk of warranty policies for brand new drones, are you actually sure that the DJI drone you own is brand new? DJI drones are sold all over the place nowadays. Although you can always buy directly from DJI, it can sometimes be more convenient or practical to buy from authorized retailers instead.

You might ask: is it possible that the presumably new drone I bought is not actually brand new? Yes, this is entirely possible, especially when buying drones from retailers that have been authorized by DJI. Indeed, there have been several claims from people who found out that they have unknowingly purchased old and refurbished drones.

Fortunately, DJI provides a quick and easy solution to this dilemma. You may contact DJI after sales service and give them the serial number of your DJI drone. They will then provide you with the activation date of the drone, confirming whether or not the drone your purchased is brand new. This is also a quick check for you to know if your drone is still covered by the limited warranty policy.

Conclusions

The limited warranty policy of DJI is exactly how it is described – limited. It only lasts for a short period, and does not cover damage that are not associated with manufacturing defects. However, it serves as the guarantee of DJI that their products are of consistently high quality. In a way, it is their promise that  the drone product you received was made from standard DJI processes and materials.

If you are looking for a warranty or insurance policy that has a little more coverage, then you may consider the DJI Care or DJI Care Refresh programs that we have written in detail about previously. They will cost a bit more but will give you unparalleled peace of mind when flying your drone. This insurance policy will cover accidental damage, which makes it a powerful addition to give you peace of mind.

Keep in mind that despite having insurance and warranty policies, you should always practice due diligence when flying your drone. Beyond the risk of damage to your drone, flying your drone outside of its intended use can be dangerous to yourself and others. There is no better warranty policy than having a sound and practical mind when flying.