Why does my policy have more than one deductible?

A policy commonly carries a flat deductible for most claims and a separate percentage-based wind and hail deductible in storm-exposed states like Georgia.

Does my own insurance cover me when I stay in an Airbnb or VRBO?

The host's short-term rental policy protects the host, not you. As an Airbnb or VRBO guest, your own homeowners or renters insurance usually covers your belongings and personal liability away from home, within policy limits, while travel insurance covers trip-specific risks neither the host nor your home policy will.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude all flood damage regardless of cause.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

If you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills.

When do we use Selective for flood coverage versus NFIP?

Selective private flood wins for Zone X and moderate AE properties where it beats NFIP on price and offers higher limits with ALE coverage.

Does Georgia require umbrella insurance?

All FAQs

Quick answer: No. Georgia law does not require umbrella insurance and does not regulate it as its own line. It is optional excess liability coverage that sits above your admitted auto and homeowners policies and pays when a covered claim runs past their limits.

Georgia does not require umbrella insurance. Unlike auto liability coverage, which the state mandates under O.C.G.A. 33-34-4, personal umbrella insurance is optional and is not regulated as a distinct line of insurance in Georgia. It is available for any driver or homeowner who wants extra liability protection above what their auto or homeowners policy already provides.

An umbrella policy is a layer of excess liability coverage. "Excess liability" means the umbrella does not pay first; it sits on top of an existing auto or homeowners policy and only responds after that underlying policy's liability limit is used up on a covered claim. If a lawsuit or settlement exceeds the underlying limit, the umbrella picks up the remaining covered amount, up to its own limit.

For example, a driver carries a 100/300 auto liability limit ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident) and causes a crash that results in a $400,000 injury judgment against them. The auto policy pays out its $300,000 per-accident limit. Without an umbrella, the driver owes the remaining $100,000 personally. With a $1 million umbrella sitting above that auto policy, the umbrella pays the remaining $100,000, subject to the policy's terms.

Because Georgia treats umbrella coverage as optional, there is no statewide filing requirement, no state-set minimum limit, and no mandate tied to a driver's license or vehicle registration the way auto liability works. The decision to carry one is a household choice based on the assets and income a person has to protect and the liability exposure they carry from driving, homeownership, recreational property, or other activities.

Carriers do set their own conditions before issuing an umbrella. Most require underlying auto and homeowners limits that are higher than Georgia's state auto minimum before the umbrella will attach. Coverage also has exclusions; a personal umbrella, for instance, does not extend to a home business, and both renters and homeowners can qualify for one.

More detail on how umbrella coverage works in Georgia, including typical limits and cost ranges, is on the Georgia umbrella insurance page and the general umbrella insurance page. A coverage review can look at current auto and homeowners limits and show where an umbrella would and would not respond; that review is available through Olive Cover's coverage review.