UMBRELLA INSURANCE
Personal umbrella insurance for serious liability protection.
State minimum auto liability limits were not designed to handle real accidents. A serious at-fault accident can generate $500,000 or more in damages. A personal umbrella adds $1M to $5M of liability coverage above your home and auto policies for a few hundred dollars per year.
What it covers
What an umbrella policy covers.
What it covers
Excess auto liability
Sits above your auto policy's bodily injury and property damage limits. If you are at fault in an accident that exceeds your auto liability, the umbrella picks up where auto leaves off, up to your umbrella limit.
What it covers
Excess home and personal liability
Sits above your homeowners or renters liability limit. Covers injuries on your property, dog bites, libel and slander claims, and most other personal liability situations beyond your underlying limits.
What it covers
Worldwide coverage
Most umbrella policies provide liability coverage anywhere in the world, even when your underlying auto and home policies are limited to the United States. Travelers benefit from this without realizing it.
What it covers
Defense costs
Pays for legal defense in covered liability claims, often outside the policy limit. Even a frivolous lawsuit costs tens of thousands to defend. Defense coverage matters as much as the limit itself.
Where policies have edges
What an umbrella policy does not cover.
Not covered
Business and professional liability
Personal umbrella policies exclude liability arising from a trade, business, or profession. Business liability needs a commercial umbrella over a commercial general liability or professional policy.
Not covered
Intentional acts
Damage you intentionally cause to people or property is excluded, as are criminal acts. Umbrella covers accidents and negligence, not intent.
Not covered
Owned property and bodily injury to insureds
Umbrella does not cover damage to your own property or injury to people in your own household. Those losses are handled by your home, auto, or health policies.
Not covered
Excluded recreational vehicles
Some recreational vehicles, watercraft above certain sizes, and aircraft are excluded unless specifically scheduled. If you own a boat, RV, ATV, or similar, confirm umbrella coverage extends to it.
Who needs this
Who needs Umbrella Insurance?
Any homeowner or driver with assets to protect. Anyone with a pool, trampoline, dog, teenage driver, or anyone in a profession that makes them a target for litigation should prioritize umbrella coverage. The cost is low relative to what it covers.
What it costs
What can you expect to pay?
Varies by underlying liability limits, household risk factors, and number of vehicles and properties. Most households pay between $200 and $500 per year per $1M of coverage.
Requirements by state
How does this work in your state?
Umbrella Insurance rules, regulatory requirements, and available coverage vary by state. Send us your state and details through a free coverage review and we will confirm what applies to you.
If You Need to File a Claim
Claims tips
An umbrella claim usually starts with a serious incident on your underlying home or auto policy. The mechanics are tied to those policies.
- Notify your underlying carrier first. Umbrella sits above your home, auto, or other underlying liability. Notify whichever carrier has the underlying coverage immediately, then notify the umbrella carrier.
- Notify the umbrella carrier promptly even if liability looks small. Initial estimates of damages are often low. Late notice to the umbrella carrier can be grounds for denial. When in doubt, notify.
- Do not communicate directly with the injured party or their attorney. Anything you say can be used against your defense. Refer all communication to your carrier and any defense counsel they assign.
- Document the incident thoroughly. Same playbook as auto or home claims: photos, witness names, police reports if applicable, and a written timeline while events are fresh.
- Cooperate fully with assigned defense counsel. The carrier provides defense in covered claims. Cooperating fully and following counsel's instructions protects both your defense and your coverage.
OUR CARRIER PANEL
Carriers We Work With
The carriers we compare are licensed and regulated in your state. We shop these markets and present the options that match your situation; a licensed advisor reviews the fit with you in a free coverage review.
AIG
Private Client Group coverage for ultra-high-net-worth families in North Atlanta.
Learn moreBranch
Bundled home and auto insurance with fast digital quotes for Georgia families outside Atlanta city limits.
Learn moreChubb
Premier coverage for high-value homes, collectibles, and affluent families in North Atlanta.
Learn moreNational General Insurance
National General fills the gap for drivers and homeowners who do not qualify for preferred carriers. Auto, home, and umbrella from an admitt
Learn moreNationwide Insurance
Nationwide brings financial strength and a wide product range to personal and commercial clients. An honest review of their ratings, claims,
Learn moreRLI Insurance
Standalone personal umbrella and home business insurance without carrier bundling requirements.
Learn moreThe Hartford
The Hartford is one of the oldest carriers in America with deep expertise in small business coverage. An honest review of their ratings, str
Learn moreTravelers Insurance
Travelers is one of carriers reviewed by Olive Cover. An honest look at their ratings, strengths, weaknesses, and who they
Learn moreCommon Questions
Umbrella Insurance: frequently asked questions
Does umbrella insurance cover my business?
A personal umbrella policy covers personal liability only. It does not extend to business activities.
Do I need umbrella insurance if I rent my home?
Yes. Renters can be sued just as homeowners can.
Do I need home and auto with the same carrier to get umbrella insurance?
Most carriers require you to bundle home and auto with them before writing an umbrella.
What underlying coverage is required before buying an umbrella policy?
Most carriers require minimum underlying limits before attaching an umbrella.
Does umbrella insurance cover lawsuits from social media posts?
Some personal umbrella policies include personal injury coverage that extends to defamation, libel, and slander, which can cover a lawsuit arising from something written or posted online.