The serious accident
A crash involving a company vehicle injures several people, and damages exceed the auto policy's $1 million limit.
The umbrella can pay above the auto limit.
Commercial Property & Casualty
Umbrella & excess liability, for the claim that's bigger than planned.
Commercial umbrella and excess liability policies sit above your general liability, auto and employer's liability, adding limits when a serious claim exceeds what those policies pay.
What umbrella and excess liability covers.
They're also the usual answer when a contract calls for $5 million or more in limits. What matters is which underlying policies the umbrella follows, whether their limits meet its requirements, and whether the umbrella adds exclusions the primary policies don't have.
- Excess general liabilityAdditional limits above your general liability policy.
- Excess auto liabilityAdditional limits above your commercial auto liability.
- Excess employer's liabilityAdditional limits above the employer's liability part of workers' comp.
- Broader coverage, in some formsA true umbrella may cover some claims the primary policy doesn't, subject to a self-insured retention.
What it typically doesn’t cover
- Professional, D&O and cyber claimsThese lines need their own excess policies.
- Gaps in the underlying policiesIf required underlying limits aren't in place, you may have to absorb the difference.
- Your own propertyUmbrellas are liability coverage only. Commercial Property Insurance
Coverage descriptions are general summaries. Actual coverage is governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. Availability varies by state and carrier.
Real-world examples
What a claim can look like.
Claims rarely look dramatic at the start. They usually begin with an ordinary day, an email or a phone call.
The severe product injury
A product you distributed is linked to a serious injury, and the damages exceed your products-completed operations limit.
The umbrella can pay above the general liability limit.
The large verdict
A premises injury leads to a judgment larger than the general liability limit.
Excess coverage can respond above the primary policy.
Examples are illustrative. Whether a claim is covered depends on the facts and the terms, conditions and exclusions of your policy.
Often paired with
General Liability & Products Liability InsuranceThird-party bodily injury, property damage and products-related claims.Commercial Auto InsuranceCoverage for business vehicles and fleets, from one truck to many.Workers' Compensation InsuranceMedical care and lost wages for employees injured on the job.Hired & Non-Owned Auto Insurance (HNOA)Liability protection when employees use personal or rented vehicles for business purposes.Questions
Common questions about umbrella and excess liability, answered.
What's the difference between umbrella and excess liability?
An excess policy generally follows the terms of the underlying policy and simply adds limits. An umbrella can be broader and may cover some claims the primary policy doesn't, usually subject to a retention. Many policies today blend the two.
How much umbrella coverage do I need?
Start with what your contracts require, then consider your assets and worst-case exposures. Umbrellas are typically purchased in $1 million increments.
How much does umbrella and excess liability cost?
Umbrella pricing depends mainly on the exposures underneath it, especially auto, along with your industry, the limits you buy and your claims history. Each additional million in limits typically costs less than the one below it. We compare options across our carrier relationships so you see real prices for your business, not an average.
Talk to an advisor
Let's get this fitted properly.
Tell us about your business. A principal will review your needs, shop the market and walk you through the options in plain English.