Personal Insurance

Personal Umbrella Insurance — When Your Other Policies Aren't Enough

A single lawsuit or serious accident can exceed your auto or homeowners limits — leaving you personally responsible for the difference. A personal umbrella adds millions in protection for a few hundred dollars a year.

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How a Personal Umbrella Works

A personal umbrella sits above your existing auto and homeowners liability limits. When a covered claim exhausts your underlying policy, the umbrella steps in for the remainder.

Above Auto Liability

A serious car accident results in a $800,000 judgment. Your auto policy pays $300,000. Your $1M umbrella covers the remaining $500,000.

Above Homeowners Liability

A guest is seriously injured at your home and sues for $600,000. Your homeowners pays $300,000. Your umbrella covers the rest.

Broader Coverage

Personal umbrellas often cover some claims not covered by underlying policies — such as libel, slander, and invasion of privacy — subject to a self-insured retention.

Worldwide Protection

Unlike most underlying policies, personal umbrellas typically provide worldwide coverage — protecting you from liability claims anywhere in the world.

Underlying Requirements

Umbrella carriers require minimum underlying limits — typically $300,000 on homeowners and $250,000/$500,000 on auto. We coordinate your full program.

Defense Costs

Personal umbrella policies typically cover legal defense costs in addition to the policy limits — a significant benefit in contested lawsuits.

Outstanding value in personal insurance

For a few hundred dollars per year, a personal umbrella adds $1M—$5M in additional protection — one of the best values in personal insurance.

Who especially needs an umbrella

  • Homeowners with pools, trampolines, or dogs
  • Parents of teenage drivers
  • Anyone with significant assets to protect
  • Business owners (personal exposure)
  • Landlords and rental property owners
  • People who coach youth sports or volunteer
  • Those with high social media presence

What a Personal Umbrella Covers

Most Common

Auto Accident Excess

Extends your auto liability limits after a serious accident — the most common reason umbrella policies are triggered.

  • Multi-car and multi-victim accidents
  • Serious injury or fatality claims
  • Teen driver liability exposure
  • UM/UIM extension options
Most Common

Premises Liability

Covers serious injuries on your property that exhaust homeowners limits — slip and fall, pool accidents, dog bites.

  • Slip and fall claims
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Dog bite liability
  • Guest injury lawsuits

Libel and Slander

Personal umbrella policies often cover defamation claims — including those arising from social media posts.

  • Social media defamation claims
  • Review site disputes
  • Invasion of privacy claims
  • Written and spoken defamation

Rental Property Liability

May extend above your landlord or dwelling fire policy — giving landlords additional protection from tenant injury claims.

  • Tenant injury claims
  • Property damage liability
  • Check with us on scope
  • Pair with personal umbrella for coverage

Volunteer Activity

Personal liability from volunteer activities — coaching youth sports, serving on an HOA board — may be covered.

  • Youth sports coaching
  • HOA board decisions
  • Volunteer organization liability
  • Varies by policy form

Worldwide Coverage

Personal umbrellas typically protect you from covered liability claims anywhere in the world.

  • International travel liability
  • Foreign rental car incidents
  • Worldwide personal liability
  • Excludes business activities

Common Questions

  • A common starting point is $1M — but the right amount depends on your assets, income, and lifestyle. A rule of thumb is to carry at least enough to cover your net worth. If you have a teenage driver, pool, dog, or rental properties, consider $2M or more.

  • A $1M personal umbrella typically costs $150—$300 per year. A $2M policy might cost $200—$400. It's one of the best values in personal insurance — extraordinary protection for a relatively small premium.

  • Most umbrella carriers require $300,000 in homeowners liability and $250,000/$500,000 on personal auto. We'll review your underlying policies and make sure they meet the requirements before binding.

  • Generally no — personal umbrella policies exclude business pursuits. If you run a business or have business liability exposure, you need a commercial umbrella. We can help you coordinate both.

  • Yes — teen drivers are one of the primary reasons to carry a personal umbrella. Young drivers have higher accident rates, and a single serious accident can easily exceed standard auto limits.

Add millions in protection for a few hundred dollars a year.

A personal umbrella is one of the best values in insurance. Get a quote and see what it costs to protect everything you've built.

Get an Umbrella Quote Talk to an Advisor