Insurance Curator Umbrella and excess liability policies are essential for protecting personal and commercial assets from catastrophic liability judgments. This guide compares leading umbrella providers in the USA on policy limits, typical costs, and claims handling, and helps you choose the right carrier depending on location and use case (personal, landlord, high‑net‑worth, or commercial).
What an umbrella/excess policy does — quick primer
An umbrella (personal) or excess (commercial) policy:
- Provides additional liability limits above your underlying auto, home, or business policies.
- Covers legal defense costs, judgments, and settlements after underlying limits are exhausted.
- Often covers claims not included in underlying policies (subject to policy language).
For general background and cost drivers, see industry references: Policygenius and NerdWallet on umbrella cost drivers and averages.
Sources: Policygenius (umbrella costs), NerdWallet (umbrella insurance basics), Insurance Information Institute (umbrella overview).
- https://www.policygenius.com/personal-insurance/umbrella-insurance/costs/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/umbrella-insurance-cost
- https://www.iii.org/article/what-is-umbrella-insurance
Key underwriting factors that affect price and availability
- Underlying limits required (typical minimums: auto $250K/$500K or $300K/$500K; homeowners $300K). Carriers often require you to raise those limits before issuing umbrella coverage.
- Location and claims environment (e.g., Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA tend to have higher liability exposures).
- Risk profile (drivers with DUIs, swimming pools, rental properties, high‑risk business operations).
- Requested umbrella limit (1M, 2M, 5M, 10M—cost per additional million drops with higher limits).
- Claims history and credit‑based insurance score (varies by state).
See our decision guides for more on how much umbrella you might need: Best Insurance For Umbrella Coverage: Do You Need Extra Liability Protection and How Much?.
Typical costs by provider and city (personal umbrella, approximate)
Below are representative ranges for $1 million personal umbrella policies in four U.S. metro areas. Actual quotes vary—these are approximate market ranges aggregated from insurer price surveys and cost guides.
| Provider | Los Angeles, CA | Houston, TX | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO / Partner | $150–$300 | $150–$325 | $175–$350 | $175–$375 | GEICO often uses partner carriers for umbrellas |
| State Farm | $150–$300 | $150–$325 | $175–$350 | $175–$400 | Widely available; good price for bundled customers |
| Allstate | $175–$350 | $175–$375 | $200–$400 | $200–$425 | Endorsements & discounts vary by state |
| USAA (military) | $100–$250 | $100–$275 | $125–$300 | $125–$325 | Typically lowest for eligible military families |
| Chubb / AIG (HNW) | $800–$3,000+ | $700–$2,500+ | $900–$3,500+ | $900–$4,000+ | Designed for high‑net‑worth, broader cover, higher price |
Notes:
- Typical market range for a 1M policy is roughly $150–$400/year for standard personal exposures; sources: Policygenius, NerdWallet.
- High‑net‑worth carriers (Chubb, AIG Private Client Group) often charge much more because they provide broader coverage and higher limits (5M–100M) and bespoke claim service.
See more about when to choose umbrella vs raising underlying limits: Best Insurance For Excess Liability: When to Buy an Umbrella vs Increasing Underlying Limits.
Commercial umbrella: costs and carriers
Commercial umbrella/excess liability pricing depends heavily on business size, industry, payroll, and claims history.
- Small‑business/commercial umbrella typical pricing: $1,000–$5,000+ per $1M for small firms with higher exposure (e.g., contractors). Lower‑risk firms (accountants, consultants) may pay $500–$2,000 per $1M.
- Larger firms seek layered excess placements; pricing is bespoke and can be tens to hundreds of thousands annually for multi‑million layers.
Common commercial carriers:
- The Hartford — strong small‑business products and bundled options. (See The Hartford’s excess liability pages.)
- Travelers, CNA, Zurich, Chubb — dominate mid‑market to large commercial placements.
- Specialty markets/Berkshire Hathaway/Excess & Surplus — for unusual risks.
For commercial specifics and landlord scenarios, read: Best Insurance For Commercial Umbrella: Protecting Your Business From Catastrophic Lawsuits and Best Insurance For Umbrella for Landlords and Rental Property Owners.
Claims handling — what to evaluate
Claims handling is as important as price. When a catastrophic liability claim happens you need:
- A carrier with fast, experienced claims adjusters and dedicated legal resources.
- High financial strength (A.M. Best A or better for claim-paying ability).
- A track record of timely settlements and low dispute escalation.
What to check:
- J.D. Power and industry studies for auto/home claims satisfaction (relevant because umbrella claims often follow auto/home liability claims). See J.D. Power auto/home insurance studies for recent claim satisfaction trends: https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases.
- A.M. Best or S&P financial strength ratings for carriers (A.M. Best site).
- NAIC complaint ratios in your state.
Carriers often noted for strong claims service:
- USAA — consistently high auto/home claims satisfaction (for eligible military).
- Chubb/AIG — known for concierge service for high‑net‑worth claims and complex excess placements.
- State Farm — broad network and experienced claims operation; convenient claim escalation.
Choosing the right limit: practical guidance
- Start with assets at risk: home equity, investments, business equity, future earnings.
- Common minimums: 1M for average households, 2–5M if you have significant assets, rental properties, or high public exposure. HNW individuals often purchase 5–50M.
- For business owners or landlords, consider commercial umbrella layers sized to business risk and contract indemnity requirements.
Use calculators and decision guides to pick limits: Best Insurance For Umbrella to Find the Right Limit: Calculators and Decision Guides.
Quick carrier recommendations by use case
- Budget personal umbrella: GEICO (partner carrier), Progressive, State Farm.
- Best claims + value for most households: State Farm, Allstate, USAA (if eligible).
- High‑net‑worth / expansive coverage: Chubb, AIG Private Client Group.
- Landlords/rental owners: Travelers, Nationwide, State Farm (check policy endorsements).
- Commercial umbrella/excess: The Hartford, Travelers, CNA, Zurich (work with a broker for layered placements).
Final checklist before you buy
- Raise underlying limits to meet carrier requirements (commonly auto 250/500).
- Compare quotes from at least 3 carriers — umbrella pricing varies by state and underwriting.
- Confirm which exposures and defense costs are included and whether the policy is follow‑form or broader than the underlying.
- Verify carrier financial strength (A.M. Best) and recent claims satisfaction (J.D. Power or state department data).
- For complex needs (rental portfolios, businesses, HNW), use an experienced insurance broker.
Sources
- Policygenius — Umbrella Insurance Costs: https://www.policygenius.com/personal-insurance/umbrella-insurance/costs/
- NerdWallet — How much umbrella insurance costs: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/umbrella-insurance-cost
- Insurance Information Institute — What is umbrella insurance: https://www.iii.org/article/what-is-umbrella-insurance
- J.D. Power — U.S. Insurance Studies and Claims Satisfaction: https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases
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