Umbrella Insurance
Additional liability coverage to protect you from major claims.
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Personal Umbrella Insurance Quotes
With a Personal Umbrella Insurance policy, you get an additional layer of liability coverage beyond that provided by your homeowners’, auto, boat, and recreational vehicle policies. Personal Umbrella policies are extremely valuable due to the fact that they protect you, and your loved ones from unforeseen and tragic events that may reach limits that may exceed what your current policies offer.
Personal Umbrella Insurance is a relatively low-cost way to provide additional coverage if you’re sued for bodily injury or property damage beyond the limits of your existing policies. Coverage is usually issued in one million dollar increments, typically in the one to five million dollar range.
What Personal Umbrella Insurance Is Not
Personal Umbrella Insurance does not provide basic home, auto, boat, or RV coverage. It only kicks in when your current liability coverage limits have been reached, or there’s a gap in coverage with your current policy. Hence why Personal Umbrella Coverage is often referred to as ‘excess liability’ coverage.
In most instances, Personal Umbrella Insurance does not protect against business losses. Some homeowner’s policies may allow for certain exceptions to this rule for those who have a home-based business or a home office. If not, many insurance companies offer Commercial Umbrella Liability coverage.
Who Needs Personal Umbrella Insurance?
In the past, usually only very wealthy individuals purchased Personal Umbrella Insurance. In our increasingly litigious society, however, more and more people of all income groups are considering it in order to protect their current assets and future earnings.
Personal Umbrella Coverage is for everyone! Whether you own multiple homes, rent a condo, or share a vehicle, it’s a great idea to add Personal Umbrella Coverage to your portfolio of insurance to provide peace of mind. In the unfortunate circumstance that you’re involved in an accident and found liable for damages that exceed your coverage limits; under normal circumstances, you would need to pay any remaining damages from out pockets, however, with Personal Umbrella Insurance, you’d be covered.
The following people are especially likely to benefit from Personal Umbrella insurance:
- Swimming pool, hot tub, and trampoline owners.
- Families with young drivers.
- Sports enthusiasts (snow and water skiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, golf, etc.).
- Owners or operators of operate watercraft, off-road, and recreational vehicles.
- Owners of rental property.
- Those who frequently host recreational activities on their property.
- People who serve on non-profit boards that might be exposed to liability.
- Your dog either inflicts bodily harm to your neighbor, or damages their personal property
- You are found guilty of libel/slander, or any other personal liability suit
Things To Think About
The basic question to ask yourself is whether you feel you have adequate liability coverage with your existing home and auto insurance policies. Keep in mind that both your current assets and future earnings could be stripped away by a single lawsuit.
Some insurers may require you to have home and auto coverage with them in order to extend additional Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance, or they may require you to satisfy certain liability coverage limits with your existing policies.
The cost of Personal Umbrella Insurance depends on your coverage limits; number of vehicles, residences, boats, etc. that you own; and your location. The average cost of a million dollars’ coverage is typically less than $200 per year.
Although considered the excess liability policy, Personal Umbrella Coverage is not a catch all insurance policy. While it does provide coverage for many gaps your current liability policies may have, and limits above those your current policy covers, it does carry exclusions. Items that are typically excluded include:
- Your own Personal Property
- Damages caused by criminal behavior
- Business related losses
As you decide which carrier is best for you, make sure you compare different Personal Umbrella Policy rates and coverages in detail, as they can differ dramatically between insurance carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Get clear answers to common insurance questions and important details to guide your coverage decisions.
What is personal umbrella insurance?
Personal umbrella insurance, also known as an umbrella policy, provides additional liability coverage beyond the limits of your existing homeowners, auto, or other personal insurance policies. It is designed to protect your assets and future income from large claims or lawsuits that exceed the standard liability coverage limits.
Do I need personal umbrella insurance?
Whether you need personal umbrella insurance depends on your financial situation and risk exposure. If you own significant assets, have a high net worth, or engage in activities that increase your liability risk (e.g., owning a swimming pool, having a teen driver, or hosting frequent parties), it is advisable to have umbrella insurance to ensure your assets are adequately protected.
What does personal umbrella insurance cover?
Personal umbrella insurance covers bodily injury liability (costs associated with injuries to others, such as medical bills and legal fees), property damage liability (Damage you cause to someone else’s property), personal liability (claims of libel, slander, defamation and false arrest) and legal defense costs (expenses related to defending against lawsuits).
What is not covered by personal umbrella insurance?
Umbrella insurance generally does not cover injuries to yourself, damage to your own property, intentional or criminal acts, business-related liabilities and liability from contracts.
How much does personal umbrella insurance cost?
The cost of personal umbrella insurance is relatively affordable, with policies typically starting around $150 to $300 per year for $1 million in coverage. The cost may increase with higher coverage limits but is generally cost-effective considering the protection it offers.
How much umbrella insurance coverage do I need?
To determine the amount of coverage needed, consider the total value of your assets, including your home, vehicles, savings, and investments. Ensure your umbrella policy covers at least this amount to protect against potential lawsuits. You may also want to factor in future earnings and liabilities.
