Excess auto liability
If you cause a serious accident and the damages exceed your auto policy's liability limits, your umbrella policy pays the difference — protecting your savings and future income from judgments.
Personal Umbrella Insurance — Extra Protection When It Matters Most
A single serious accident can generate a liability claim that exceeds the limits of your auto or home policy. A personal umbrella policy activates when those underlying limits are exhausted — providing an additional layer of liability coverage to protect your assets, your income, and your financial future.
What's covered
What does umbrella insurance cover?
A personal umbrella policy provides additional liability coverage that kicks in after the liability limits of your underlying auto, home, or renters policy are exhausted. It also extends coverage to certain liability scenarios that underlying policies may not cover at all.
Excess home liability
When a liability claim against you as a homeowner exceeds your homeowners policy's liability limit — a serious injury on your property, for example — umbrella coverage pays what your home policy cannot.
Excess renters liability
If you rent and a liability claim exceeds your renters policy's personal liability limit, umbrella coverage extends protection above that threshold.
Broader liability scenarios
Umbrella policies often cover liability situations not addressed by underlying policies, such as libel, slander, defamation, false arrest, and liability arising from volunteer work or serving on a nonprofit board.
Legal defense costs
Defense costs — attorney fees, court costs, and expert witnesses — can be substantial even when a claim is ultimately resolved in your favor. Umbrella policies typically cover these costs above the underlying policy's limits.
Eligibility
Who needs a personal umbrella policy?
Anyone with assets or future income to protect can benefit from umbrella coverage. Certain life circumstances increase your personal liability exposure and make umbrella insurance especially important.
- Individuals with significant assets or savings — A judgment that exceeds your underlying policy limits can put your savings, investments, and other assets at risk. Umbrella coverage protects what you have worked to build.
- Homeowners with pools, trampolines, or dogs — These are known high-risk factors that increase the likelihood of a serious injury claim. Many carriers view them as additional liability exposures when setting umbrella premiums.
- Landlords with rental properties — Owning rental property creates additional liability exposure — tenant injuries, habitability claims, and other incidents that can generate large judgments.
- Households with teen or young drivers — Young drivers face higher accident rates. When a teen driver causes a serious accident, the liability claims can exceed a standard auto policy's limits quickly.
- Frequent hosts and entertainers — Regularly hosting gatherings at your home increases the chance of a guest injury or property damage incident. Umbrella coverage provides an additional buffer against large liability claims.
Why Ashmont Insurance Agency
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about umbrella insurance
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How does personal umbrella insurance work?
A personal umbrella policy sits on top of your existing auto, home, or renters liability coverage. When a covered liability claim exhausts the liability limits of your underlying policy, the umbrella policy activates and pays the remaining covered damages up to the umbrella's limit. Some umbrella policies also cover certain liabilities that underlying policies exclude entirely, with a self-insured retention (similar to a deductible) applying in those cases.
What underlying coverage is required to get an umbrella policy?
Most carriers require policyholders to maintain minimum liability limits on their underlying auto and home (or renters) policies before issuing an umbrella. Common requirements include auto liability of at least $250,000 per person / $500,000 per occurrence, and homeowners or renters liability of at least $300,000. Exact requirements vary by carrier — your Ashmont advisor can help you align your underlying coverage before adding an umbrella.
How much umbrella coverage do I need?
A common guideline is to carry umbrella coverage that at least equals your net worth — the value of your assets that could be at risk in a lawsuit. Because large liability judgments can also attach to future income through wage garnishment, many individuals choose to carry more. Umbrella policies are generally available in increments starting at $1 million. Your Ashmont advisor can help you assess your exposure.
What does umbrella insurance NOT cover?
Personal umbrella policies cover liability claims — they do not cover damage to your own property or vehicle. Umbrella policies also typically exclude business-related liabilities (which require commercial coverage), intentional or criminal acts, contractual liability, and professional liability (which requires a separate E&O or malpractice policy).
How much does personal umbrella insurance cost?
The cost of umbrella insurance depends on the coverage limit you choose, your underlying liability limits, your personal risk profile (including driving record, claims history, and risk factors like pools or dogs), and the carrier. Because umbrella policies sit on top of existing coverage and losses at that layer are relatively rare, they are generally considered a cost-effective way to substantially increase your liability protection.
Ready to add an extra layer of liability protection?
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