Personal insurance guide
Personal umbrella insurance, explained
A personal umbrella policy adds liability protection after your auto, home, or other policies reach their limits. It is commonly sold in million-dollar layers and usually requires minimum liability limits on the policies underneath it.
What umbrella commonly covers
Who usually carries it
- Households with a home, savings, or future income to protect
- Families with teen drivers
- Owners of pools, trampolines, dogs, boats, or rental properties
- People who coach, volunteer, or serve on boards
Commonly covered
- Liability above your auto and home policy limits
- Some claims the underlying policies may not, such as certain personal injury claims
- Legal defense costs for covered claims
- Household members and listed vehicles, homes, and watercraft
Commonly excluded or limited
- Your own injuries and your own property
- Business activities and business-owned vehicles
- Anything not listed when the policy requires it to be scheduled
- Claims where underlying limits were lower than the umbrella requires
This page is general information about how these policies commonly work. Every policy's own forms, endorsements, and exclusions decide what it covers. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed insurance agent.
Before your renewal
What to check on your own policy
- Underlying liability limits the umbrella requires on auto, home, and other policies
- Every vehicle, home, rental property, and watercraft listed
- Household drivers listed
- Whether uninsured motorist coverage can be added to the umbrella
Not sure what your policy says?
Upload your declarations page. The free AI coverage check lists your coverages, limits, and deductibles in plain language and flags items to discuss with a licensed agent.
Check Your CoverageUmbrella questions
Know what you're covered for before you need it.
Check your coverage free in about a minute, then talk with a licensed agent about anything you want to change or quote.