Excess Liability
When a claim exceeds your auto or home liability limits, your umbrella pays the difference. Coverage starts at $1 million and goes up to $5 million or more.
The safety net your other policies can't provide
An umbrella policy adds extra liability protection above your home and auto coverage. When a claim runs higher than your standard limits, the umbrella pays the rest — protecting your savings, your home equity, and your future earnings.
Coverage options
Broader Coverage
Umbrella often covers claims your underlying policies exclude. That includes some defamation, libel, and false-arrest claims you would otherwise pay out of pocket.
Legal Defense
Umbrella policies usually pay legal defense costs on top of the policy limit. Your full coverage amount goes toward the settlement, not attorney fees.
Homeowners
A guest injury, a dog bite, a trampoline accident. Homeowner liability claims can easily exceed standard policy limits. An umbrella closes that gap.
Drivers & Families
A serious auto accident with multiple injuries can produce claims of $500K or more. If your auto limit is $300K, you owe the rest out of pocket — unless an umbrella picks it up.
Property Owners & Landlords
Rental properties add liability risk. An umbrella extends protection across all your properties and underlying policies for one consistent layer of coverage.
Why clients choose Geneva Insurance Group
Cost-Effective Protection
Umbrella insurance is surprisingly affordable — typically $200-$400 per year for $1 million in coverage. It is one of the highest-value policies you can own.
Coordinated Coverage
We make sure your umbrella works seamlessly with your underlying auto, home, and other policies — no gaps, no overlaps, no surprises at claim time.
Asset Protection
The more you have, the more you have to lose. Umbrella coverage is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect accumulated wealth and future earnings.
Personal Guidance
We help you determine the right amount of umbrella coverage based on your total net worth, including home equity, savings, investments, and future earning potential.
Frequently asked questions
How much does umbrella insurance cost?
Umbrella insurance is one of the cheapest policies you can buy. Most clients pay $200 to $400 per year for the first $1 million in coverage. Each extra million adds $75 to $150. Few policies give you more protection per dollar.
Do I need to increase my underlying limits first?
Usually, yes. Most carriers require these underlying limits first. Auto liability of $300K per person and $300K per accident. Home liability of $300K. We adjust your underlying policies so everything lines up before you bind the umbrella.
How much umbrella coverage should I carry?
Match your coverage to your net worth. Add up your home equity, savings, investments, and future earnings. That total is your starting point. Most families settle on $1 million to $2 million.
What is personal excess liability insurance?
Personal excess liability is another name for umbrella insurance. The policy sits above your home, auto, and other liability coverage. When those policies hit their limit, the excess policy pays the rest. Some carriers serving high-net-worth clients use this name instead of umbrella. The coverage works the same way.
Is excess liability the same as umbrella insurance?
For most buyers, yes. Both extend liability coverage above your home and auto limits. There are two subtle differences. Traditional umbrella sometimes covers claims your underlying policy excludes. Excess liability usually follows your underlying coverage exactly, so if a claim is not covered there, it is not covered here. We explain which applies before you buy.
Does umbrella insurance cover rental property?
Yes, with two conditions. You must list the rental on your umbrella application. You must also keep a landlord policy on the property as the underlying coverage. If you own several rentals or hold them in an LLC, you typically need a commercial umbrella instead. We help structure this so your rental income is protected.
Does umbrella insurance cover professional liability?
Generally no. Personal umbrella excludes any work-related claim. If you face professional liability risk — common in medicine, law, finance, consulting, and real estate — you need a separate Errors and Omissions policy. We can quote both side by side.
What is not covered by an umbrella policy?
Common exclusions include business activities, intentional acts, and criminal acts. Workers compensation is also excluded. Larger boats and aircraft are not covered unless you schedule them on the policy. Damage to your own property is excluded too. Most carriers also exclude war, nuclear events, and communicable disease. Each carrier handles exclusions a little differently. We walk you through the specific list before you bind.
Related coverage
Home Insurance
The foundation policy umbrella sits above — most carriers require $300K homeowners liability before they will issue an umbrella.
Auto Insurance
Auto liability is the most common umbrella-claim trigger — a serious accident with multiple injuries can blow through standard auto limits in hours.
Business Insurance
Personal umbrella policies exclude business activities — business owners need a commercial umbrella stacked above their GL and commercial auto.