An open umbrella held over a Kansas City area home, representing added liability coverage.

Personal Insurance

Understand how an umbrella policy sits above your other liability limits.

Extra liability coverage that sits above your home and auto policy limits, once those limits meet a carrier's minimum requirement.

No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.

What's going on

An umbrella policy doesn't stand on its own. It sits above the liability limits on your existing home and auto policies, and it only applies once those underlying limits are used up. If you have significant assets to protect, host gatherings at your home, or simply want to understand what additional liability coverage would involve, this is where to start.

Why it matters

Liability claims, like a serious auto accident or an injury on your property, can exceed the limits on a standard home or auto policy. An umbrella policy adds a layer of liability coverage above those limits. Carriers that offer umbrella coverage generally require your underlying home and auto liability limits to meet a minimum first, so an umbrella review usually starts with a look at what you already carry.

Things worth considering

Points we would talk through with you. Which of them apply depends on your situation, and what you do about them is your decision.

  1. Do your underlying auto and home limits meet the carrier's minimum?

    Umbrella policies typically require a minimum underlying liability limit on both your auto and home policies before they'll apply. This is usually the first thing to check.

  2. What amount of additional liability coverage are you considering?

    Umbrella policies are typically offered in set increments above your underlying limits. The amount worth considering depends on your personal situation.

  3. Does the umbrella policy need to be with the same company as your home and auto?

    Some carriers require it, others don't. This affects which options are available to you.

  4. Do you have exposures an umbrella policy might address?

    Hosting gatherings, owning a pool, coaching a youth sports team, or serving on a nonprofit board are all situations worth mentioning, since they can affect your liability exposure.

  5. What does the umbrella policy exclude?

    Like any policy, an umbrella policy has its own exclusions. It's worth asking what specifically it does and doesn't extend to beyond your underlying policies.

Information on this website is general in nature and is not a complete description of any insurance policy or every coverage option that may be available. Coverage availability, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions vary by insurer, policy and individual circumstances. The issued insurance policy and applicable endorsements control coverage. Beacon Point Insurance Group may provide information regarding available insurance options and discuss coverage considerations based on information you provide, but customers are responsible for selecting the carrier, coverages, limits and deductibles they wish to purchase. No insurance coverage is bound, changed, or canceled through this website unless confirmed by Beacon Point Insurance Group or the applicable insurer.

How this tends to come up

  • A household with a pool and frequent gatherings

    A family in the Kansas City metro regularly hosted gatherings at their home, which included a pool. Reviewing their underlying auto and home limits led to a conversation about whether an umbrella policy was an option worth considering.

  • Underlying limits that didn't meet the minimum

    A homeowner in Independence wanted to explore umbrella coverage but hadn't looked at their auto liability limit in years. It turned out to be below what carriers require before writing an umbrella policy, which came up during the review.

We Learn. We Compare. We Explain. You Decide.

  1. 01

    We Learn

    We ask questions about your situation and the insurance you currently carry.

  2. 02

    We Compare

    Based on the information you provide, we can obtain and compare available options from the insurance companies we represent.

  3. 03

    We Explain

    We help you understand important differences in coverage, limits, deductibles, policy terms, and price.

  4. 04

    You Decide

    You select the company, coverages, limits, deductibles, and options you want to purchase.

What working with us is like

The part people tend to mention is that someone explained it and then let them decide.

Read more reviews

Absolutely in love with these folks. Have both personal and business insurance through Beacon Point. I've never worried about making sure I'm covered. Quick to answer questions, even via text while I'm on the go every day. Highly recommend.

— Andrew P. State Line Door & Lift · Grain Valley, MO

Let's find the options that work for you.

No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.

Start an Insurance Review