Commercial Umbrella Insurance - Let us find your best coverage - higher limits over your business policies
A commercial umbrella adds limits over your general liability, auto and employers liability, and carriers price it on your underlying policies, fleet, operations and losses. Send us a few details and we will shop 50+ carriers for your best rate – no cost, no obligation. Prefer to talk? Call 800-616-3490.
Excess / Umbrella (Commercial) Quote Request
Applicant Information:
Have these handy
- Declarations pages of all underlying policies
- Vehicle count and driver list
- Contract limit requirements
- Five years of loss runs
Related coverage
What Commercial Umbrella coverage includes
A commercial umbrella adds liability limits on top of your general liability, commercial auto and employers liability policies. A single serious accident or lawsuit can exceed a $1,000,000 primary limit, and many contracts require $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 or more. An umbrella is usually the least expensive way to buy those higher limits.
- Higher limits - Extra limits above your primary liability policies.
- Auto liability - Sits over your commercial auto for serious crashes.
- General liability - Extra limits for premises and products claims.
- Employers liability - Sits over the liability part of workers comp.
- Contract requirements - Meets owner and GC limit requirements.
- Drop-down coverage - Some umbrellas cover certain claims the primary policy does not, above a retention.
Good to know: the umbrella only follows what your underlying policies cover, so gaps in primary coverage carry up to the umbrella. Carriers require minimum underlying limits, usually $1,000,000.
Not covered: anything excluded on the underlying policies, professional liability, and pollution on most forms.
Insurance Application:
Excess / Umbrella (Commercial)Begin Application
Required forms
Excess / Umbrella (Commercial) Supplemental Application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Underlying coverage (add any that apply)
Commercial General Liability (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Business Auto (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Workers Compensation (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Download, complete and email to quote@societiesinsurance.com, or attach them with your quote request. More options are listed below.
Prefer to talk?
- Toll-Free: 800-616-3490
- East Coast: 706-550-4418
- West Coast: 206-755-0101
- info@societiesinsurance.com
-
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 9:00am - 12:00pm
How a commercial umbrella works
Your primary liability policies pay first. When a covered claim is larger than their limits, or their aggregate is used up, the umbrella pays the rest up to its own limit. One umbrella sits over several policies at once, so a single purchase raises the ceiling on your general liability, commercial auto and employers liability together.
Over general liability
Customer slip-and-falls, property damage at a job site, product and completed-operations claims.
Over commercial auto
Serious crashes involving company, hired or employee-owned vehicles used for business. Auto claims drive most umbrella losses.
Over employers liability
Lawsuits tied to workplace injuries that fall outside workers comp benefits, such as third-party-over actions.
Replaces used-up limits
If several claims exhaust a policy's yearly aggregate, the umbrella drops down and becomes your first layer for the rest of the term.
What happens when a verdict tops your limits
An employee driving a company van causes a multi-vehicle crash. The court awards the injured parties $3,500,000. The business carries a $1,000,000 commercial auto policy.
| With a $5,000,000 umbrella | Pays |
|---|---|
| Commercial auto policy | $1,000,000 |
| Commercial umbrella | $2,500,000 |
| Business pays out of pocket | $0 |
| Without an umbrella | Pays |
|---|---|
| Commercial auto policy | $1,000,000 |
| Commercial umbrella | - |
| Business pays out of pocket | $2,500,000 |
Illustration only. Many umbrella policies also pay defense costs once the underlying limit is used up, often in addition to the umbrella limit; the policy wording controls.
Commercial umbrella vs. excess liability
Both add limits above your primary policies, and the terms are often used interchangeably. The difference is in how they treat coverage gaps.
| Commercial umbrella | Follow-form excess liability | |
|---|---|---|
| Policies it sits over | Usually several at once: general liability, auto, employers liability, sometimes liquor | Can be written over one policy or over another umbrella |
| Coverage terms | Has its own policy form; may be broader than the underlying in some areas | Matches the terms and exclusions of the policy beneath it |
| Claims the primary does not cover | May "drop down" to cover some claims above a self-insured retention (often $10,000 to $25,000) | No coverage if the underlying policy does not respond |
| When an aggregate is used up | Drops down to become the first layer | Generally drops down the same way |
| Typical use | The first $1M to $5M of additional limits | Additional layers stacked above the umbrella for $10M and higher |
How much umbrella coverage do you need?
The right limit depends on your worst realistic claim, your contracts and what you have to protect. These ranges reflect what similar businesses commonly carry.
| Business type | Common umbrella limits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Offices, consultants, low foot traffic | $1M - $2M | Limited premises exposure; often bought for leases and client contracts |
| Retail, restaurants, salons | $1M - $5M | Customer injuries on premises; higher if alcohol is served |
| Bars, nightclubs, event venues | $2M - $5M+ | Liquor and crowd-related claims |
| Contractors and trades | $2M - $10M | Owner and general contractor agreements often require $5M or more; completed-operations claims |
| Trucking and delivery fleets | $5M - $10M+ | Auto accidents produce the largest verdicts |
| Manufacturers and distributors | $2M - $10M | Product liability and retailer or customer contract requirements |
| Apartments, HOAs, commercial property | $2M - $10M | Habitational premises claims and lender or association requirements |
| Nonprofits, schools, camps | $1M - $5M | Volunteer, youth and event exposures; grant and lease requirements |
Consider higher limits if you
- Operate vehicles or a fleet
- Sign contracts requiring $2,000,000 or more
- Have public foot traffic or host events
- Sell or serve alcohol
- Work at heights, on roofs or in construction
- Operate in states known for large jury awards
- Have significant business or personal assets to protect
What carriers will review
- Your industry, revenue and payroll
- Underlying policies, carriers and limits
- Vehicle count, vehicle types and driver records
- Five years of loss history
- Contract and certificate requirements
- Where you operate
Limits your primary policies usually need
Every umbrella requires minimum limits on the policies beneath it. If an underlying policy lapses or its limits fall below these, you pay the gap yourself.
| Underlying policy | Typical minimum required |
|---|---|
| Commercial general liability | $1,000,000 each occurrence / $2,000,000 general aggregate / $2,000,000 products-completed operations aggregate |
| Commercial auto (owned vehicles) | $1,000,000 combined single limit |
| Hired and non-owned auto | $1,000,000, if the business has no owned vehicles |
| Employers liability (part of workers comp) | $500,000 / $500,000 / $500,000, often $1,000,000 / $1,000,000 / $1,000,000 |
| Liquor liability (if you sell or serve alcohol) | $1,000,000 each common cause |
Keep everything in step. We line up renewal dates for the umbrella and underlying policies, confirm limits match before binding, and flag any carrier the umbrella insurer will not accept.
What a commercial umbrella usually does not cover
An umbrella extends liability limits; it is not a catch-all. These risks need their own policies.
Professional mistakes
Errors, advice and services claims need professional liability (E&O).
Cyber and data breach
Hacks, ransomware and privacy claims need cyber liability.
Management and employment claims
Directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary claims are typically excluded.
Pollution
Most umbrellas exclude pollution beyond narrow exceptions; contractors and sites need pollution liability.
Workers comp benefits
Statutory medical and wage benefits stay with workers compensation; the umbrella only sits over employers liability lawsuits.
Your own property
Damage to your building, equipment, vehicles or inventory is property insurance, not liability.
Other common exclusions include abuse and molestation, aircraft and some watercraft, intentional acts and anything excluded on the underlying policies.
Meeting owner, landlord and GC requirements
Many contracts specify more than a dollar limit. Make sure your umbrella carries these terms through, not just the primary policy.
Additional insured
The umbrella should extend to the parties named as additional insureds on your general liability and auto.
Primary and non-contributory
Some contracts require your coverage to respond before the other party's own insurance.
Waiver of subrogation
Confirms your insurer will not pursue the other party to recover a claim payment.
Per-project aggregates
Contractors often need aggregates that apply separately to each job.
Send us the insurance section of your contract with your quote request and we will match the umbrella terms to it before you sign.
What drives the price of a commercial umbrella
Your industry and operations
Construction, trucking, liquor and habitational risks cost more than office or retail operations.
Vehicles and drivers
Fleet size, vehicle weight, radius and driver records are often the biggest factor.
Underlying policies
Carriers price largely on your primary premiums, limits and the insurers behind them.
Limit and layers
The first $1,000,000 costs the most; each additional million typically costs less.
Loss history
Five clean years of loss runs earn the best pricing and the widest carrier choice.
Location
Operations in states and counties with large jury awards can raise the rate.
Getting a commercial umbrella quote
- Gather your documents. Declarations pages for every underlying policy, five years of loss runs, your vehicle and driver list, and any contract insurance requirements.
- Complete the applications. Fill in the Commercial Umbrella supplemental application, plus the underlying applications below for any policy you also want us to quote.
- We shop the market. We take your submission to umbrella and excess carriers, including markets that write over your existing primary insurers.
- Compare and bind. We walk through limits, retention, exclusions and contract terms, align renewal dates, and issue certificates once coverage is bound.
Build your liability program
Start with the umbrella application, then confirm the underlying coverage is in place.
Underlying policies
Commercial General Liability
Premises, products and completed operations.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineBusiness Auto
Owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineWorkers Compensation
Workers comp and employers liability.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineLiquor Liability
For businesses that sell or serve alcohol.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineOther limits to consider
Professional Liability (E&O)
Professional mistakes, not covered by most umbrellas.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineCyber Liability
Data breach, ransomware and privacy claims.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineDirectors & Officers (Private)
Management liability for owners and boards.
Get a quote Supplemental application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it onlineCommercial umbrella questions
My general liability is $1M / $2M. Do I still need an umbrella?
A $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit can be used up by one serious injury or auto accident, and the $2,000,000 aggregate covers every claim for the whole year. An umbrella protects the business once those limits are reached and is usually required to meet contract limits above $1,000,000.
Does a personal umbrella cover my business?
Generally no. Personal umbrellas exclude business activities, and business vehicles and premises need a commercial umbrella written over your commercial policies.
Can my umbrella be with a different carrier than my primary policies?
Yes. Many businesses buy the umbrella separately. The umbrella carrier will review your underlying insurers and limits, and some require specific minimum ratings, so we confirm acceptability before binding.
What is a self-insured retention?
It is the amount you pay before the umbrella responds to a claim that your primary policies do not cover at all. It does not apply when the umbrella is sitting over an underlying policy that pays first.
Do umbrella limits apply per claim or per year?
Most commercial umbrellas have a per-occurrence limit and an annual aggregate of the same amount, for example $5,000,000 each occurrence and $5,000,000 aggregate. Auto claims are often not subject to the aggregate.
Does the umbrella cover injuries to my employees?
Workers compensation pays employee medical and wage benefits. The umbrella sits over employers liability, which covers lawsuits arising from those injuries, such as claims brought by an injured worker's family or third-party-over actions.
How quickly can I get coverage for a contract?
With current declarations pages and loss runs, many low-hazard businesses can be quoted within a few business days. Contractors, fleets and higher limits take longer, so send us the contract requirements as early as possible.
What does it cost to work with Societies Insurance?
There is no fee for quoting. We compare umbrella and excess carriers for you and are paid by the carrier you choose.
Ready to raise your liability limits?
Download the Commercial Umbrella supplemental application and send it with your quote request, or call 800-616-3490 and we will walk through your underlying coverage with you.
This is a general overview. Coverage, limits, availability and pricing vary by state, carrier and policy, and the policy itself controls. Limit ranges shown are typical examples, not recommendations for any specific business.