★ Commercial · Commercial umbrella
When $1 million isn't enough anymore.
Your general liability and commercial auto policies each have limits, usually $1M per occurrence. A commercial umbrella stacks extra millions on top of those underlying policies, so one catastrophic claim does not end the business. Per dollar of coverage, it is the cheapest liability you will ever buy.
Free quotes · No obligation · A licensed specialist answers, usually within one business day
★ What it covers
What’s covered and what isn’t.
Plain English, no fine-print games. Every policy has exclusions; here are the ones that actually matter for Commercial Umbrella.
What it covers
- Excess over general liabilityWhen a GL claim blows past your $1M per-occurrence limit, the umbrella pays the rest up to its limit.
- Excess over commercial autoMulti-vehicle accidents and serious injuries exhaust auto limits fast. The umbrella is the backstop.
- Excess over employers liabilityThe liability portion of your workers' comp policy gets the same extra cushion.
- One limit across underlying linesA single extra limit applying across all the scheduled underlying policies.
- Defense at scaleCatastrophic claims mean catastrophic legal bills. The umbrella responds alongside the underlying carrier.
What it doesn’t cover
- Professional liability / E&OUmbrellas typically exclude professional services. E&O needs its own excess tower.
- Workers' comp statutory benefitsThe umbrella sits over employers liability, not the statutory comp benefits themselves.
- Cyber and D&OSpecialty lines with their own towers. A GL umbrella does not extend to them.
- Intentional actsSame exclusion as the underlying policies.
- Anything the underlying policy excludesThe umbrella generally follows the underlying coverage. Gaps below stay gaps above.
All quotes are subject to carrier underwriting and final approval. Coverage availability, terms, and pricing vary by state and carrier. The lists above describe typical Commercial Umbrella policies, not any specific carrier’s form.
★ Who needs it
If this sounds like you, you need an umbrella.
The businesses that buy Commercial Umbrella most, and the one-line reason each one does.
Contractors on commercial jobs
GCs and project owners routinely require $2M to $5M in total limits.
Businesses with fleets
One serious auto accident can hit seven figures before the tow trucks leave.
Public-facing premises
Retail, restaurants, entertainment: frequency plus severity.
Businesses signing enterprise contracts
'$5M umbrella' is a standard line in vendor requirements.
Anyone with assets worth protecting
If the business has something to lose, the umbrella is the moat around it.
★ The short version
Per dollar of coverage, it is the cheapest liability you will ever buy.
★ What it costs
What drives the price.
Carriers price Commercial Umbrella on exposure, not vibes. Here’s what moves your number, and what you can actually influence.
- Underlying limits: Higher underlying limits mean the umbrella attaches less often, and costs less.
- Total limit purchased: $1M over $1M is the common starting point; each additional million costs less than the last.
- Underlying exposures: Fleet size, revenue, and premises exposure drive the umbrella price.
- Claims history: A clean underlying record keeps umbrella pricing thin.
- Industry hazard: High-severity trades (trucking, roofing, heavy construction) pay more per million.
★ Often quoted together
Pairs well with Commercial Umbrella.
Most businesses don’t buy one policy in isolation. These are the lines umbrella buyers usually quote at the same time. One specialist quotes the whole package.
General Liability
The foundation policy: third-party injuries, property damage, and legal defense.
Commercial Auto
Work cars, trucks, and fleets: liability and physical damage your personal policy excludes.
Professional Liability
Covers negligence claims against your professional work. The policy expertise businesses can't skip.
★ Straight answers
Questions umbrella buyers actually ask.
The short version of what our licensed specialists explain on calls every week.
How does an umbrella actually work?
How much umbrella do I need?
Is umbrella insurance expensive?
Does umbrella cover professional liability?
What is the difference between umbrella and excess liability?
Can I buy an umbrella without the underlying policies?
Get my quote
Get your Commercial Umbrella quote. Two minutes.
Tell us about the business. A licensed specialist shops the carriers and comes back with real options.
- About 2 minutes, built for Commercial Umbrella
- A licensed specialist follows up, usually within one business day
- No bait prices, no call centers, no selling your information
Free quotes. No obligation. Written through Patriot Independent Insurance Partners, licensed in TX, FL, GA, SC, AL, MS, NC, CA, and CO. Your information is never sold to lead brokers.