Umbrella / Excess

What is umbrella / excess liability insurance?

Umbrella (excess) liability adds an extra layer of protection above your primary policies — general liability, commercial auto, and employer’s liability. When a serious claim exceeds your primary limits, the umbrella pays the difference instead of your business assets.

In construction, one severe accident — a scaffold collapse, a multi-vehicle crash with a work truck — can easily exceed $1M. Umbrella coverage is also how contractors meet the $5M+ total limits that larger project owners, municipalities, and national accounts increasingly demand.

What it covers

• Excess over general liability — extra limits when a GL claim exceeds your $1M/$2M policy.
• Excess over commercial auto — protection above your auto liability limits — where severe claims most often land.
• Excess over employer’s liability — additional protection on the employer side of workers comp.
• Contract compliance — meeting the $2M, $5M, or $10M total limits that larger contracts require.
• Defense costs — continued legal defense when primary limits are exhausted.

Who needs it

Contractors bidding commercial, municipal, or multi-unit residential work — where contracts routinely require total limits above $1M. General contractors, excavation contractors, and any trade working at height or on public roads see the requirement most. It’s also smart protection for any business with real assets to lose.

How much does umbrella coverage cost?

Umbrella coverage is among the cheapest ways to buy protection — each additional $1M layer typically costs far less than your primary policy. Pricing depends on your underlying limits, trade, and size. Get quotes here and we’ll price the layers you need.

Frequently asked questions

How much umbrella coverage do I need?

Enough to satisfy your contracts and protect your assets — $1M to $2M is common for small contractors, while commercial and municipal work often requires $5M or more.

Does umbrella coverage sit over every policy?

It sits over the liability policies scheduled beneath it — typically GL, commercial auto, and employer’s liability. It doesn’t add limits to property or equipment coverage.

Can I get umbrella coverage through a different carrier than my GL?

Yes — we often place umbrellas with separate carriers when it prices better, as long as underlying limits meet the umbrella carrier’s requirements.