How to Find the Best Umbrella Insurance

Whether you want additional protection for your home, business, or something else, an umbrella insurance policy can greatly increase your liability coverage. Having umbrella coverage can mean the difference between being able to cover the entire cost of an unexpected lawsuit and a huge financial setback or even bankruptcy. But there are certain key components you'll want to compare when choosing your umbrella insurance policy beyond just the price.

Luckily, a local independent insurance agent can help you shop and compare umbrella insurance policies from multiple local carriers. They'll help you find the best rate for the ideal amount of coverage. But first, use our guide to learn how to compare umbrella insurance to find the right policy.

How to Assess Your Umbrella Insurance Needs

Umbrella insurance is designed to add extra liability coverage to an existing policy. You can add umbrella insurance to your business, auto, home, motorcycle, and boat policies. You'll need to already have one of these insurance policies in order to add umbrella coverage on top of it.

An umbrella insurance policy can increase your liability coverage in increments of $1 million. If your existing homeowners insurance policy has $250,000 in personal liability coverage, you can add an umbrella policy to increase your total liability protection to $1.25 million, for example. You can get personal umbrella coverage or commercial umbrella coverage, depending on your needs.

To determine how much umbrella insurance you need, consider the liability risks associated with the policy in question. For your business insurance, you might want more liability protection than for your home or boat policy. An independent insurance agent can help advise on the appropriate amount of umbrella coverage.

How Much Does Umbrella Insurance Cost?

Umbrella insurance tends to be highly affordable, especially given the additional amount of protection it provides. Umbrella policies tend to start at about $200 per year for $1 million in coverage. However, the cost of umbrella insurance can vary based on several factors, including:

• The type of umbrella policy you need
• How much existing liability coverage you have
• How much additional liability coverage you need
• Your personal claims history
• Your location

An independent insurance agent can help you find affordable umbrella insurance from a trusted carrier near you.

How Much Excess Liability Coverage Do You Need?

Umbrella insurance, also called excess liability insurance, is usually available in increments of $1 million. To determine exactly how much excess liability coverage you need, you'll want to total the value of your assets and how much you could stand to lose in a hefty lawsuit. 

If you have $3 million in assets, you might want more than just a single $1 million umbrella policy. It also depends on how much existing liability coverage your underlying policy provides, such as your home or auto insurance.

Buy enough umbrella or excess liability insurance to pay for the entire gap in the total value of your assets and your current liability coverage. So, if your current insurance policy provides $500,000 in liability coverage but you have $2,500,000 in assets, you might want $2 million in excess liability protection. Here are some examples of situations in which you might want more than just $1 million in umbrella coverage:

• You are a public figure.
• You own a business.
• You own more than one property and/or are a landlord.
• You own things that could result in injuries to others (e.g., a pool, trampoline, gun, or dog).
• You have an inexperienced driver in your family.
• You coach kids’ sports.
• You serve on a volunteer or nonprofit board.

Your independent insurance agent can also help you evaluate your excess liability coverage needs in relation to your assets and current liability coverage.

How to Compare Umbrella Insurance Carriers

Comparing umbrella insurance providers effectively involves evaluating several factors. When looking for the best umbrella insurance companies, consider the following:

• Customer service: The best umbrella insurance companies are known for providing excellent customer service and delivering on their coverage promises to policyholders. You can read customer reviews of umbrella insurance carriers on many different websites, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and see the organization's official rating for each carrier. 
• Competitive rates: A local independent insurance agent can help you with this by shopping and comparing policies and prices from multiple umbrella insurance carriers for you. Your agent knows which carriers offer the most affordable policies as well as quality, dependable coverage.
• Financial stability: Consider each company’s financial strength and stability over time. Rating systems, like the AM Best credit rating company, provide a guideline for measuring a company’s current standing. The better a carrier's financial stability, the better its likelihood of paying out your umbrella insurance claims when necessary.

If you have any further questions about comparing umbrella insurance companies, your independent insurance agent can recommend some top carriers to get started.

The Top Umbrella Insurance Companies of 2025

When you're ready to get an umbrella insurance policy, you can start with our top recommendations for the best umbrella insurance companies this year. Any of these outstanding carriers can provide the coverage you need at a great rate.


           

Top Umbrella Insurance Company	Overall Carrier Star Rating
Travelers	5 Stars
USAA	4.5 Stars
American Family	4.5 Stars
Chubb	3 Stars

Save on Umbrella Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

Request a quote

An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Compare Umbrella Insurance

Evaluating your umbrella insurance needs, comparing your options, and choosing the right provider shouldn’t be a daunting task. That’s why allowing an independent insurance agent to help can be a great solution. Your agent can shop and compare policies and premium rates from multiple umbrella insurance carriers in your area to find the best value. And down the road, your agent will still be there to help you file claims or update your policy when necessary.