Umbrella Insurance

Help Protect Yourself From A Lawsuit

Get up to $1 million in coverage for just $19 a month.^{See note1}

What is umbrella insurance?

An umbrella insurance policy gives extra protection if you're sued for the things you own, as well as your savings, investments, and in some states, your future wages. It can also help pay for legal defense costs.

It doesn't matter how much money you make or how old you are — anyone can be hit with a lawsuit. Something as simple as posting a negative online review or crashing into an expensive sports car could trigger a costly lawsuit that takes away everything you've worked so hard for.

What does an umbrella insurance policy cover?

A personal umbrella insurance policy can pick up where your homeowners or auto liability insurance leaves off and help you pay for the remainder of a claim that exceeds their limits. For example:

At Home

If your dog bites a mail carrier or your child's friend seriously injures himself in your pool, your homeowners insurance may not pay out enough to cover the resulting bills.

In Your Car

If you injure someone in a car accident and are held responsible for injuries and medical bills, your auto insurance may not be enough to cover all of their expenses.

In each case, an umbrella insurance policy would help you to protect your assets and your wages.

You'll be glad to get the extra coverage.

If you still don't think you need umbrella insurance, here are three things that might change your mind.

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Video Transcript: How an Umbrella Policy Covers You from the Unexpected

Video Source: USAA Umbrella Insurance
Video Duration: 1 minute, 46 seconds
Transcript Source: USAA
Transcript Date: 03/19/2015

Beginning [00:00:00]

Description of Visual Information: [CHALK TALK] End of Description

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Introduction to Umbrella Insurance [00:00:07]

Description of Visual Information: [J.J. Montanaro, Certified Financial Planner with USAA] End of Description

So you know an umbrella protects you in the rain and in the sun. But did you know an umbrella can also protect you if you get sued? No, I'm not talking about this umbrella. I'm talking about the extra liability protection provided by an umbrella insurance policy.

3 Reasons to Consider Umbrella Insurance [00:00:24]

Don't think you need one? Well, here are three things that might change your mind.

Reason 1: Anyone Can Get Sued [00:00:29]

First, you don't have to be a millionaire to be sued like one. Don't have much? Don't earn much? It doesn't matter. If you're found liable for damages, you could lose a big chunk of what you do have, and even be forced to give up future earnings.

Description of Visual Information: [Piggy Bank Breaking] End of Description

Reason 2: Protection from Major Liabilities [00:00:46]

Second, major liability can arise easier than you might think. For instance, let's say you crash into and total a $100,000 sports car driven by a heart surgeon. Who guess what? As a result, can't go back to work. Or maybe there's a pool accident at your house. Or your dog bites someone. It happens, and it can get very expensive, even exceeding what your auto or homeowners insurance would pay.

Reason 3: Inexpensive [00:01:17]

And third, umbrella insurance isn't expensive. Typically, you get a million bucks of coverage for about $20 a month. So the next time you think about umbrellas, think about your future. An umbrella policy, extra protection when you need it.

End [00:01:36]

Description of Visual Information: [Legal Disclaimer Content] End of Description

Price referenced is an approximate cost for an annual policy providing $1 million liability coverage. Rates may vary due to location and other rating factors.

USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. Financial advice provided by USAA Financial Advisors, Inc. (FAI), a registered broker dealer, USAA Investment Management Company (IMCO), a registered broker dealer and investment advisor, and for insurance, USAA Financial Planning Services Insurance Agency, Inc. (known as USAA Financial Insurance Agency in California, License # OE36312). Investment products and services offered by IMCO and FAI. Life insurance and annuities provided by USAA Life Insurance Co., San Antonio, TX, and in NY by USAA Life Insurance Co. of New York, Highland Falls, NY. Other life and health insurance from select companies offered through USAA Life General Agency, Inc. (known in CA (license #0782231) and in NY as USAA Health and Life Insurance Agency). Banking products offered by USAA Federal Savings Bank and USAA Savings Bank, both FDIC insured. Trust services provided by USAA Federal Savings Bank.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP^{See note®} and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Views and opinions expressed by members are for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as an endorsement by USAA.

Coverage Type	Required Minimum
Automobile Insurance Bodily Injury	300,000 dollars limit per person 500,000 dollars limit per accident
Automobile Insurance Property Damage	100,000 dollars limit per person
Homeowners/Renters/Fire Liability	300,000 dollars limit per policy
Homeowners Insurance Personal Injury	300,000 dollars limit per occurrence
Watercraft Personal Liability (if applicable)	300,000 dollars limit per occurrence

End of Modal Content

Get peace of mind for as little as $19 a month.

Let us help you figure out how much liability coverage you need to protect your family's financial security.

Get a Free Umbrella Insurance Quote

Umbrella Insurance FAQ

Expand All

What is an umbrella insurance policy and what does it do?

Why do I need umbrella insurance if I already have home and car insurance?

Why is it required that I have my home and car insurance with USAA to qualify for an umbrella policy?

When would I use or need a personal umbrella policy (PUP)?

An Auto Accident:

There are many situations that an umbrella policy can provide coverage you need. For example, let's say you're on the highway and don't notice a slowdown in front of you, and you cause a five-car collision. Assume you have an auto policy with bodily injury limits of $300,000 per person and $500,000 per accident, with $100,000 in property damage liability. But you've hurt 10 people with a total injury amount of $750,000, not to mention the auto repairs. An umbrella policy could cover the additional amount your auto policy didn't cover.

An Accident at Your Home:

Or, what if someone fell on ice on your walkway you failed to remove, causing them to rack up $500,000 in medical bills? If your homeowner's policy has $300,000 in coverage, it would not be enough to cover those medical bills. An umbrella policy could provide the additional liability coverage.

An Accident at Your Rental Property:

Finally, what if you owned a rental property policy with a $300,000 liability limit, and there was an electrical fire in your rental home that resulted in a death? If your tenants sued you for $1 million, your rental property policy has $300,000 and would not be enough to cover the damages assessed against you. An umbrella policy can provide excess liability coverage, which may help protect your personal assets, and in most cases will help cover the legal fees involved.

How much umbrella coverage do I need?

The amount of umbrella coverage that is right for you depends on your personal financial situation and the risks you're able to handle on your own. For many people, this choice is in line with their assets plus their income. For others, it is dependent on their potential exposure to risk — the more potential for exposure, the higher the liability limit. To help you determine the best amount of coverage, please review your needs with the insurance professionals at USAA. If you need to talk to one of our member service representatives, you can call us at 210-531-8722 (or 800-531-8722).

What are the different limits offered on an umbrella policy?

Why do I have to maintain higher limits on my other policies? Isn't that what umbrella insurance provides?

Affordability of an umbrella policy is dependent on it covering damages in excess of certain specified amounts. Thus, it is important for your other policies to provide coverage up to the amount at which your umbrella policy will provide coverage. Otherwise, you'll be personally responsible for damage amounts that exceed the limits of your underlying policy but that are less than the amounts to which the umbrella policy applies.

Who is covered by my umbrella policy, and where am I covered?

Does umbrella insurance include business or professional coverage?

Why do I have to contact USAA when I try to make changes to my umbrella policy online?

Note 1 Annual policy providing $1 million liability coverage. Rates may vary due to location and other rating factors.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL A PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE ADVERTISED HEREIN.

Use of the term "member" or "membership" refers to membership in USAA Membership Services and does not convey any legal or ownership rights in USAA. Restrictions apply and are subject to change.

Umbrella insurance provided by United Services Automobile Association, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, USAA General Indemnity Company, and Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, based San Antonio, TX; USAA Limited (UK) and USAA S.A. (Europe), and is available only to persons eligible for P&C group membership. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

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