Real carrier recommendations from independent insurance agents who have successfully placed personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage.
Finding the right carrier for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage is one of the most common challenges independent insurance agents face. Based on 58 real placement discussions from working agents, this guide summarizes which carriers are writing this class of business, what underwriting hurdles to expect, and which states have the most active markets.
High limits, underlying coverage requirements, and risk profiles with multiple exposures (boats, young drivers, rental properties) make umbrella placement difficult. Many carriers cap at $1-5M, requiring layered excess programs for higher limits.
The carrier recommendations below aren't theoretical — they come from agents who have actually bound coverage for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage. The most frequently mentioned carriers are RLI, USLI, Progressive, Auto-Owners, Chubb. Scroll down for the full list, state-by-state breakdowns, and detailed agent discussions.
These carriers are most frequently recommended by agents for placing personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage. Rankings are based on how often agents mention each carrier in successful placement discussions.
Our analysis of 58 placement discussions reveals patterns that can help agents place personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage more efficiently:
Data sourced from 58 verified agent discussions. Updated daily as new discussions are captured.
This matrix shows which carriers have been recommended by agents for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage in specific states. Data is based on 58 real placement discussions — a ✓ means at least one agent has reported placing this risk with that carrier in that state.
| Carrier | NY | TX | CA | FL | OH | NC | MO | LA | AZ | MD | KY | TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RLI | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| USLI | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Progressive | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Auto-Owners | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chubb | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Cincinnati | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — |
| State Farm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| PURE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Stillwater | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Allstate | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Assurant | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Farmers | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Based on 58 agent discussions. Carrier availability may vary — always verify with the carrier or your wholesaler. Last updated: July 17, 2026.
Agents in these states have shared placement experiences for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage.
Real conversations from independent insurance agents about placing personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage. Each discussion includes the original question and agent replies with carrier suggestions.
Browse state-specific carrier recommendations and agent discussions for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage.
Based on 58 agent discussions, the most frequently recommended carriers for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage include RLI, USLI, Progressive, Auto-Owners, Chubb. Carrier availability varies by state and specific risk characteristics. Surplus lines markets may offer additional options when admitted carriers decline.
High limits, underlying coverage requirements, and risk profiles with multiple exposures (boats, young drivers, rental properties) make umbrella placement difficult. Many carriers cap at $1-5M, requiring layered excess programs for higher limits.
The states with the most agent discussions about placing personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage are New York, Texas, California, Florida, Ohio. Coverage availability and pricing can vary significantly by state due to regulatory differences and local market competition.
Start by contacting the carriers most frequently recommended by agents: RLI, USLI, Progressive, Auto-Owners, Chubb. Many agents also report success through wholesale brokers and MGAs who specialize in this class. The 58 discussions on this page include specific agent experiences with quoting and binding coverage.
It depends on the state and specific risk details. Some admitted carriers do write personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage, but many agents report needing to access surplus lines or specialty markets. States like New York, Texas, California tend to have more carrier options based on agent discussions.
Typical coverage needs include general liability, property, and often workers compensation. Depending on the specific operation, agents also discuss commercial auto, professional liability, inland marine, and umbrella coverage for personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage. Review the agent discussions below for specific coverage recommendations.
The carrier recommendations on this page come from 58 real discussions between independent insurance agents with 18 agent replies. Every data point originates from a verified agent community — not marketing materials, carrier websites, or AI-generated content. Data is captured daily and this page was last updated on July 17, 2026. Read our full methodology.