One question insurance agents frequently are asked is “How do I know if I need an umbrella policy?” We advise our customers to look at their whole financial situation and their lifestyle. Do you own a swimming pool? Own a dog? Have large assets to protect? Agents typically recommend that customers have enough home insurance coverage equal to their assets. Umbrella policies cover liability, personal injury coverage and legal expense coverage. Umbrella polices are there to protect you against large lawsuits. There are certain parameters that must be met to get an umbrella policy. First you must carry your auto and homeowners insurance with the same company. Second you must acquire the highest limits available for auto insurance and home insurance. The maximum amount of coverage you can have under an umbrella policy varies by state. This protection can extend beyond your auto and home. It can also cover your RV, boat, snow mobiles, golf carts, ATV’s, jet skis and motorcycles. There are some added protections with an umbrella policy that are generally excluded from homeowners insurance polices. These policies can run approximately $300-$400 a year for a million dollars coverage. That is relatively inexpensive for extra coverage.The best part is that everyone in the household is covered as long as they are listed on the auto policy and live in the home. Something to think about if you have teen drivers in the home.
The best thing to do is to speak to a licensed agent who can discuss your risk and assets. There are certain situations which will increase your need for an umbrella policy. Call us at 215-673-0300 so we can discuss your current auto and homeowners insurance in Philadelphia, we can evaluate if you have enough coverage and if you should also look into getting an umbrella policy. You can also visit our website at www.freedom4insurance.com click on all coverages to read about umbrella policies.
