Progressive does not offer standalone umbrella policies
Progressive does not sell umbrella or excess liability insurance as a separate product. If you contact Progressive about umbrella coverage, they will not have a policy to quote you. This is true whether you buy your auto or home insurance from them or not.
Progressive's product line focuses on auto, home, renters, and boat insurance. Umbrella policies sit outside that range. You will need to buy umbrella coverage from a different insurer — even if Progressive covers your car or house.
This matters because umbrella policies are not optional add-ons to your existing coverage. They are separate contracts with their own underwriting, terms, and pricing. Buying one from a different company than your auto or home insurer is normal and often cheaper than bundling.
Key Takeaways
- Progressive does not sell umbrella or excess liability policies under any circumstances.
- You must buy umbrella coverage from a different insurance company, even if Progressive insures your car or home.
- Most umbrella insurers require you to carry minimum liability limits on your underlying auto or home policy before they will write an umbrella policy.
- Umbrella policies typically cost $150 to $300 per year for $1 million in coverage, depending on your driving record and claims history.
- Common umbrella insurers include State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Travelers, and Cincinnati Insurance.
Why Progressive does not offer umbrella insurance
Umbrella policies are a specialized product that requires different underwriting than auto or home insurance. An umbrella insurer needs to know your full liability exposure across all your assets and activities — not just whether you own a car. Progressive's business model and systems are built around auto and home policies, not the broader risk assessment umbrella underwriting demands.
Many mid-sized insurers, including Progressive, straightforward do not maintain the underwriting infrastructure or actuarial teams to price and manage umbrella risk. It is more cost-effective for them to focus on their core products and let specialized carriers handle umbrella coverage.
What you need to buy umbrella insurance from another company
Most umbrella insurers will not write a policy unless you already carry liability coverage on your auto and home insurance. They typically require minimum limits — often $100,000 to $300,000 in liability on your auto policy and $100,000 to $300,000 on your home policy, depending on the carrier.
This requirement exists because the umbrella policy only covers claims that exceed your underlying policy limits. If you have no underlying coverage, the umbrella has nothing to sit on top of, and the insurer has no way to manage the risk.
You do not have to buy your auto or home insurance from the same company that writes your umbrella. In fact, many people carry Progressive auto insurance and buy umbrella coverage from State Farm, Allstate, or another carrier. The umbrella insurer will ask you to provide proof of your underlying limits — usually a copy of your declarations page from Progressive — but they will not require you to switch.
How to find umbrella insurance if you use Progressive
Start by calling your current home or auto insurer to ask whether they offer umbrella policies. Many carriers that do not sell umbrella directly can refer you to a partner or subsidiary that does. If that does not work, contact insurers known for umbrella coverage: State Farm, Allstate, USAA (if you are military or a veteran), Travelers, Cincinnati Insurance, or Chubb.
When you call, tell them you carry auto and home insurance with Progressive and ask what liability limits they require on your underlying policies. Have your Progressive declarations pages ready so you can confirm your current limits match their requirements. If your limits are too low, you may need to increase them on your Progressive policy before the umbrella insurer will quote you.
Some regional and local insurers also write umbrella policies. If you work with an independent insurance agent — someone who represents multiple carriers rather than one company — they can shop umbrella quotes from several insurers at once and find the best price for your situation.
What umbrella insurance costs and covers
Umbrella policies typically cost between $150 and $300 per year for $1 million in coverage. The exact price depends on your driving record, claims history, the number of drivers in your household, and whether you own a home. A second $1 million layer usually costs less than the first — often $75 to $150 per year.
An umbrella policy covers liability claims that exceed your auto or home policy limits. If you cause a car accident and the injured person sues for $500,000, but your auto liability limit is $100,000, your umbrella policy covers the remaining $400,000 (minus your umbrella deductible, which is usually $0 to $1,000).
Umbrella policies also cover some liability claims that your auto or home policy does not cover at all — such as libel, slander, or false imprisonment — as long as the claim arises from your personal activities. They do not cover intentional harm, criminal acts, or business activities.
Alternatives if you cannot find umbrella coverage
If you have a poor driving record or multiple claims, some umbrella insurers may decline to quote you. In that case, ask your Progressive agent whether you can increase your auto and home liability limits instead. Raising your limits on your underlying policies is cheaper than umbrella coverage for small increases, though it becomes expensive if you want very high limits.
Some insurers offer what is called an excess liability policy, which is similar to umbrella but may have fewer underwriting restrictions. Excess policies sit on top of your underlying coverage just like an umbrella, but they are sometimes easier to obtain if you have had claims or violations. Ask the insurers you contact whether they offer excess liability as an alternative to umbrella.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy umbrella insurance from Progressive if I do not have auto or home insurance with them?
No. Progressive does not sell umbrella insurance to anyone, regardless of whether you are a customer. You must buy umbrella coverage from a different insurer. You do not need to switch your auto or home insurance to Progressive to buy umbrella from another carrier.
What if my Progressive policy limits are too low for an umbrella insurer?
Contact Progressive and ask to increase your liability limits on your auto and home policies. Most umbrella insurers will then quote you once your underlying limits meet their requirements. Increasing limits on your Progressive policy usually costs $10 to $30 per month, depending on how much you raise them.
Do I have to buy umbrella insurance from the same company as my home insurer?
No. You can carry Progressive home insurance and buy umbrella from State Farm, Allstate, or any other carrier. The umbrella insurer will ask for proof of your underlying limits but will not require you to switch companies. Shopping around for umbrella quotes from multiple carriers often saves money.
What happens if I have a claim that exceeds my Progressive limits?
Your Progressive policy pays up to your stated limit. Your umbrella policy then covers the amount above that, up to the umbrella limit. For example, if a judgment is $250,000 and your Progressive auto limit is $100,000, Progressive pays $100,000 and your umbrella pays the remaining $150,000 (minus your umbrella deductible).
Can I get umbrella insurance without auto or home insurance?
No. All umbrella insurers require you to carry underlying auto and home liability coverage before they will write an umbrella policy. The umbrella sits on top of those policies and only covers claims that exceed them. Without underlying coverage, there is nothing for the umbrella to protect.