Xterra3109

I would like to add an umbrella policy to my existing boat and auto insurance, both of which are through Geico. I have called around (progressive, travellers) but every company seems to require you to switch your auto policy in order to buy their umbrella.

Geico in MA offers umbrella policies through a 3rd party agency, I believe called RLI. Anyone have any experience with this? I am looking for a 1 million dollar policy.

Shag

RLI has been doing stand alone umbrella policies for years. Be sure it is a true umbrella and not a "following form".

Jus Teasin

They all want the auto policies because they make big $$ on them. I've been getting quotes the past two weeks for my insurances, and they all want me to move my autos with them..............but the auto policies have always been hundreds higher.

Boost

Forget Geico and go to an Independent Agent. They can get everything you want with the same carrier more than likely.

dcox

Most carriers umbrella policies require the auto as an underlying policy because most of the liability losses are derived from auto claims. And it does play a part that they want more premium generated to offer the umbrella coverage.

They are also goingto require certain minimum limits on the auto boat home and any other underlying coverages as well.

Bird Rock

Shag is correct. RLI is a solid company that's been around. Umbrella form is ideal compared to following form excess if you can get it.

RLI stands for replacement lense insurance. They started selling insurance for contact lenses. Just a bit of insurance trivia for you.

Shag

Yes and no. A lot of carriers are tired of the Geico's and Progressives writing the auto and leaving them with the homeowners which are underpriced in a lot of areas. They also like to control the claim at the lower level instead of having to co-ordinate with another company. Plus they can "keep an eye" on the underlying limits which they can't do if another carrier is writing the auto.

Been in this business going on 30 years and that's the first time I've heard that. Learn something new every day.

Mist-Rest

As a side note to insurance in these parts


Anyone with higher end properties might be doing themselves a huge favor in shopping. Saved 15K this year with a single phone call for the exact same coverage, company ratings, and deductibles.
Just thought I'd share it with you.

edwardh1

rli allows u to have different auto and house insurance companies.
1mil umbrella is about $350 a year

Brad1

I have an mbrella policy thru Erie insurance. Back when i owned my Grady, it was insured through Progressive. Erie allowed me to cover my boat through my umbrella policy even though the boat policy was through Progressive.

Shag

Erie will allow boat liability to be with another carrier if you carry at least $300K on the boat policy. That's because they realize that their boat rates suck. But they don't like to write an umbrella over another carrier's personal liability or auto policy. Back to the OP. If Auto Owners is licensed in your state, they may write a stand alone policy. Only problem is that they require $500K on the underlying auto policy and some carriers won't offer more than $250/500k.

Boost

We sell Erie and they are my number 1 pick when it comes to boat insurance. Maybe it is because of our different locations in the state but their rates are very competitive for us and they have a great policy that will be backed by great service with Erie. I have read the policy of other carriers and was not impressed.

edwardh1

I got 3 different quotes from state farm on umbrella - over 2 days-
first it was about $200, then they said no, I had to put my car insurnace with them to get the $200 rate, I asked are you sure,
they called back said they had called and it would be like $300 w/o having state farm car ins I said OK, and got in car to go by there to pay,
they then called an hour later to my cell and said it was $400+ something and they "did not think it was worth it to me".

so I felt like I was dealing with buying a used car and went elsewhere.

I did not like the pressure to put car insurance with them, what happens when they have all your insurance? they start raising rates?
Huge money spent on tv ads for car ins progressive geico farmers s/f geico, must be a rich bidness

Shag

I probably shouldn't have said their rates suck but we tend to do better with other companies. Having said that I have all 3 of mine with Erie, not because of price but because of their claims service.

avalaunch

Are there agents who sell RLI in MA & FL without requiring any other insurance to be purchased from them?

Strike1

I'm an Independent Agent in NJ, 20 years experience myself, and my family has owned this agency for over 80 years.

Absolutely nothing wrong with RLI. We use them frequently, but only if we can't put it all together for what ever reason. One example is that the insured may not have auto insurance (company car, or they just may not drive), or the risk is higher (tickets, accidents, young drivers etc).

I second the recommendation to call an Independent Agent. Multiple companies quoted, one call. Don't be alarmed if you haven't heard of the company they quoted you. It just means the company isn't spending millions of dollars on advertising.

Boost

Well said

yarcraft91

$350/year sounds pretty expensive for $1 mil umbrella, but maybe that's the non-discounted price. A $2 mil umbrella costs me $225/year, after discounts because I have all my insurance through the same agent and company.

Last night I learned something interesting about umbrella policies, which may only apply to businesses. We learned our small utility company has an "aggregate" $3 mil umbrella policy, so we were not covered for up to $3 mil/incident. When lifetime liability losses total $3 mil, our policy coverage is exhausted. Today I'm going to check my personal umbrella policy to see if it's the same.

Shag

That's odd. The aggregate is usually an annual aggregate.

dcox

I've only seen annual aggregates as well.