How Much Umbrella Insurance Do I Need? A Calculator for South Carolina
An umbrella policy adds an extra layer of liability coverage on top of your home and auto policies. It pays when a serious accident or lawsuit costs more than those policies cover. Answer a few questions to see a starting point for how much makes sense for your household.
Why South Carolina drivers should think about this
South Carolina only requires auto liability limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A serious crash with injuries can cost far more than that. Once your policy limits are used up, the rest can come from your savings, your home equity or your future paychecks.
An umbrella policy sits on top of your home and auto liability and usually starts at $1 million of coverage. Most companies require you to carry higher liability limits on your home and auto first. We can check what yours need.
What an umbrella is for
A bad car accident
Your teenager causes a multi-car crash with serious injuries. The medical bills and lost wages go past your auto policy's limit.
A guest gets hurt
A neighbor's child is injured on your trampoline, or a guest falls off your dock at the lake.
A dog bite
Your dog bites someone at the park or in your yard, and the injury needs surgery.
A rental or boat accident
A tenant or guest is hurt at your rental, or someone is injured in a boating accident.
Every umbrella policy is different. What's covered and excluded depends on the policy, so we'll walk through yours before you buy.
Good to know
- It's liability coverage, not property coverage. An umbrella pays for injuries and damage you're responsible for, plus legal defense. It doesn't fix your own house or car.
- It works best on top of the right base limits. If your auto or home liability is low, raising it is usually step one.
- Review it when life changes: a new teen driver, a boat, a pool, a rental property or a big jump in savings.
Want us to check your coverage?
Send us your current home and auto declarations pages and we'll tell you whether an umbrella makes sense and what your base policies need. When you call or text, you get Ben, not a call center.
This calculator gives a general starting point, not a recommendation for your situation. Coverage, limits and requirements vary by insurance company and policy. Mauldin Insurance Group is a licensed independent insurance agency based in Lexington, SC.
