What information do I need for a commercial umbrella or excess liability quote in Texas?
By Mark Melliand, owner, Melliand Insurance Agency · 13 years as an independent agent · Published October 28, 2026
The short answer
What an insurer asks for depends on the insurer, your business and the underlying policies the umbrella or excess layer would sit above. The insurer documents we reviewed ask about:
- your business and its operations
- revenue and payroll
- the underlying policies (insurers, limits and forms)
- vehicles and drivers
- the limit you want
- any contract behind the request
- prior losses
Identifying exactly which underlying policies the new layer is meant to sit over is a key part of preparing the quote. For how umbrella and excess coverage differ, see our guide to commercial umbrella vs. excess liability insurance.
The insurer documents we reviewed
- USLI, Commercial Umbrella / Excess Liability Product Warranty Application, CUA 7/14. This is the application reviewed: a general commercial application with conditional sections for certain business types.
- AmTrust E&S, Unsupported Excess Liability (Follow Form Excess) product sheet, MKT6284 01/23. This is a product sheet, not an application. It describes a wholesale-only excess product aimed at layers above a lead umbrella and lists submission requirements.
These are illustrative examples, not confirmed current Texas offerings or universal requirements. Other insurers may ask different questions. Each item below is attributed to the document that asks for it.
Business identity and operations
The USLI application asks for:
- the applicant’s name (including any DBA)
- mailing and location addresses
- website
- form of business (individual, corporation, partnership, LLC or other)
- years in business
- locations of operations
- a description of operations
- annual gross receipts and annual payroll
AmTrust’s product sheet lists among its submission requirements a commercial general liability application with “a complete Description of Operations.” Have the legal names of every business to be insured, any DBAs, and a clear, plain-language description of what each one does and where.
Exposure information
The USLI application asks for the classifications on your underlying general liability policy, or a copy of the GL application. For artisan and general contractor accounts, it asks for a completed contractors supplemental application.
It also has sections for certain operations, each with a “Not Applicable” option when it doesn’t apply:
- Habitational: number of units and stories, wiring, smoke detectors and sprinklers
- Swimming pools
- Bars, taverns and restaurants: food and alcohol receipts, entertainment and certain safety features
Prepare your current GL classifications and premium basis, such as receipts or payroll, from your underlying policy or application.
Underlying insurance
The USLI application includes a schedule of underlying insurance. For each policy it asks for the carrier, policy number, effective dates, limits, premium and A.M. Best rating:
- General liability: whether the form is ISO or manuscript, and the general aggregate, products aggregate, personal and advertising injury, each occurrence, damage to premises rented and medical payments limits
- Auto liability: combined single limit or split limits
- Employers liability: bodily injury by accident (each accident), by disease (policy limit) and by disease (each employee)
- Professional liability, if scheduled: occurrence or claims-made form, and occurrence and aggregate limits
Identify each underlying insurer and policy period. The reviewed USLI application requests details about non-concurrent coverage or mid-term marketing; that question does not establish what arrangements an insurer will accept. Ask whether the proposed insurers and dates meet its requirements.
AmTrust’s product sheet lists “Minimum Underlying Requirements” for that product, including underlying carrier ratings and a $5 million umbrella or excess layer above stated primary limits. It also asks for copies of underlying carrier quote letters. Those requirements are specific to that product.
Underlying-policy documents: declarations vs. forms
Declarations pages show the insurer, policy period and limits. Whether the underlying coverage actually fits under an umbrella or excess layer depends on the forms and endorsements, such as an ISO or manuscript form, claims-made or occurrence wording, and any exclusions or endorsements.
A certificate of insurance is a summary. The Texas Department of Insurance says a certificate “may not use terms that would alter, amend, or extend coverage that is provided in the insurance policy.” TDI also notes that state law doesn’t prohibit an agent or insurer from providing a copy of the policy or endorsements. Have your full underlying policies available, not just certificates.
Commercial auto
The USLI application has an auto section, with a “Not Applicable” option. It asks:
- whether hired and non-owned auto coverage is provided by the underlying policy
- whether any drivers are under 21
- whether any vehicle travels an average daily radius greater than 200 miles
- whether the business owns heavy or extra-heavy trucks, truck tractors, livery units or tow trucks
- the number of private passenger vehicles and light and medium trucks
- whether vehicles transport hazardous materials, waste or livestock
- whether motor vehicle records are reviewed at least every three years
- whether a physician’s statement of fitness is required for drivers over 69
AmTrust’s product sheet lists an auto fleet breakout by vehicle type, radius of operations, commodities hauled and a drivers list among its submission requirements. Prepare your vehicle schedule, how vehicles are used and how far they travel, and how you review drivers. Don’t send driver’s license numbers or other personal identifiers through a website form or ordinary email.
Workers’ compensation and employers liability
The reviewed USLI application asks for employers liability limits, and AmTrust’s reviewed product sheet specifies minimum underlying employers liability limits. These should not be confused with statutory workers’ compensation benefits. Have your workers’ compensation declarations ready, showing employers liability limits. For the basics, see our guide to workers’ compensation insurance in Texas.
Requested limit and structure
- The USLI application asks for the limit requested, from $1 million to $5 million.
- AmTrust’s product sheet describes that product as targeting lower layers excess of the lead umbrella, with target deployment of $5 million and $10 million limits.
Be ready to say the limit you want, whether it should sit directly over your primary policies or over an existing umbrella, and what umbrella or excess layers you already have.
Required underlying limits, the attachment point and any self-insured retention are separate questions. If a policy has a self-insured retention, ask when it applies. Don’t assume it applies to every claim. See our umbrella vs. excess guide for how these pieces fit together.
Contracts and insurance requirements
If the higher limit is required by a contract or project, the USLI application asks for “complete details of duties the applicant will perform, the duration, and the total cost.”
Bring a copy of the insurance section of the contract, lease or vendor agreement. A contract’s requirement and the coverage an insurer actually offers are separate, and meeting a limit doesn’t by itself mean every other contract term is satisfied. Questions about what a contract requires belong with your attorney. For customer and vendor auto requirements, see our guide to whether your commercial auto policy meets contract requirements.
Prior losses and known matters
- The USLI application asks you to describe any losses greater than $10,000 in the past three years “for the primary coverages this policy will cover over,” with the date, description and incurred amount.
- AmTrust’s product sheet asks for a “minimum five years of currently valued company loss runs for all underlying coverages,” with a description of large losses over $250,000.
These periods and thresholds differ, so use each insurer’s own request, and ask your current insurers for loss runs early. Disclosing a loss on a new application is separate from giving notice under a policy you already have. If something may need to be reported under a current policy, follow that policy’s notice requirements.
Changes and previous coverage
- The USLI application asks for your previous carrier, policy number, premium and effective dates.
- Its signature section says changes in the application information before the policy’s effective date must be “promptly reported,” and that the company may modify or withdraw a quote or binder based on those changes.
The legal effect of an application statement, or a change to a quote or binder, depends on applicable law and the circumstances. Let your agent know about new operations, locations, vehicles or acquisitions before coverage starts.
What an umbrella or excess quote doesn’t settle
- Umbrella and excess aren’t interchangeable just because the limits match. How each responds depends on its forms.
- Don’t assume professional liability, cyber, employment practices or D&O exposures are covered because you have an umbrella. Confirm which underlying policies are scheduled, and how the umbrella or excess policy treats them.
- An umbrella or excess layer doesn’t necessarily fill gaps or exclusions in your underlying insurance.
- Where claims-made policies are involved, review the trigger and relevant dates. See our guide to claims-made policies, retroactive dates and tail coverage.
Information, preparation and questions
| Information | What to prepare | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Business identity | Legal names, DBAs, entity type, locations, description of operations | Which entities and operations should be included? |
| Exposure | Gross receipts, payroll, GL classifications, contractor or industry supplements if asked | Which supplements apply to my business? |
| Underlying insurance | Carrier, policy number, dates, limits and form type for each underlying policy | Which policies will the layer sit over? Do the proposed insurers and dates meet this insurer’s requirements? |
| Underlying documents | Full policies and endorsements, not just certificates | Do the underlying forms fit the umbrella or excess terms? |
| Auto | Vehicle schedule, use, radius, cargo, driver review practices | Is hired and non-owned auto included underneath? |
| Employers liability | Workers’ compensation declarations showing employers liability limits | What employers liability limits are required underneath? |
| Requested limit | Desired limit, existing layers, attachment point | Is there a self-insured retention, and when does it apply? |
| Contracts | Insurance requirements from contracts or leases | Does the quoted structure address the stated requirement? |
| Loss history | Loss runs for underlying coverages; large-loss descriptions | What period and dollar threshold does this insurer use? |
A staged checklist
Initial discussion
- Business names, operations, locations, receipts and payroll
- Current underlying policies and their limits
- The limit you want, and why
- Any contract requirement driving the request
More complete submission
- Completed application and any supplements that apply
- Schedule of underlying insurance with dates, limits and form types
- Vehicle and driver information, if auto is underlying
- Loss runs and large-loss descriptions for the requested period
Additional underwriting, if requested
- Full underlying policies and endorsements
- Underlying quote letters
- Explanations for non-concurrent dates or mid-term changes
- Updates on any changes before coverage begins
Questions to ask
- Which of my current policies will this layer sit over?
- What underlying limits does this insurer require?
- Is this an umbrella or a follow-form excess policy, and how does it differ from my underlying coverage?
- Is there a self-insured retention, and when would it apply?
- Will the quoted structure address the insurance section of my contract?
- What loss history period and loss runs are needed?
Keep sensitive information protected
Don’t send driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, detailed claim files or other sensitive documents through a website form or ordinary email. Ask what’s actually needed, and arrange an appropriate secure way to provide it.
Requesting a quote doesn’t bind coverage
Asking for a quote or completing an application doesn’t put coverage in place. Ask your agent to confirm whether coverage has been bound, its effective date and the agreed terms.
Sources
- USLI, Commercial Umbrella / Excess Liability Product Warranty Application, CUA 7/14. Reviewed application; illustrative, not a confirmed current Texas offering.
- AmTrust E&S, Unsupported Excess Liability (Follow Form Excess), MKT6284 01/23. Product sheet with submission requirements; wholesale-only; illustrative.
- Texas Department of Insurance, Certificates of insurance FAQ
About Melliand Insurance Agency
Melliand Insurance Agency is an independently operated insurance agency affiliated with Premier Group Insurance (PGI), a nationwide agency network.
If you’d like help preparing for a commercial umbrella or excess liability quote, call (972) 346-4666 or email melliandinsurance@gmail.com, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM Central.
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice and is not a statement of coverage. Application questions, eligibility and coverage vary by insurer and policy. The documents described here are illustrative examples identified by form and edition and are not confirmed current Texas offerings. Requesting a quote or completing an application does not bind coverage.