# umbrella insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umbrella-insurance/133305 "2002-10-21T23:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umbrella-insurance/133305/1 "2002-10-21T23:42:02Z")
no, not for my umbrella! when clinton was being sued and all of that, there was much talk of his being able to cover some of the cost with an umbrella liability policy. i have heard of this often times and when i asked my insurance agent, he just tries to sell me some whole life. from where does one get these policies and what are they called among the professionals? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umbrella-insurance/133305/2 "2002-10-21T23:58:33Z")
I have one. I got it from the same place where I got my Homeowners Insurance and it was called an umbrella policy. Haj ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umbrella-insurance/133305/3 "2002-10-22T00:17:18Z")
It’s not a smart-ass answer, it’s real information from [Travelers](http://www.travelerspc.com/personal/other/other_excess101.cfm#excess). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Houlihan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Houlihan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Houlihan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umbrella-insurance/133305/4 "2002-10-22T02:17:38Z")
They are called umbrella policies. Typically, it provides additional liability coverage for damages you may cause to others, over and above the limits of your automobile and homeowners’ policies. If you have the option of buying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with limits that match the liability coverage, it is a very good idea. It sounds like you need a new insurance agent.