The ACORD 75 Umbrella/Excess Liability Application is used by surplus lines and specialty markets when applying for umbrella or excess liability coverage. While the ACORD 131 is the standard section attachment used with admitted market submissions, the ACORD 75 is a standalone application form used by brokers placing umbrella coverage in the wholesale or excess and surplus lines market.
The ACORD 75 is used when: • Placing umbrella or excess liability coverage in the surplus lines market • The primary GL carrier does not write umbrella or the account does not qualify for the carrier's umbrella program • A specialty umbrella form is needed beyond what standard markets offer • The account has unique underlying coverage structure that doesn't fit the ACORD 131 format
The ACORD 75 collects:
• Named insured and policy period information • Requested umbrella limit and any retained limit (self-insured retention) • Schedule of underlying coverages (GL, auto, WC, employer's liability) with carrier names, policy numbers, and limits • Prior umbrella/excess carrier information • Loss history (5 years for umbrella is standard) • Operations description — the same information as the ACORD 125 but focused on the exposures that drive umbrella pricing
The most important part of any umbrella application is the underlying insurance schedule. The umbrella policy sits above the underlying policies — so underwriters need to know exactly what's underneath:
• GL: carrier, policy number, occurrence limit, aggregate limit, products-CO aggregate • Auto: carrier, policy number, per-occurrence limit, whether it covers owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles • WC/EL: carrier, policy number, employer's liability limits per accident, per employee, per disease policy limit • Any other underlying policies (professional liability, cyber, etc.)
If underlying limits don't meet the umbrella carrier's minimum requirements, the carrier may decline to quote or may require higher underlying limits.
Some umbrella policies include a self-insured retention (SIR) — the amount the insured must pay out of pocket before the umbrella responds to a claim that falls in a gap not covered by underlying policies (the drop-down function). This is different from the underlying deductibles.
A high SIR reduces umbrella premium but means the insured absorbs more risk on dropped-down claims. Agents should explain the SIR concept clearly when umbrella policies include one.
Not listing all underlying policies — missing an underlying policy can leave a gap in the umbrella's scheduled coverage
Listing incorrect underlying limits — the umbrella quotes based on what's underneath
Submitting without 5 years of loss history — umbrella underwriters want the full picture
Confusing the ACORD 75 (standalone umbrella application) with the ACORD 131 (admitted market attachment)
Not flagging upcoming underlying policy renewals — if underlying limits change at renewal, the umbrella needs to be updated
Send your client a plain-English intake link. When they finish, the completed ACORD 75 and all required companion forms are generated and ready to submit.