Encompass
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Source material is a New Jersey Encompass Universal Security Policy (USP) portfolio underwriting manual effective April 16, 2007 for new business and May 31, 2007 for renewals. It is older and state‑specific but provides a representative view of Encompass appetite and rules. Always confirm against current state manuals or the carrier portal before quoting or binding. PREFERRED / TARGET BUSINESS - Package focus: Home, auto, boat and other segments are designed to be written in a USP package; boat and many miscellaneous vehicle segments are only eligible when written as part of a package policy.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Auto (Platinum / preferred tier): All principal and occasional drivers with 5+ years driving experience, no foreign licenses, 0 points and 0 at‑fault accidents, no lapses in coverage in last 3 years, and written as part of a USP package may qualify for the Platinum tier. Prior Encompass experience with clean record can also qualify.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Homeowners: Owner‑occupied primary dwellings in good condition. Dwellings 51+ years must carry the Basic Replacement Cost endorsement; woodstove and other solid‑fuel heat must meet detailed installation and clearance standards. Home‑based operations may be acceptable under a HomeWork endorsement if they meet strict criteria (e.g., small in‑home daycare with licensing, no pools or trampolines, no dogs/exotic animals, no non‑family employees).([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Boat: Standard, seaworthy, commercially manufactured pleasure craft used for personal, non‑commercial purposes, written only as a segment in a package. Certain smaller boats receive automatic liability coverage via the Home or Dwelling Fire segment subject to length and horsepower limits in the manual.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Scheduled personal property: Jewelry, fine arts, furs, silverware, cameras, stamps, coins, musical instruments, golfer’s equipment, etc. are eligible within stated aggregate and item limits; higher limits are available but must be submitted non‑bound.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) RESTRICTED / DECLINED CLASSES - General prior‑carrier/Encompass history: Risks cancelled, declined or non‑renewed for underwriting reasons by Encompass or other insurers within the prior 3 years are generally ineligible unless all reasons have been rectified or mitigated.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Auto: Ineligible for preferred tiers if drivers lack 5+ years’ experience, have foreign licenses (beyond a short grace period when part of a package), have chargeable accidents or violations, or have coverage lapses in last 3 years. Certain high‑symbol vehicles (e.g., symbol 27+) may be ineligible for physical damage.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Homeowners / dwelling fire: - Earthquake coverage is not available for new business or by endorsement (per this NJ manual) – do not offer EQ.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Older dwellings: Those 51+ years require the Basic Replacement Cost endorsement; dwellings with unacceptable heating (non‑compliant woodstoves), unsafe chimneys, or other structural/fire hazards are ineligible. - HomeWork / in‑home daycare and similar risks are ineligible if: unlicensed, have any non‑family employees, have a pool or trampoline, have any dogs or exotic animals, or administer prescription medications to children other than insured’s own.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Boat / watercraft (explicitly ineligible exposures, cannot be written): non‑seaworthy craft; non‑commercially manufactured (kit or homemade) boats; craft under construction; hydroplanes and strictly one‑man motorized craft; houseboats used as permanent residences; submarines; motor‑driven surfboats, water cycles or experimental craft; surplus military or naval craft; airboats; inflatable boats; ice boats; amphibious land/water craft; air‑propelled marsh boats; and new personal watercraft exposures (Jet Skis, Waverunners, Seadoos, etc.).([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Miscellaneous vehicles: Underwriting section restricts eligibility by type (ATVs, dune buggies, motorcycles, trailers), with additional internal rules on use, age, and physical damage availability; certain high‑hazard uses or configurations are ineligible. GEOGRAPHIC NOTES - The referenced manual is specific to New Jersey and includes state‑specific items (e.g., no earthquake coverage; NJ‑specific forms). Rating territories, coastal rules, and catastrophe management are not fully detailed in the excerpt and must be confirmed in current, state‑specific manuals or with underwriting. SUBMISSION & DOCUMENTATION EXPECTATIONS - Package orientation: New segments added to an existing policy are underwritten as new exposures and must meet all binding standards in the applicable segment section.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Trailing documents: Agents must maintain copies of all required trailing documents, whether or not selected for audit. A current list is maintained on the Encompass Agency Desktop at the internal trailing documents URL.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Non‑bound submissions: - Any scheduled personal property class that exceeds specified aggregate or item limits (e.g., jewelry, fine arts, furs, silverware over stated thresholds) must be submitted to the company non‑bound for approval.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Certain dwelling fire situations (dwellings under construction or major renovation with 25%+ value increase) and special heating installations require underwriter review; manual directs agents back to Home section criteria. - Boat: Boat segment can only be added on a package. Ineligible craft and exposures listed in the manual must not be bound; any borderline or higher‑hazard exposures must go to underwriting for prior approval. BROKER / PRODUCER OPERATIONAL NOTES - Distribution: Encompass personal lines products are distributed through appointed independent agents; producer procedures reference an internal Agency Desktop and for‑agents area of the Encompass website for current trailing‑document lists and other references.([adb4.superioraccess.com](https://adb4.superioraccess.com/KB/Private/Guidelines/Personal/Home/Encompass/NJ%20-%20USP%20-%20PLAUTO%20-%20PLHOME.pdf)) - Binding authority: Agents are expected to follow the USP portfolio underwriting rules and may not bind risks that fall into listed ineligible classes (e.g., disallowed watercraft types, prohibited home‑based business characteristics, disallowed earthquake coverage in NJ). Exceptions must be documented and routed to an underwriter. - Package emphasis: Producers are strongly steered toward packaging home, auto, boat, and other segments together. Some coverages (boat, select misc vehicles) are explicitly restricted to package placement, and preferred tiers in auto are often contingent on package status and clean prior history. Practical handling notes for home and boat/watercraft: - Target for home: newer or well‑maintained owner‑occupied dwellings, compliant heating systems, no major prior losses, and no high‑risk home‑based business exposures. Avoid risks with non‑compliant solid‑fuel heat, significant unresolved hazards, or disqualifying daycare/home‑business characteristics. - Target for boat: standard, well‑maintained personal‑use boats written as part of a property/auto package, excluding PWCs and any of the listed ineligible craft types. Do not attempt to place commercial, experimental, surplus military, air‑propelled, or non‑manufactured boats with Encompass. - Always verify: Because the manual is dated and state‑specific, confirm current appetite, coastal/cat rules, and any moratoriums with the Encompass portal or underwriting before quoting or binding.