Mercury
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
Mercury operates as a multi-line personal and small commercial carrier, with homeowners and umbrella written primarily through appointed agents. Detailed public underwriting guidance is available for the California homeowners program; commercial umbrella guidance is not published publicly and is typically accessed via agent portals. HOMEOWNERS (FOCUS: CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS MANUAL) • Binding & Submission - Agents may bind only acceptable risks when every application question is fully answered, explanations provided as needed, and the application is properly signed by the insured. - Effective date cannot precede the date/time the application is completed, signed, down payment collected, and all binding requirements satisfied. Do not alter effective dates after signing. - New business must be uploaded through Mercury’s PolicyCenter system; paper or offline submissions are not acceptable for standard processing. - Applications billed direct to a mortgagee may be submitted without down payment; all others require the initial premium at binding. - For risks previously insured by Mercury, agents must contact Billing to confirm no unpaid balance or prior premium issues before binding. • Geographic & Program Notes - The referenced manual is specifically for the California Automobile Insurance Company Homeowner program (a Mercury entity) and sets eligibility/ineligibility for California homeowners business. - Company underwriting criteria must conform to state statutes and regulations; Mercury reserves the right to change guidelines and notifies agents via bulletins. - Mercury actively manages catastrophe exposure (notably wildfire and severe weather) and has promoted wildfire-hardening programs; eligibility and mitigation program availability can vary by territory and are confirmed through the local Mercury agent or underwriter. • Preferred / Target Risks (implied by eligibility rules) - Well-maintained, owner-occupied 1–4 family dwellings with acceptable updates (roof, electrical, plumbing, heating) and no serious unrepaired damage. - Properties meeting Mercury’s inspection standards, with no significant liability hazards on premises. - Risks with no adverse prior loss history and good payment history with Mercury or prior carriers. • Restricted / Ineligible Risks (high level) - Dwellings or premises conditions that fail inspection standards (significant disrepair, unrepaired damage, or safety hazards). - Situations that conflict with California or company underwriting regulations (e.g., prohibited forms of risk differentiation), or properties failing specific eligibility criteria defined in the manual (e.g., certain occupancy, construction, or loss-history profiles). - Mercury may impose moratoria or special restrictions in catastrophe-prone areas or based on claims history of the property; agents are expected to confirm real-time eligibility with underwriting. • Producer / Agent Instructions - Agents must use the current homeowners underwriting manual and follow all bulletins; all criteria and any updates are communicated through Mercury’s agent channels. - All new business is to be bound and uploaded via PolicyCenter according to manual rules; agents are not to bind outside stated eligibility. - Underwriting support phone numbers and added-value homeowners coverage guides are provided to agents via distributor/agency resource sites, with direction to consult Mercury’s Agency Community/Agent Center for contact lists, training guides, and current reference materials. PERSONAL UMBRELLA (MERCURY UMBRELLA PAGE) • Product Scope - Mercury markets a personal umbrella policy providing excess liability over underlying auto and home policies, with limits generally from $1M up to $5M in CA, TX, OK, and IL, and $1M–$2M in other umbrella-eligible states. - The umbrella is personal, not commercial; business-related liability, workers’ compensation exposures, and contractual liability are explicitly excluded. • Preferred Risks / Eligibility (operational view) - Insureds with underlying Mercury (or approved) auto and homeowners/tenant/landlord policies meeting required minimum liability limits. - Standard personal liability profiles (owner occupants, typical family exposures, and incidental landlord exposure) rather than business-heavy or professional-exposure accounts. • Major Exclusions / Declined Exposures (from consumer-facing content) - Damage to the insured’s own property is not covered (remains on primary home/auto policies). - Business-related incidents and professional liability are excluded; such exposures require separate commercial umbrella or professional liability products. - Intentional or criminal acts, contractual obligations, and workers’ compensation-type employee injury claims are not covered. • Producer / Agent Notes - Umbrella coverage availability and allowable limits vary by state; agents must confirm state-specific rules and underlying minimum limit requirements before binding. - Mercury directs customers to speak with a local agent for eligibility and policy specifics; agents are expected to review underlying coverages, ensure required limits are met, and explain standard exclusions. COMMERCIAL UMBRELLA • Public-facing materials confirm Mercury (Mercury Insurance Group) is a participating carrier for commercial umbrella lines and that its commercial umbrella liability is fully reinsured; however, detailed class appetite and underwriting rules are not posted publicly. • Operationally, appetite, target industries, minimum underlying requirements, and restricted classes are managed through Mercury’s commercial manuals and agent/producer portals; agents are instructed in third-party materials to contact Mercury underwriting directly for current guidelines, especially for specific territories (e.g., Houston or other CAT-exposed commercial markets). SUMMARY OPERATING NOTES FOR BROKERS/PRODUCERS • Use Mercury’s agent portal/PolicyCenter for all new homeowners submissions and for current commercial umbrella appetite; rely on the most recent homeowners underwriting manual and agent bulletins, as the public PDF may be superseded. • For home, prioritize well-maintained, owner-occupied dwellings with clean loss history and good property conditions; expect strict adherence to inspection findings and possible cancellation or nonrenewal if required repairs or documentation are not provided. • For umbrella, position Mercury primarily for personal umbrella over qualifying Mercury (or approved) underlying policies, and direct any true business exposures to commercial umbrella or professional liability markets per Mercury’s separate commercial guidelines. • Always verify state- and territory-specific restrictions, CAT management actions, and any current moratoria or eligibility changes directly with Mercury underwriting before binding.