What is Trella Insurance?

Trella Insurance is an independent insurance brokerage based in Bellevue, Washington. We serve high-asset households and real estate investors by conducting comprehensive risk reviews and designing personal lines coverage — home, auto, umbrella, and rental property.

How does an independent insurance broker differ from a captive agent?

A captive agent works for one insurance company and can only offer that company's products. An independent broker like Trella Insurance works with multiple carriers and shops the market on your behalf to find coverage that fits your actual situation — not just what one insurer sells.

What does a risk review cost?

Trella Insurance's initial risk review is complimentary. There is no charge for us to audit your current policies, identify coverage gaps or redundancies, and present our findings.

What types of insurance does Trella Insurance offer?

Trella Insurance offers personal lines insurance (home, dwelling, contents, liability, loss of use), auto insurance for daily drivers and collector vehicles, umbrella liability policies, and landlord coverage for rental properties.

What is an umbrella insurance policy and how much do I need?

An umbrella policy provides liability coverage beyond the limits of your home, auto, or commercial policies — it activates when a claim exceeds your underlying policy limit. Most high-asset households and property owners need significantly more umbrella coverage than a standard $1 million policy provides, especially if they own rental properties or operate a business.

Does Trella Insurance work with business owners?

Yes. Business owners often have more complex personal insurance needs — higher-value homes, rental properties, and greater liability exposure. Trella focuses on personal lines: home, umbrella, auto, and rental property. Commercial lines are coming soon.

What areas does Trella Insurance serve?

Trella Insurance is based in Bellevue, WA and licensed in Washington, WAOIC #1356476. We are expanding state licensing to serve clients nationally.

How does Trella Insurance get paid?

Like most independent brokers, Trella Insurance is compensated through commissions paid by the insurance carriers when a policy is placed. The initial risk review and brokerage service carry no direct fee to clients.

What is replacement cost coverage and why does it matter?

Replacement cost coverage pays to rebuild or replace your property at current construction costs, regardless of depreciation. Actual cash value coverage — common in standard policies — pays only the depreciated value, which is often far less than what it actually costs to rebuild. Many homeowners discover this gap only after a significant loss.

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Umbrella InsuranceNovember 9, 2025

Buying Umbrella Insurance for the First Time

If you've never bought umbrella insurance before, the term sounds more complicated than the product is. Here's a plain walkthrough of getting your first policy — how it works, what to check, and what to expect to pay.

What an umbrella policy actually is

A personal umbrella adds liability coverage above your existing home (or renters) and auto policies. If a covered liability claim exceeds those policies' limits, the umbrella picks up from there — protecting your assets from a large judgment. It does not cover your own property; it's purely liability protection.

The four steps

Check your underlying limits. Umbrella carriers require minimums underneath — typically $300K home liability and $250K/$500K auto. If yours are lower, raise them first.
Decide how much. The rule: at least your net worth. Most people start at $1M; equity-wealthy households often need $2M–$5M. The coverage gap calculator helps.
Get it placed. An independent broker can add an umbrella over your existing policies, or find a carrier that writes one standalone.
Confirm the coordination. Make sure the umbrella and your underlying policies line up with no gap between them.

What it costs

A first $1M umbrella typically runs $150–$300 per year, with each additional million around $75–$100. It's one of the best value-to-protection ratios in insurance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I buy umbrella insurance for the first time? Confirm your home/auto liability limits meet the umbrella's minimums, decide on a limit (at least your net worth), and have a broker place it over your existing policies. It's usually quick.

What does a first umbrella policy cost? Typically $150–$300 per year for $1M, and $75–$100 for each additional million — inexpensive relative to the protection.

Do I need to switch my home and auto to get an umbrella? Not necessarily. Many carriers will write an umbrella over your existing policies; some prefer the underlying policies be with them. An independent broker can find the right fit.

More in this series: Combining Policies When Two High Earners Marry · New Baby, New Coverage: A High-Income Family Checklist

Life changes ripple across every policy you hold; Your Advisor Said "Get Umbrella Insurance." Here's How Much. and Does Umbrella Insurance Cover Lawsuits and Legal Defense? are useful companions to this guide.

Trella Insurance is an independent brokerage in Bellevue, WA. Calculate how much umbrella you need in 30 seconds or request a free review.

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