Surplus Insurance Lines
Hard-to-Place & Surplus Lines Coverage
Been declined or non-renewed by your carrier? We access non-admitted and surplus lines markets to find coverage for risks that standard insurers won't write.
What Is Surplus Lines Insurance?
Surplus lines (also called non-admitted or excess & surplus lines) insurance is coverage placed with carriers that are not licensed in California as admitted insurers. These markets are authorized to write risks that admitted carriers decline — typically because the risk is too unusual, too hazardous, or has a claims history that standard markets won't accept.
Surplus lines carriers are regulated differently than admitted carriers — they are not backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) in the event of insolvency, and their policies are subject to surplus lines taxes and fees. A licensed surplus lines broker like AJS Insurance Services is required to place this coverage on your behalf.
When do you need surplus lines?
When you've been declined or non-renewed by admitted carriers, when your property is in a wildfire or high-risk zone, when your business has unusual operations or prior claims, or when you need higher limits than standard markets will provide.
Is surplus lines coverage legitimate?
Yes. Surplus lines carriers are authorized by the California Department of Insurance to write non-admitted business. They are financially rated by AM Best and other agencies. The coverage is real — it simply comes with different regulatory protections than admitted policies.
What We Place
Surplus Lines Coverage Types
If a standard carrier has declined or non-renewed your coverage, one of these markets may be the right solution.
High-Value & Unique Properties
Historic buildings, mixed-use properties, vacant structures, and homes with unusual construction or high replacement values often fall outside standard carrier appetites. Surplus lines markets can provide the coverage standard insurers won't.
- Historic & landmark buildings
- Vacant or unoccupied properties
- High-value custom homes
- Mixed-use & non-standard construction
- Agreed value options available
High-Risk Locations
Properties in wildfire zones, flood plains, coastal areas, or other high-catastrophe regions are increasingly being non-renewed by admitted carriers. Surplus lines markets fill that gap.
- Wildfire & brush zone properties
- Coastal & wind-exposed locations
- Flood-prone areas
- California FAIR Plan alternatives
- Earthquake-prone regions
Hard-to-Place Liability
Businesses with unusual operations, prior claims history, or high-risk activities may be declined by standard markets. Surplus lines carriers specialize in risks that admitted insurers won't touch.
- Prior claims or losses
- High-risk business operations
- Unusual or niche industries
- Liquor liability & entertainment
- Event & special event liability
Contractors & Environmental
Contractors with difficult work types — demolition, roofing, underground work — and businesses with environmental exposure often need surplus lines markets to secure adequate coverage.
- Demolition & wrecking contractors
- Roofing & high-risk trades
- Environmental & pollution liability
- Underground storage tanks
- Remediation contractors
Excess & Umbrella
When standard umbrella markets won't provide the limits you need — or won't sit over a non-admitted primary — surplus lines excess carriers can provide the additional layers of protection your risk requires.
- High-limit excess liability
- Non-admitted primary support
- Commercial umbrella layers
- Professional liability excess
- Directors & officers excess
Specialty & Emerging Risks
Cyber liability, cannabis businesses, short-term rentals, drones, and other emerging risks often require surplus lines markets that have developed specialized products ahead of the admitted market.
- Cyber liability & data breach
- Cannabis & hemp businesses
- Short-term rental properties
- Drone & UAV operations
- Technology & media liability
Why Choose Us
We Know the Non-Admitted Market
Placing surplus lines coverage requires knowing which markets write which risks — and having the relationships to get your submission seen. With over 20 years in the California market, we know where to go when standard carriers say no.
- Access to non-admitted and surplus lines markets across California
- Over 20 years placing hard-to-insure risks for individuals and businesses
- We know which markets write which risks — no wasted time on declines
- Transparent about surplus lines taxes, fees, and non-admitted status
- One advisor for both standard and non-standard lines
- Serving clients throughout California who've been non-renewed or declined
Been Declined or Non-Renewed?
Don't go without coverage. Call us and we'll find out which surplus lines markets can help — often faster than you'd expect. No obligation, no pressure.
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Culver City, CA
Also Looking for Standard Coverage?
We handle admitted and non-admitted lines — personal, business, and trucking.