Specialty Lines v Standard Lines

The specialty lines insurance market is the segment of the insurance industry where the more difficult or unusual risks are written.  These include the insurance that we write, professional liability, and other coverages such as marine and aviation.  The specialty lines market also includes hard to place accounts seeking more traditional coverages such as general or products liability.  Most, but not all, of the business placed within the specialty lines market is written on a non-admitted, or surplus lines, basis.  In addition, alternative risk mechanisms, such as captives, might be considered part of the specialty lines market. 

Standard lines are the traditional coverages and risks written by most of the large insurers.  These days most of the large standard lines insurers also have departments that write specialty lines.

Because specialty lines insureds tend to be more unusual or higher risk, much of the specialty lines market is characterized by a high degree of specialization.  More information is on our web site here.