You are reading this because that name is on your policy and you have never heard of it.
What Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company is, why your policy is on it rather than on an admitted carrier, and what surplus lines changes for you — from an agency with 38 policies on this paper.
Tell us the situation.
One licensed human replies the same business day — not five agents, not an auto-responder. If the policy you have is already the right one, we will tell you.
We use this to quote and service your insurance, and we do not sell it or pass it to lead networks. Privacy policy.
What we place on Mesa paper.
Tobacco and vape retail
Half of what we place here. Tobacco stores are a class most standard markets decline outright.
Without it — A retailer nobody will quote is the definition of what surplus lines exists for.
Auto repair and service
General repair shops and oil change operations, including garage liability.
Without it — Customer vehicles in your care are excluded by general liability and need the garage form.
Property and liability packaged
Property written with the liability rather than separately, which is how most of these arrive.
Without it — Two policies from two markets is two renewal dates and an argument about which one responds.
Garage and dealers
Dealer and garage operations, which is a named line rather than an endorsement here.
Without it — Garage exposure is its own form and a standard package does not contain it.
What people ask us about Mesa Underwriters.
What is Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company?
An excess and surplus lines insurer, owned by Selective Insurance Group. If that name is on your declarations page it means your business was written outside the admitted market — which is not a downgrade, it is how classes that standard carriers decline get covered at all.
What does surplus lines change for me?
Three things worth knowing: the form is not filed with the state so the wording varies more, there is usually a surplus lines tax and stamping fee on top of the premium, and the state guaranty fund does not stand behind it. In exchange you get cover for a class nobody admitted will write.
What do you actually place on it?
Tobacco and vape retail more than anything else — 19 of our 38 Mesa policies — then auto repair shops, oil change operations and home health, mostly as packaged property and liability.
Why go through a broker instead of buying direct?
Because it does not cost you anything, which is the part that surprises people. Broker compensation is built into the carrier’s rate whether you use one or not — buying direct does not remove the cost, it removes the person being paid to be on your side of it.
Commercial insurance is 96% of what we do — it is not a department here, it is the whole business. Not ready to talk? The guides answer the questions this page raises in more depth. Already insured with us and need a certificate or a policy change? Ask the service team rather than starting a quote — it is faster and it goes to the people whose job it is. We also write home and auto, which is usually cheaper alongside the business policy than apart from it.