Combined Single Limit
One pool of liability money for any mix of injuries and property damage, instead of split limits.
A combined single limit, usually shortened to CSL, is one number that covers both injuries and property damage from a single accident in any mix. A $300,000 CSL means the policy pays up to $300,000 for that crash, however the damages happen to break down.
That is the difference from split limits, where three separate ceilings each hold their own money and cannot lend to one another. A CSL has no per-person cap, so one badly injured person can draw the entire amount instead of stopping at a sub-limit.
The flexibility runs both ways. Because there is no internal division, a single large claim can consume the whole pool and leave nothing for the other people involved in the same crash. Split limits hold each claimant to a ceiling and keep room for the others; a CSL does not.
Combined single limits are standard on commercial auto policies, and umbrella policies generally work the same way, with one limit for each occurrence. On personal auto a CSL is less common, and availability varies by insurer and by state. Some states also express their minimum liability requirement as a CSL equivalent alongside the split figures.
Comparing the two formats is not a straight numbers match. A $300,000 CSL and 100/300/100 split limits both mention 300, but they behave differently depending on how many people are hurt and how the damages fall between injuries and property.
In real life
A driver with a $300,000 combined single limit causes a crash with $180,000 in injuries to one person and $40,000 in vehicle damage. The pool covers all $220,000. The same crash on 100/300/50 split limits pays $100,000 for the injury, because the per-person ceiling stops there, plus $40,000 for the cars. That is $140,000 in all, leaving $80,000 uncovered.
Common questions
What is a combined single limit on car insurance?
It is a single liability limit that covers bodily injury and property damage together for one accident, instead of dividing them into three separate ceilings. A $500,000 combined single limit pays up to $500,000 for that crash in any combination: all injuries, all property, or a mix of both. Once the pool is used up, the policy stops paying.
Is a combined single limit better than split limits?
Neither format is inherently better; they arrange the same money differently. A combined single limit lets one severely injured claimant draw the full amount, which split limits would cap at the per-person figure. Split limits reserve room across a crash by holding each claimant to a ceiling. Which arrangement suits a household is a question for a licensed producer.
How does a $300,000 combined single limit work?
The policy pays up to $300,000 in total for one accident, covering injuries and property damage in whatever proportion the claim takes. One person with $280,000 in injuries could be paid in full. So could three people with $100,000 each. Legal defense costs are typically paid in addition to the limit rather than out of it.
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Definitions describe how these terms are generally used across the U.S. market. Wording, limits and exclusions vary by insurer, policy form and state — the policy you hold is what controls. See the full Insurance Glossary.