Glossary

Combined single limit

One liability limit covering all bodily injury and property damage from a crash, instead of separate per-person, per-accident and property caps.

Also called: CSL, single limit, combined single limit liability

A combined single limit (CSL) is a way of writing liability coverage as one dollar amount, such as $300,000, that applies to all injuries and property damage you cause in one accident. The alternative, split limits, sets three separate caps, such as 100/300/100: per injured person, per accident for all injuries, and per accident for property damage.

The difference shows up when the damage is lopsided. Suppose you injure one person whose claim is $180,000 and cause $20,000 of vehicle damage. A 100/300/100 split-limit policy pays only $100,000 to that person, because of the per-person cap, plus $20,000 for the car. A $300,000 CSL pays the full $200,000. On the other hand, a CSL is one pool, so a crash with many injured people can exhaust it.

CSL is common on commercial policies and some high-limit personal policies. Some states let drivers meet the minimum with a single limit: Kentucky allows $60,000, Rhode Island $75,000, Utah $90,000 and Maine $125,000. An umbrella policy typically requires minimum underlying auto limits, which can be met either way. Use the liability limits decoder to translate your policy, and compare equivalent liability limits when shopping.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Liability limits The most a liability policy will pay for injuries and property damage you cause, usually written as three numbers such as 100/300/100. Bodily injury liability The part of auto liability insurance that pays for injuries or deaths you cause to other people in a crash, plus your legal defense. Property damage liability The part of liability coverage that pays for damage you cause to other people's cars and property, such as fences, buildings and poles. Umbrella policy Extra liability insurance, usually sold in amounts of $1 million or more, that pays after your auto or home liability limits run out. Liability coverage The part of a car insurance policy that pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others, plus your legal defense, up to your limits.

Related guides

Combined single limit vs split limits How a combined single limit differs from split liability limits like 100/300/100, with side-by-side examples and the states that accept a single limit. Minimum car insurance requirements by state Minimum liability limits for all 50 states and D.C. as of October 2026, including the 2025–2026 increases in California, New Jersey, Hawaii and others. Umbrella insurance: liability protection above your auto policy How a personal umbrella policy sits on top of your car insurance, what it covers and excludes, and the underlying limits you must keep to make it work. What 25/50/25 means: split liability limits explained How to read split liability limits like 25/50/25 or 100/300/100, with worked examples showing what each number pays and when you pay the rest.

Related tools

Liability limits decoder Type limits like 50/100/25 to see what each number means and test them against a crash you cause — including how much would be left for you to pay.