Universal Casualty Risk Retention

What Universal Casualty Risk Retention does

Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group, Inc. is a federally chartered Risk Retention Group (RRG) formed in 2017 under the Federal Risk Retention Act and domiciled in Oklahoma, writing commercial liability insurance for the automotive service industry. The company serves three primary customer segments — auto dealers (new and used, franchised and independent), auto servicers (collision/repair shops, muffler, tire, transmission, glass, and truck repair), and auto haulers (long- and short-haul fleets of 1–10 units) — across seven states (California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and one additional state). Its product portfolio spans Commercial General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability, Non-owned and Contingent Auto Liability, Garage Keepers' Legal Liability, Dealer Open Lot Liability, Dealers and Mechanics Errors & Omissions, Motor Truck Cargo, Physical Damage, Truckers' General Liability, Collateral Protection Insurance, and a Cyber Liability add-on.

Revenue is generated from insurance premiums on a captive-association model: policyholders are required to join the associated risk pool (membership bundled into the premium), with rates, deductibles, and coverages individually tailored and benchmarked against each member's loss-control performance. Distribution runs exclusively through Managing General Agent (MGA) Inter Insurance Agency for quoting, supplemented by referral partnerships with the New York Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NYIADA) and the Auto Haulers Association of America (AHAA). Underwriting and claims are staffed by specialists averaging more than 20 years of experience in commercial auto, garage, and dealership lines, supported by a bundled Loss Control Program (safety manuals, OSHA reviews, fleet guidelines, pre-inspections) and a third-party-administered claims review. The operational technology stack is limited to an insurance management platform integrated with the MGA, plus a telematics partnership with Source Insurance for auto-hauler fleet monitoring; no proprietary AI or data-science capability is disclosed.

Leadership is headed by CEO Timothy Derham, who in April 2026 announced a doubling of surplus to $15.5 million and a 553% Risk-Based Capital ratio under a conservative underwriting strategy. The company most recently secured authorization to report under GAAP and sponsored RISE Professionals (March 2026). Ownership is structured as a private captive association with no external parent, institutional, or venture capital indicated, and the company is not pursuing an IPO.

Name

Universal Casualty Risk Retention

Legal name

Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group, Inc.

Website

https://universalcasualty.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group is a federally chartered Risk Retention Group, founded in 2017 and domiciled in Oklahoma, that writes tailored commercial liability insurance for auto dealers, auto servicers, and auto haulers across seven U.S. states through MGA Inter Insurance Agency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Auto and Garage Liability Insurance

NAICS

Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Garage Liability & Dealers (Auto Dealers, Repair Shops) (FSAJABAF)

Keywords

• Commercial auto insurance
• Risk retention group
• Auto dealer coverage
• Garage liability insurance
• Auto hauler insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Jericho

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premium Revenue: As a Risk Retention Group, policyholders must join the association (included in policy premium) to qualify for coverage. Revenue generated from insurance premiums for commercial general liability, commercial auto liability, and other lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group is a federally chartered Risk Retention Group underwriting liability and specialty insurance products for auto dealers, auto servicers, and auto haulers in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. It offers commercial general liability, commercial auto liability, garage keepers' legal liability, errors and omissions coverages for mechanics and dealers, motor truck cargo, physical damage, truckers' general liability, and related lines. Membership in its captive association is bundled into the policy premium, and a free loss control program and internal claims handling are included.

Product overview

Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group operates as a federally chartered risk retention group offering a unified portfolio of commercial insurance products tailored specifically for the auto service industry. The product lineup centers on liability coverages including Commercial General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability, Non-owned and Contingent Auto Liability, and specialized E&O products for mechanics and dealers. The Garage Keepers' Legal Liability and Dealer Open Lot products address physical damage risks for vehicles in the insured's care. Supporting services include a bundled Loss Control Program providing OSHA compliance reviews, safety manuals, and fleet guidelines, plus internal claims handling with third-party TPA support. All products are distributed through MGA partner Inter Insurance Agency and targeted at auto dealers, auto servicers, and auto haulers operating in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial General Liability Insurance coverage protecting businesses against third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury arising from business operations; targeted at auto dealers, auto servicers, and auto haulers.
• Commercial Auto Liability Coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability arising from the operation of covered autos, designed for auto dealers, servicers, and auto haulers.
• Non-owned Auto Liability Liability coverage for vehicles not owned by the insured but used in connection with business operations.
• Contingent Auto Liability Coverage protecting auto dealers when vehicles they sell or service are involved in accidents while not under the dealership's direct ownership or control.
• Mechanics Errors and Omissions Professional liability coverage for auto repair shops and mechanics protecting against claims arising from negligent performance of repair or service work.
• Dealers Errors and Omissions E&O coverage specifically designed for auto dealerships protecting against claims related to sales transactions, financing, and vehicle condition disclosures.
• Garage Keepers' Legal Liability Coverage for damage to vehicles in the insured's care, custody, or control at the garage or service facility premises.
• Dealer Open Lot Liability Liability coverage for vehicles stored on dealer lots, protecting against claims for damage to customer vehicles on the premises.
• Collateral Protection Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• Surplus doubled to $15.5 million while achieving 553% RBC ratio

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RISE ProfessionalsminorOthers · 20 March 2026Universal Casualty sponsors RISE Professionals, an initiative focused on investing in the future of the insurance industry.
• Inter Insurance AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York-based MGA (Managing General Agent) that handles all quoting operations for Universal Casualty. This is the primary distribution channel for obtaining insurance quotes from UCRRG.
• New York Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NYIADA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership with NYIADA to drive member acquisition for auto dealers. NYIADA logo displayed on UCRRG website indicating formal partnership relationship.
• Auto Haulers Association of America (AHAA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership with AHAA to drive member acquisition for auto haulers. AHAA logo displayed on UCRRG website indicating formal partnership relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Markel Group: Specialty insurer with a deeply established auto dealer and garage program practice. Closely comparable in vertical specialization, niche-class appetite, and specialist underwriting talent — Markel represents the scaled archetype of the niche UCRRG occupies.
• Philadelphia Insurance Companies: A Tokio Marine HCC company that writes specialty commercial lines including garage, dealer, and service-related classes. Comparable as a specialty commercial carrier targeting niche classes with tailored underwriting.
• Next Insurance: Digital-native small commercial insurer focused on the same SMB auto-services buyer persona. Comparable target customer (auto dealers, repair shops, small fleet haulers) and appetite for tailored, class-specific coverages.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty Mutual Insurance: Large national commercial lines carrier with an established commercial auto and garage practice. Provides overlapping coverage for auto dealers and servicers though as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Travelers: Major commercial P&C insurer writing commercial auto and small commercial accounts including garage/dealer classes. Comparable as a broad-line competitor that UCRRG undercuts on specialization.
• Chubb: Large commercial carrier with specialty commercial auto and small-business programs. Overlaps UCRRG's garage/dealer and commercial auto liability appetite through its middle-market and small commercial practices.
• The Hartford: Dominant small commercial insurer with strong commercial auto and business owner policy offerings. Comparable buyer demographic and SMB underwriting approach.
• Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance: Specialty arm within Berkshire that writes commercial liability and auto. Comparable in appetite for specialist commercial risks, with materially greater capital backing.
• Auto-Owners Insurance: Mid-sized regional mutual insurer with strong commercial lines presence including commercial auto and garage-type risks. Comparable commercial auto/class appetite in its licensed states.
• CNA Financial: Large commercial P&C carrier with specialty commercial auto and garage practice. Comparable appetite for commercial auto and small-business specialty risks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universalcasualty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universal Casualty Risk Retention