Combined Single Limit (CSL)

Overview

A Combined Single Limit (CSL) is a policy limit structure that provides a single maximum payout for all damages arising from one occurrence, combining bodily injury and property damage into one figure. This contrasts with split limits, where separate caps apply to bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage. CSL is the standard limit structure for commercial auto liability and is increasingly preferred in commercial contracts for its simplicity and flexibility.

How It Works

Under a CSL structure, the full limit amount is available to pay any combination of bodily injury and property damage claims from a single accident. There are no sublimits restricting how much can be paid for any one category of damage.

For example, with a $1,000,000 CSL:

• If an accident causes $800,000 in bodily injury to one person and $200,000 in property damage, the full $1,000,000 is available.
• If an accident causes $900,000 in bodily injury to multiple people and $100,000 in property damage, the full $1,000,000 is available.
• If an accident causes $1,000,000 in bodily injury to a single person and no property damage, the full $1,000,000 is available for that one person.

This flexibility is the key advantage over split limits. With split limits of $500,000/$1,000,000/$250,000 (per person BI/per accident BI/PD), the maximum for a single person's bodily injury is capped at $500,000 and property damage is capped at $250,000, regardless of the total per-accident limit.

CSL policies may also include:

• Per-accident CSL: Applies one limit per accident (most common for commercial auto)
• Aggregate CSL: Applies a total limit for all accidents in a policy period (less common)

Compliance Relevance

CSL is the dominant limit structure in commercial auto requirements and is straightforward to verify on certificates:

• ACORD 25 placement: The CSL amount appears in the Automobile Liability section under "Combined Single Limit (Ea accident)."
• Standard requirements: $1,000,000 CSL is the most common contractual minimum for commercial auto. High-risk operations (heavy equipment, hazmat transport) may require $2,000,000 or higher.
• Split limit conversion: If a vendor carries split limits instead of CSL, the compliance team must evaluate whether the split limits provide equivalent coverage. Generally, the per-accident bodily injury limit is used for comparison, but split limits often leave gaps.
• Umbrella coordination: Commercial auto CSL serves as the underlying limit for umbrella/excess liability policies. The umbrella provides additional coverage above the CSL.

Example

A delivery vendor carries a $1,000,000 CSL commercial auto policy. Their driver causes an accident that injures three people and damages a storefront. Total damages are $600,000 in bodily injury across the three victims and $350,000 in property damage to the store. The $1,000,000 CSL covers the full $950,000 in combined damages. Under split limits of $300,000/$500,000/$100,000, the property damage alone would exceed the $100,000 PD sublimit, leaving the vendor — and potentially the hiring party — exposed.