Short answer
Cyber quote fine print can change what a policy costs and what it expects from your firm. Three items surprise clients most often: the retention, the taxes on non-admitted carriers and conditions in footnotes. In quotes we ran in 2026, retentions, taxes and conditions all varied from option to option. Read all three before you bind.
What retentions did cyber quotes carry?
The retention is the amount your firm pays before the policy responds, similar to a deductible. Across the 152 options we quoted in 2026, the retentions were:
- $5,000 in 113 options, or 74%
- $1,000 in 21 options, or 14%
- $2,500 in 17 options, or 11%
- $10,000 in one option
One client chose a $1K-retention option at about $1,000 over a cheaper $5K-retention option, “since the deductible is significantly lower.” That can make sense when a $5,000 payment would strain the firm. A firm with more cash on hand may prefer the lower premium.
How do taxes change cyber quote fine print totals?
Of the 152 options, 105 came from admitted carriers and 47 from non-admitted carriers. Admitted carriers file their forms and rates with the state. Non-admitted carriers, also called surplus lines, generally add surplus lines taxes and fees.
In quotes we ran, those taxes and fees came to roughly $180 to $760. One example was $758.75 on a $4,961 premium. Taxes vary by state, so compare totals instead of base premiums.
What conditions hide in cyber quote fine print?
Subjectivities and footnotes can carry requirements that never appear on the first page. In one quote we ran, a carrier required its security software on every laptop, desktop and server. The condition appeared only in a footnote.
Before you bind, ask: “Is there anything I have to install or do?” Our guide to how to read a proposal shows where these items tend to appear.
What else should you check in cyber quote fine print?
Look at the waiting period for business interruption. It was 8 hours in every option we quoted but one, which had 6 hours.
Also look at the included services. Some quotes include a cyber risk report or other services from a provider. Ask who provides them and whether you would actually use them. Our guide to comparing cyber liability quotes covers admitted status, included services and the waiting period.
Example: two quotes, two surprises
Consider a hypothetical firm comparing two $1M quotes. The first has a $5K retention and a lower premium. The second has a $1K retention and costs about $1,000.
The firm then finds that the cheaper quote is non-admitted and adds taxes, and a footnote asks for software on every device. The totals are closer than they looked, and the cheaper quote asks more of the firm. Neither choice is wrong, but the firm now decides with all the facts.
Related questions
What is a normal cyber insurance retention?
In quotes we ran in 2026, $5,000 was the most common, at 74% of options. Your options will depend on your firm and the carrier.
Why do some cyber quotes include extra taxes?
Non-admitted carriers generally add surplus lines taxes and fees. In our quotes these were roughly $180 to $760, and they vary by state.
Is a lower cyber retention worth paying more for?
It can be when a $5,000 payment would strain your firm. Compare the premium difference to the retention savings.
How do I find conditions in a cyber quote?
Read the subjectivities and footnotes, and ask your broker if anything has to be installed or completed before or after binding.