Kinsale Insurance vs Markel

Verdict

Kinsale Insurance and Markel sit in the same part of the market, specialty and excess and surplus lines, but they are built differently. Markel ranked No. 15 by 2025 commercial lines direct premiums at $7.73 billion; Kinsale ranked No. 48 at $1.93 billion (NAIC data). The gap in size overstates the gap in risk Markel keeps. Its NAIC group includes the State National fronting companies, which issue policies for program partners and pass most of the risk on, so a meaningful share of Markel's premium is fronted business.

Kinsale is E&S only. Every policy is non-admitted, sold only through appointed wholesale (surplus lines) brokers, with underwriting divisions for casualty, small business, professional lines, property and more, and a stated aim of quoting within 24 hours (about four hours for small business casualty). Markel writes both admitted and non-admitted paper. Retail agents quote and bind admitted small commercial lines in mPortal, wholesale brokers use Markel Online for contract-binding E&S, and program administrators and MGAs reach it through its programs unit. Markel also writes professional, management and environmental liability, surety and niche small business packages that Kinsale does not emphasize.

On ratings, AM Best affirmed Kinsale at A (Excellent) in August 2026 and upgraded its issuer rating to "a+". Markel is also A (Excellent) from AM Best, with A+ from S&P and A2 from Moody's as of September 2026. Kinsale's 2025 combined ratio was 75.9%, against 95% for Markel Insurance, though growth is slowing at Kinsale. Price depends on class and loss history, so have your wholesaler market the risk to both.

Choose Kinsale if

• Your small or midsize account has been declined by standard carriers: a contractor with losses, a cannabis or firearms business, a security firm or a vacant building.
• You want a fast answer on a small submission; Kinsale's small business division generally quotes within four hours.
• You need small property or habitational property with deductibles of $1,000 to $10,000 on general liability.
• Your wholesaler is appointed with Kinsale and the account fits one of its divisions.
• You accept non-admitted paper as a trade-off for appetite.

Choose Markel if

• You want an admitted option for a niche small business, such as a child care center, pest control operator, janitorial firm or fitness studio.
• You need professional, management, environmental or financial institutions liability.
• You are an MGA or program administrator looking for a carrier or fronting partner.
• You need surety bonds alongside the rest of your program.
• You want both an admitted and a surplus lines path inside one group.

Key differences

Before choosing, ask whether the policy is admitted or surplus lines: surplus lines policies carry surplus lines tax and usually no state guaranty fund backing. See admitted vs non-admitted insurers: what the difference means. Check the issuing company on the quote, since Markel uses several, and review the forms and exclusions, which are not filed the way admitted forms are. Kinsale claims are reported in writing, with no business claims phone line, so ask how claims in your class are handled. Further reading: excess and surplus lines, how to judge a business insurance company and the business insurance quote comparison worksheet.