What is the Insurance Declarations Page?
The insurance declarations page is an important part of your home or auto insurance policy. It’s also a part of understanding how your insurance works. It has most of the vital information about your policy. It tells you who’s covered and the coverages you pay a premium for.
When you buy a new insurance policy, or your current policy renews, your insurance company will send you a declarations page. Depending on how you set up your policy, you may receive it by email, electronically in an online account, or by regular mail. Heck, you can even get one faxed to you if needed.
What’s on the insurance declarations page?
The insurance policy declarations page is typically the first page of your auto or homeowners insurance policy. It’s sometimes referred to as the cover sheet (by older agents 🙂 ) or the “dec page.” Stylistically, they will look a bit different from company to company. However, the insurance declarations page will serve the same general purpose for all insurance carriers and contain the same general and specific information about the coverages you purchased for your car or home.
Let’s talk about the auto declarations page
The car insurance declarations page is a consolidated summary of important policy information. The types of data you can find on the declarations will include the policy period or term, policy number, and the underwriting company name. It will also have the names, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers of any insured, listed, or excluded drivers. Additionally, it will show the covered vehicles, and the coverages you are paying a premium for.
In many ways, the auto insurance declarations page is a quick reference guide to your auto insurance coverage.
The following are some of the important, vital items you can locate on the auto insurance declarations page:
1. Policy details:
This will include the policy term, the date coverage starts (effective date) as well as when it ends (expiration date), and your policy number. If you purchased through an insurance agent, their contact information will also be available.
2. Personal information:
The declarations page will list the names of all insured or listed drivers. As well as any excluded drivers. This includes the policyholder and any additional drivers covered under the same policy. It will likely contain names, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers.
3. The covered vehicles:
The cars you requested coverage for are listed on your declarations page. Each car is identified by its make, model, model year, and vehicle identification number (VIN).
4. The coverages:
Your auto insurance policy will consist of several different coverages. The policy declarations will display these coverages and identify which ones are policy-level (for all cars) and which ones apply only to a selected car (for a specific car).
5. The limits of liability and coverage:
When you purchased your policy you had many coverage and limits options. The declarations page will display your selected coverage limit for each coverage you purchased. In most instances, it will display if coverage has a per person and per accident limit (eg bodily injury coverage or uninsured motorist), or a single combined limit.
6. Your selected deductibles:
The declarations will also display your selected deductible amounts for comprehensive and collision coverages. Note: this will only display if you purchased these coverages.
7. The premium paid by coverage:
The declarations page will display each selected coverage, its limit and show how much premium you’re paying by coverage and vehicle. It will also display any applicable discounts being applied. The total sum of the premium, or the cost for the policy, is the sum of all of the premiums by coverages.
Can my auto insurance declarations page be used as an ID Card?
The declarations page is not to be used as an ID card or as proof of insurance when pulled over by a police officer or when involved in an accident. You will be provided an evidence of insurance card or “ID Card,” for that purpose. It’s highly advised that you always have an ID Card in your vehicle to show to law enforcement or when involved in an accident. In many states, you can now use the digital ID card provided by the insurance carrier’s online app or customer portal.
PRO TIP:
There may be cause for you to show proof of auto insurance to the Department of Motor Vehicles or your lender. This will require a certificate of insurance. This document contains information similar to a declarations page but omits specific details that third parties don’t need, such as your auto insurance premium. Your insurance agent can provide you with a certificate or evidence of insurance.
Let’s discuss the homeowner’s insurance declarations
Like your auto insurance, the homeowner’s insurance coverage information, premiums, and the subject of insurance are consolidated on the declarations page. Also, like your car insurance declarations page, the declarations are similar to a quick reference guide to your policy.
The homeowner’s policy declarations page will generally contain the following information:
1. Policy details:
The declarations will provide you with the home insurance policy number, effective date, and expiration – also called the policy term. If you purchased your policy through an insurance agent, the declarations will also provide your agent’s contact information.
2. Property and mailing addresses:
The insured property can be found on your declarations page and is identified by the address. You’ll often see a note clarifying the type of dwelling, such as a single-family home, condominium, or mobile home. It will also contain a separate mailing address if receive your mail at a different address from the insured property.
3. Identify the named insured:
The document will identify you as the named insured and list any co-applicant(s) who may be covered by your home insurance policy.
4. List any mortgage lender or additional interests:
If you have a mortgage, your lender’s information will be included. Additionally, if there are any other interests in the property, they can also be listed.
5. Identify the coverages purchased:
There are many different types of home insurance coverage, including dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, personal liability coverage, and more. Your homeowner’s declarations page will list the various coverages that make up your policy. In some cases, your coverage is identified by endorsement. The declarations will identify which endorsements apply to your policy.
6. Display the coverage amounts and limits of liability:
Just like the auto insurance declarations, your home declarations will display each coverage, the limit purchased for property coverages, and the limits of liability for your personal liability coverage. Note: the limits represent the maximum amount the insurance company will pay in the event of a covered loss.
7. The selected deductible:
The property deductibles you chose when you purchased home insurance will be stated on your declarations page. A deductible is an out-of-pocket amount you’ll pay each time you file a covered claim.
8. The premium paid by coverage:
For each coverage purchased, the corresponding premium charge is displayed. In some cases, the declarations may not display a premium, and simply indicate “included” if the coverage is provided. If you are receiving any discounts, the declarations will be the place where they are listed.
Do I need an insurance declaration page?
This is an interesting question. Your insurance carrier knows the coverages you’ve purchased and can bill you for it without a declaration page – so it’s not necessary for them. In fact, the declarations page actually exists primarily for your benefit. It provides you with a central place to review the coverages, limits, deductibles, and policy detail in one summarized document. It’s best if you have a copy in your files.
After you purchase a new home or auto insurance policy, you should review the declarations carefully to confirm all the listed information is accurate. Keep it on hand for future reference in case you have questions about your policy or want to review coverage with your insurance agent.
How do I get a copy of the declarations?
When you purchase your insurance policy, the insurance company will provide you a copy of your insurance declarations page automatically. It can be located toward the beginning of your policy documents. With most insurance companies, you will have an option for how you get your documents, so they may be emailed, sent by regular mail, or delivered to an online account or app.
The bottom line
The insurance declarations page is a useful summary of your home and auto insurance coverages and policy details. It’s created for your benefit as a way to help you easily review your coverage, the amounts paid, and the drivers, vehicles, or property insured.
It is recommended that you review your declarations periodically, with an insurance agent if you have one, to confirm you still have the right insurance protection. Things do change over time. If you’re not sure if you have the right protection, you can contact us at (877) 334-7646 for a review, or you can compare rates and coverage with an online insurance quote.
