When you sign up for an auto insurance policy, an insurance declaration page will be included in your paperwork. But what is an insurance declaration page? It’s typically the first page of your policy and highlights important points about your coverage. It’s sometimes referred to as “dec” and can come in handy when you need to refer to your policy. Read on to learn how to read a declaration page and what it includes and what it doesn’t.
How to read your insurance declaration page
Your insurance declaration page includes important information about your auto insurance policy. To read your declaration page, here is the typically included information.
1. Drivers covered by the auto insurance policy
Your declarations page lists the driver(s) covered by the policy. That should include you and anyone else who drives your car.
2. The car insurance policy period
When you sign up for a car insurance policy, there are effective dates that outline the term of your coverage. Typically, this is six months to one year. You can see when your auto coverage starts and ends on the declarations page, so you know when you need to renew your policy.
3. Your car insurance premium
When you sign up for an auto insurance policy, you typically need to pay a monthly car insurance premium or pay it every six months. In this part of the declarations page, you’ll see what is included in the premium as well as the overall total.
4. The vehicles covered by your car insurance policy
Your insurance declarations page also lists out the vehicles covered under your auto insurance policy. In this section, you’ll see the VIN, make, model as well as year for the vehicle that is covered.
5. The type of auto coverage you have
You typically need a minimum amount of auto coverage in each state. On the declarations page, the type of auto coverage you have will be outlined. Make sure you have the right car insurance coverage for your particular needs and budget. For example, Metromile offers the following types of auto insurance coverage, as well as any other state-mandated optional coverage(s):
6. Any loss payees
If you’ve taken on car financing and secured an auto loan for your car, the lender is typically listed as the loss payee on the declarations page. In this section, the loss payee is outlined, such as a bank — and includes relevant information such as address and contact info.
7. Your car insurance deductible
Also included on your insurance declaration page is your car insurance deductible. Your deductible refers to how much you pay out of pocket when you file a claim before your insurance kicks in. Your deductible amount can vary based on your coverage.
8. Your coverage limits
Your auto insurance coverage limits are also broken down on your declarations page, so you know the maximum amount that is part of your policy. Depending on the type of coverage you have, you might see the maximum amount your insurer will cover in case of bodily injury or car damage.
9. Any discounts you qualify for
Your car insurance provider may offer some discounts for things like security and safety features (such as anti-theft devices) or for being a “good driver.” Any discounts you’ll qualify for will also be listed on the declaration page.
What your insurance declaration page doesn’t cover
Your insurance declaration page is designed to be easy to read and accessible so you can see the most important parts of your coverage. This page can include what’s part of your policy but may not outline what’s not covered and may not provide further definitions of the terms listed. If you have questions, you can contact your insurance provider directly or look at the rest of your insurance paperwork.
When to use your insurance declaration page
Your insurance declaration page can come in handy in a number of cases. For example, if you want to review the details of your policy, you can do so easily on the declaration page. If you’re on the lookout for a new vehicle, you typically need to show proof of insurance. In that case, your insurance provider may send the dealer your declarations page as a way to confirm that you’re insured and actively covered.
The bottom line
Your insurance declaration page is a nifty outline of your auto insurance coverage that can come in handy in a variety of situations. It’s also useful to reference if you’re searching for new auto coverage. It outlines all the essential terms and rates, so you can make an informed decision when looking at new quotes. If you’re a low-mileage driver, pay-per-mile car insurance is likely your best bet.
You pay for gas by the gallon, why not pay for auto coverage based on the miles you actually drive? Using Metromile, you get a low base rate and only pay several cents per mile. Get your free quote for comparison shopping today.
Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.
Your car insurance declaration page provides an easy-to-read summary of your policy, including your coverages, limits and deductibles. Often just called a dec (pronounced “deck”) page, this is a valuable document to review and keep in a handy location. Here are the key things to know about your car insurance declaration page.
What is a car insurance declaration page?
Every insurance policy comes with a declaration page, which summarizes your coverage, as well as the people and property covered by the policy. For car insurance, this is usually a two- to five-page overview showing the limits and deductibles for your coverages and the costs of each.
If you’ve added any endorsements, such as glass or towing coverage, these will also be listed among the declarations, as will any policy discounts. The dec page also lists covered and excluded drivers, information about your vehicle(s), your address and other key policy details.
How do I get my car insurance declaration page?
Whether you receive your policy documents by mail or electronically, the declarations are among the first pages in your packet of documents. They are separate from the proof-of-insurance card, which you need to keep in your vehicle. If you have a paperless policy, you can usually find your declarations, sometimes called a policy summary, among the documents in your online insurance portal.
You don’t need to carry the declaration page in your vehicle, but you should store it in an easy-to-find place — in your home or on your computer. If you can’t find a physical or electronic copy, just contact your agent or carrier for a new one. You’ll also get a new set of declarations each time the policy renews, as well as when you make any changes to the policy.
What does an insurance declaration page look like?
Unlike the full policy, which may contain dozens of pages of legalese, the dec page is short and sweet. It offers an easy-to-read overview of your policy separated into the following sections:
- Policy number: If you ever need to file a claim or provide documentation of your insurance coverage, you’ll need to provide your policy number. The policy number is also listed on the proof-of-insurance card you keep in the vehicle.
- Policy dates: These are the dates that the policy is in force. Most dec pages specify that the policy begins and ends at 12:01 a.m. on the listed dates.
- Insurance company information: This includes the name and address of the insurance company, as well as contact information for your agent. However, if you need to file a claim, it’s best to use the toll-free claims number shown on your proof-of-insurance card or on the insurance company’s website.
- Drivers: Your dec page will show the name and address of the policyholder(s), as well as the drivers, or vehicle operators.
- Vehicles: The year, make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN) of each vehicle. The dec page will usually also list any lienholders, as well as the garaging address for any vehicles kept at a different location than your home.
- Coverage details: The declarations include the policy’s coverages, such as bodily injury and property damage liability, collision, comprehensive and any other coverages and endorsements you’ve purchased. It will also list the policy limits and deductibles for each one.
- Rates: In the process of itemizing your coverages and endorsements, the declarations show the rates for each, as well as the total policy rate.
- Discounts: Most insurance companies itemize the discounts you’ve qualified to receive on the dec page or on a supplemental page that follows the declarations.
When should I check my declarations?
You’ll want to keep your dec page handy or know where to find it online for many reasons. Here are the most important times and reasons to check your declarations:
At the start of each policy period
Make sure the information shown in the declarations about you, your vehicles, the drivers on the policy and your coverage is accurate. Contact your agent or carrier to correct anything that is not.
Most of the information contained in the declarations affects your rate in one way or another. Plus, if you ever have to file a claim, inaccurate information about you or your policy details could slow down the process or reduce your settlement.
While the policy is in effect
If you have questions about your coverage, policy limits or deductibles, the dec page is a good place to start. It’s a convenient reference tool, and you can always contact your agent or the carrier if you have questions or want to make changes.
When you’re shopping for car insurance
The easiest way to compare car insurance rates is to share your dec page with a licensed agent from another company. It contains most of the information needed to provide an accurate quote, though you’ll probably still need to provide a few additional details.
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