If you drive a car or own a home in the US, you likely have an insurance policy to protect yourself and your property.

Most drivers and homeowners are legally required to buy a minimum level of insurance and for good reason. The right policy can save you from financial overwhelm if you’re involved in an accident or your home is damaged due to a natural disaster.  

But just having insurance isn’t enough. You need to understand exactly what your policy covers. That’s when an insurance declaration page will come in handy. 

Let’s take a closer look to explore exactly what an insurance declaration page is and how to use it to your benefit. 

What Is An Insurance Declarations Page?

An insurance declaration page offers a summary of your insurance policy.

You can think of it as a high-level 1 or 2 page summary of your insurance policy that pulls out the highlights.  

It’s important to keep in mind that this document doesn’t represent your full insurance contract. Since it’s a summary, it may not include specific conditions or exclusions that are detailed in full for your policy elsewhere. 

When Should I Read My Declarations Page?

An insurance policy declarations page is a useful document to keep handy, but don’t just tuck it away and ignore it. Here are 3 times when you should refer to it.

When You Get a New Policy

You should first look at the document at the very beginning of your policy period. Take the time to confirm that all of the information is accurate. If details are incorrect on this page, contact the insurance company to correct them. 

When You Have Questions About Your Policy

As you move forward, you’ll likely only need to check the insurance declarations page when you have a question about your policy. For example, you might want to confirm your deductible or coverage details. Taking a quick look at your insurance declarations page will help. 

When You’re Shopping Around for Another Policy

Finally, reading over your insurance declarations page is a good idea before you start shopping for another policy. Before you start comparing rates you want to be sure you know what your current coverage is. Then you can determine whether you want the same coverage or prefer to add to it or take some away. 

Where Do I Find My Insurance Declarations Page?

Depending on your insurance company, your insurance declarations page may be referred to as a ‘dec page.’ Typically, the document is the first page or two of your insurance policy. 

If you can’t find the original copy, that’s okay! Log in to your account on your insurance company’s website. You’ll likely be able to easily access it there.

If you are having trouble finding it online, call your insurance company. You can request a copy via mail or email. 

What’s Included in My Declarations Page?

We know reading and understanding insurance policies can get complicated. The good news is your insurance declarations page offers a streamlined view of your policy that you can easily understand. With this simple summary, you can confidently review the coverage your policy provides.

The details of what’s included in an insurance declarations page will vary based on your coverage and insurance company, but here’s an overview of what you can expect to find. 

Policy Period

The policy period indicates the date your policy became effective along with the expiration date. Your expiration date is important because knowing it can help you avoid a lapse in your insurance coverage. 

If you are purchasing an auto insurance policy, you’ll likely see a policy term of either six or twelve months. But if you are purchasing something else like a life insurance policy, the term may run for several decades. 

People On Your Policy

You’ll see the name and contact information of the policyholder, which could be you or someone else. Either way, confirm the information on the policy is accurate, including those covered by your policy if multiple people are listed.

Assets Covered

Insurance is designed to protect an asset. With that, expect to see the details about the assets covered by your policy. 

For example, let’s say you have a new auto insurance policy. You’ll likely find the details about your vehicle including the make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN). 

Coverage

The coverage details will make up the majority of your insurance declarations page. You’ll find a detailed outline of your coverage limits along with what may constitute a covered event. 

For example, let’s say you purchase a 25/50/15 car insurance policy. That means your insurer will cover up to $25,000 in injury liability per person, up to $50,000 in injury liability per accident, and up to $15,000 in property damage for each incident.  Within the insurance declarations page, you’ll see these numbers clearly stated. 

This information is critical to help you confirm that you have an appropriate amount of coverage. 

Premiums

The premium associated with an insurance policy is a key point for anyone because it’s how much you’re paying to be covered. The insurance declarations page will outline exactly what your premiums are and possibly your due dates as well.  

Deductibles

Even though you pay a premium for your insurance policy, that’s not the only out-of-pocket cost. If you file a claim, you’ll also have to pay a deductible and you want to be mindful of what your deductible is. It’s always a good idea to have your deductible amount stashed away in saving

Learn More: Review everything you need to know about auto insurance deductibles.

Discounts

If you received any discounts on your insurance policy, you’ll see the exact discounts applied to your premium. By checking over the list, you can confirm that you are receiving all of the discounts you should be. Common discounts include the multi-vehicle discount, multi-policy discount and safe driving discount.

Learn More: Check out the top car insurance discounts. 

How To Find The Right Auto Insurance 

You can’t have an insurance declarations page without finding the right insurance policy first. 

If you’re on the fence about which insurance company to choose or what coverage amount to select, start by thinking about your budget. Your budget will help you make a decision moving forward. 

Once you know your budget you can compare auto insurance rates to see which company can give you the coverage you’re seeking. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Insurance Declarations Page

What is a declarations page for insurance?

A declarations page for insurance provides a summary of your policy details. You’ll find details about your coverage length, premiums, deductibles, and coverage limits.

How do I get an insurance declarations page?

You can get an insurance declarations page by logging into your account with your insurance company. The document should be easily accessible there. If you have trouble finding the declarations page also known as dec page, contact your insurance agent. A representative should be able to send you a copy, or at the very least, point you in the right direction. 

Importantly, you’ll need to finalize the purchase of your insurance policy before you receive this document. 

Is a declarations page proof of insurance?

Most will agree that a declarations page can act as proof of insurance, but it’s easier to just carry your insurance card. Another option is to provide electronic proof of insurance which you can show from your phone.