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A declaration page is going to be your go-to document for understanding your policy at a high level. While carriers may format their declaration pages differently, these pages should all have the following information across the board:

• Insurance carrier information: This includes the carrier’s address and their service phone number. It may also include your agent’s contact information if you worked with an agent to get your policy.
• Policy information: Your policy number and the dates your policy is active.
• Personal information: Your name, phone number, and address are the basics. For home insurance declarations pages, you’ll find the mortgage lender listed here. For auto insurance policies, this is where you’ll find other insured drivers and any lienholders/loan providers.
• Coverage information: What your policy covers, from standard coverage to optional endorsements. You’ll also find your coverage limits, deductible selections, and discounts (if any are active or applicable).
• Premium: This is the total cost of your insurance premium. The dec page should also break down this amount by how much each individual coverage item costs.

Reviewing your declarations page

Once you receive your declarations page, it’s important to review it immediately. This is so you can make sure that your policy accurately reflects the options you selected (either by yourself or with an agent) when you were building your policy.

When reviewing your declarations page, make sure that the following is accurate:

• Personal information

  • For auto policies this could be making sure additional drivers are added
• Coverage limits

  • For home insurance, this could be the difference between your policy covering actual cash value or replacement costs
• Additional endorsements

  • Whether or not you selected something outside of standard or required coverage

If you notice any errors, fixing them should be easy, but do it immediately rather than later. Reach out to the carrier or the agent you worked with to notify them of the errors. They should work with you to correct the information.

What’s not included in a declarations page?

Because a declarations page is just a high-level summary of your policy, it won’t list things that your policy doesn’t cover.

Here’s what your declarations page may not include:

• Exclusions: Your declarations page won’t include losses that require additional coverage, or anything that’s not considered “standard” or required coverage. It will only feature what you’ve selected.
• In-depth definitions: The language used in your declarations page is meant to be for quick reference. This means it will be simple and easy to understand when you need to look it over. It likely won’t include legal terminology or definitions of terms.
• Filing responsibilities: Steps to take when you need to file a claim will not appear on your declarations page.

When your declarations page matters

Understanding your insurance policy starts with your declarations page. Building a habit of regularly checking your declarations page can help in many different situations.

Let’s go over some scenarios of why your declarations page matters and when you’d need to review it.

You need to file a claim

While your declarations page won’t give you a step-by-step process on how to file a claim, it can help you if you’re thinking about filing a claim. By reviewing the coverage limits listed on your declarations page, you can better understand the high-level summary of your policy before deciding whether to file a claim. This can help you prepare for conversations with your carrier about your coverage if you’re ever uncertain whether a loss will be covered.

Assessing your coverage needs and rates

When renewal time comes around, it’s always a good idea to review your coverage. Because your declarations page is a snapshot of your policy, you can reference it before renewal. You’ll be able to determine if you need to add, remove, or adjust coverage based on the declarations page.

This way, if you ever need to lower your premium, you’ll know what’s already on your policy and how it influences your rates. Additionally, you’ll be able to find answers as to why your premium went up, whether due to expired discounts, annual rate changes, or limits increasing slightly due to inflation guard provisions common on property policies.

Understanding changes to your declarations page

Declarations pages can change for a variety of reasons, whether you requested updates to your policy or not. There are times when updates to your policy will happen at renewal. But there are changes that can happen based on life events, coverage adjustments, or underwriting updates.

Common scenarios where you’ll see changes:

• Moving: Especially important for home insurance, but you’ll need to update addresses when you move for other policies as well.
• Inflation adjustments: Premiums see increases at renewal to match current inflation rates.
• Claims: Your rates are typically impacted when you file a claim. When your policy renews, your declarations page would reflect the new price of your premium if you filed a claim.
• Adding or removing drivers/vehicles: For auto policies, changes to house hold drivers or insured vehicles will be reflected on your declarations page.

Makes comparisons easy

If you’re shopping around, or letting your agent shop around, you can use your declarations page to compare your current rate with a quote from a new carrier.

Proof of insurance

If you’re financing a home with a mortgage lender, insurance is a requirement. Because a declarations page is provided after a policy is purchased and shows the effective dates, it is the preferred proof of insurance by many lenders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find my declarations page?

A copy of your insurance policy will be made available after you purchase it, be it physical or electronic. However, if you cannot find your declarations page you can find it by:

• Your account through carrier’s online portal or mobile app
• Reaching out to your carrier to provide it directly
• If you worked with an agent, ask them to help acquire a copy

Do I need a new declarations page if I change my policy?

Yes. Your insurance carrier will typically provide new documentation any time you update your policy to reflect the new changes. This could be anywhere from adding or removing endorsements, to changing your coverage limits or deductible. You’ll be sent a new declarations page if you change carriers, as well.

Does a declarations page count as a certificate of insurance (COI)?

No. Declarations pages are documentation for an individual’s personal lines insurance policy. Certificates of insurance are typically associated with business transactions or a commercial insurance policy, and act as proof of insurance for a commercial policy.

Does a declarations page include exclusions?

No, declarations pages do not include exclusions. They mostly only feature a summary of the coverages on your policy.