What Is an Auto Insurance Declaration Page?

Think of your auto insurance declarations page like the laminated cheat sheet you had in school, filled with all the important vocabulary and equations. Just like condensing a textbook into a cheat sheet, a declarations page distills essential information from your often 20-plus-page insurance policy into a concise document. Usually easy to access digitally, it lets you quickly find details about your coverage, premium, important contacts and anything else you might need to file a claim or reference while shopping for quotes.

What is an auto insurance declarations page?

So what is the declarations page in car insurance? An auto insurance declarations page is an insurance document that lists the key details of your insurance policy. It summarizes everything that’s contained in your policy, including your coverage types, coverage limits and the covered drivers and vehicles.

Sometimes, you’ll hear the declarations page abbreviated as the “dec page.” It’s usually easy to find if you have questions about your policy, serving as the front page of your policy documents or in a prominent place on most websites and apps.

What does an auto declarations page contain?

Your auto insurance declarations page contains a summary of the most important aspects of your car insurance policy, including:

• Your name and vehicle information: The page includes your name and the names of anyone else covered by the policy, as well as details about any vehicles covered by the policy, such as make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN).
• Company or agency contact information: This includes the name of the insurer or agency you’ve bought coverage from and a way to get in touch if you have questions or have to file a claim.
• Lender information: If you lease your car or have an auto loan, the name and contact information of the lender should be listed in case you need to file a claim.
• Policy details: The page will list the specifics of your policy, such as your policy number, types of coverage and coverage limits, any deductibles, your renewal date and any exclusions.
• Premium: The page lists your auto insurance premium, often itemizing the specific cost of each coverage.
• Discounts: The dec page will also note any discounts that are currently applied to your policy.

When do I need my auto policy declarations page?

Everyone who has car insurance should keep a copy of their auto policy declarations page easily accessible so you can refer to it if you have an accident or other covered incident and your insurance agent isn’t available. The declarations page can help you figure out what damage is covered and what limits will apply so you can decide whether to file a claim.

It’s also useful to have your car insurance declarations page handy when it comes time to renew your policy so you can review and assess your coverage to see if you should make changes. For example, if you’ve paid off your auto loan, you’ll want to make sure that your lender is no longer listed on your policy. Or maybe you want to reduce or increase your coverage limits for your comprehensive coverage based on your vehicle’s current value. You can also use it to compare your current policy details to quotes from other insurers while shopping around for a better deal.

How do I find my declarations page?

When you purchase an auto insurance policy or make changes to an existing policy, you will receive a digital or physical copy of your declarations page. If you’re not sure where your declarations page is, don’t panic. It’s fairly easy to get a replacement. If you misplace your dec page, you may be able to download your policy documents from your insurance company’s online portal or mobile app. You could also contact your agent for a new copy.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best auto insurance company?
  

  The best car insurance company will differ for each driver based on what’s important to them. For instance, a driver who has had a DUI conviction may have more limited options and may only get reasonable rates from a handful of companies. A newly licensed teen and their parents may want a company that offers multiple discount opportunities for young or new drivers. To find the best company for you, consider what your top needs are and then select a handful of companies to request quotes from for the same coverage types and levels.

• What if the information on my declarations page is wrong?
  

  It’s unlikely your declarations page will be incorrect; although it is possible, it’s more likely that your actual policy doesn’t line up with your expectations. The best thing to do is contact your agent immediately if the information on your declarations page seems incorrect. Having the wrong information on your declarations page could lead to an insurance claim being denied. For example, if a new driver in your household isn’t listed on your declarations page and gets into an accident, the insurer might deny coverage for that driver. Since a declarations page is a reflection of your policy as a whole, it’s important to ensure it is accurate so that you have the proper coverage for your circumstances, especially as they change over time.

• Is a declarations page the same as proof of insurance?
  

  Yes, your auto insurance declarations page should serve as proof of insurance in many cases. It provides enough details to show that you and your vehicle are insured and notes things like coverage amounts and the policy’s expiration date. Check with your state’s department of insurance if you want to know exactly what your state requires for proof of insurance.

• Do I have separate declarations pages for bundled policies?
  

  Typically, when you bundle policies, you’ll get a separate declarations page for each car. If you make changes to one of your bundled policies, you’ll be issued a new declarations page for that vehicle.