What is a Declarations Page for Insurance?

A car insurance declarations page, or “dec page,” is a summary of your auto insurance policy, including your coverage and premiums.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Edited by Sarah Gray
A declarations page is a summary sheet for your
car insurance
policy that contains essential information about you, your vehicle, and your policy. 
Policy details from your declarations page can help you file a claim, evaluate your coverage needs, or lower your insurance premiums.

What's on a car insurance declarations page?

A car or homeowners insurance declarations page is the first page of your insurance policy and contains basic information about your coverage. When you purchase a policy or make changes to an existing one, your insurance carrier will send a new declarations page along with the rest of your policy documents. 
For an auto insurance policy, your dec page should cover all of the following: 
  • Information about your policy:
    Policy number
    , effective dates of coverage, agent’s name and contact information (if applicable) 
  • Who it covers: Name of the policyholder (or named insured) and other drivers covered under the policy
  • What it covers: Information for all vehicles covered by the policy, including vehicle identification number (VIN), make, and model 
  • How much it covers:
    Coverage types
    and limits
  • What you have to pay:
    Deductibles
    and premiums
It’s meant to function as a cover sheet—a quick reference point for key information you might need, such as your deductible amount, your coverage limits, or your agent’s name and phone number. 

How to read your car insurance declarations page

At the top of your declarations page, you’ll likely see your policy number and effective dates of your policy—that is, the start and expiration date of your policy period.
Infographic explaining what you’ll find on an insurance declarations page. Your declarations page is a summary of your car insurance policy and includes the following information: Insurance company name, policy number, policyholder name and address, policy period and effective dates, driver or drivers listed, drivers excluded (if applicable), insurance agent name and contact information, coverage, coverage limits, deductible, and premium, vehicle or vehicles listed (including make, model, VIN, annual mileage), discounts, endorsements, lienholder info (if applicable).
As you scroll down, you’ll see the rest of the details listed above. You can expect to find the following:
  • Your insurance company’s name: You’ll also see contact details for your insurance agent or for the company’s customer service line. 
  • Lienholder information: If your car is financed or leased, the information of the lender will be included on your dec page as a loss payee. 
  • Endorsements and exclusions: In addition to your policy’s limits and types of coverage, the policy declarations page will list any excluded perils or coverage add-ons that apply. 
  • Discounts: If you have a discount on your policy—such as for bundling your auto coverage with a home insurance or renters insurance policy—it will show up on your dec page. 

How to get a copy of your insurance declarations page

Your car insurance declarations page should be available along with the rest of your policy once you purchase car insurance or adjust your coverage. It’s typically attached to the front of the policy.
If you don’t have a copy of your auto insurance declaration page, you can request one by calling your insurance company. You can also access it through your insurer’s website or app. 

Is a declarations page proof of insurance?

Don’t rely on your declarations page as proof of insurance, especially if you’re pulled over by law enforcement. Your car insurance card, which comes along with your declarations page when you purchase a new policy, is the best form of proof of insurance—always keep a copy in your car’s glove compartment! 
A car insurance declarations page can be an acceptable
proof of insurance
when you’re purchasing a vehicle. Most often, your insurance company will send the declaration page to the dealership or lender to confirm that you have coverage, though you may sometimes have to do this yourself.
Other acceptable types of proof of car insurance include:
  • A physical or digital insurance ID card
  • A proof-of-coverage letter from your insurance company
  • An
    SR-22
    or FR-44 filing, which proves that a high-risk driver has the required amount of car insurance coverage in their state

FAQs

What is the declaration page on an insurance policy? 

The declarations page on your car, renters, or homeowners insurance policy is a summary of your policy information, from your insurance provider’s name and contact information to your coverage amounts, deductibles, and premiums. 

How can I obtain a copy of my auto insurance declaration page? 

To obtain a copy of your car insurance declarations page, request one from your insurance company through a customer service line. In some cases, you can access a copy of your policy online or via a mobile app.  

What are the parts of a declaration page? 

The five basic parts of a car insurance declarations page are 1) policy information, 2) names of the named insured and additional insureds, 3) vehicle information, 4) coverage types, limits, endorsements, and exclusions, and 5) premiums, discounts, and deductibles. 

Is an insurance declaration page the same as a binder?

No, an insurance declarations page isn’t the same thing as a binder. While both documents contain basic policy information, a binder is a temporary insurance policy that drops out of effect within 30 to 90 days, while a declarations page remains valid throughout your policy term. 

What is a car insurance premium?

A car insurance premium is the monthly, semi-annual, or annual payment you make to a car insurance company in exchange for coverage. Your premium is part of the car insurance contract you sign to activate your coverage, and it’s listed on your dec page.

Meet our experts:

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R.E. Fulton
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Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer
R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views.
As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.
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Sarah Gray
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Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Writer and Editor
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car.
Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.

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