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How can I understand the coverages on my insurance policy?

How do you read what is on your insurance policy? My mom set it up for me and I don't even know what I am looking at.

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Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“The first time flipping through an insurance policy can be very confusing! However, there are a few ways to learn about your
car insurance
.
When your policy is first issued, you may have received a large insurance packet in the mail. If not, your insurance carrier would have sent it to you via email; it is probably around 50 pages long.
The most important pages you will want to look at are the:
  • declarations page
  • ID cards
  • policy definitions
  • exclusions.
The declarations page will give you all the information on your current coverages. Every declaration page looks slightly different, but it should separate your coverage into two categories: liability and physical damage.
Liability coverage
pays for other people’s injuries and property damage and are listed as:
Physical damage limits pay for damage to your vehicle and are listed as:
Depending on what limits your mom selected and what state you live in, you might not have all of the coverages listed.
For additional information, look at the policy definition section. It will explain what each coverage is. Also, look for the policy exclusions section, which will tell you what your policy does not cover.
Another way to learn about your policy is by looking at the coverages online or speaking with your agent.
It is essential to be able to ask your agent questions comfortably. One company that excels in this is
Jerry
.
Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with over 50 different insurance companies for free! Not only can they issue a policy and get the paperwork to your right away, but you can text their agents with any questions you have and they text you right back—no long calls or waiting on hold.”
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WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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