What Information Is on a Declarations Page?
While formats vary slightly by insurer, every dec page includes these essential components:
Policy number: Your unique policy identifier. You'll need this when filing claims, making payments, or contacting customer service.
Policy period: The start and end dates of your coverage period. Most auto policies run for 6 or 12 months.
Named insured(s): The policyholder(s)—usually you, or you and your spouse. The named insured owns the policy and has decision-making authority.
Mailing address: Where policy documents and bills are sent.
Insurance company name and contact information: Including phone numbers for customer service and claims.
Your insurance agent's information: Name, phone number, and sometimes email address for your assigned agent or agency.
Vehicles and Drivers Listed
Your dec page identifies everyone and everything covered by your policy:
Covered vehicles: Year, make, model, and VIN for each insured vehicle. Each vehicle may have different coverage levels.
Listed drivers: All drivers covered under the policy, including: • Primary driver for each vehicle • Additional household drivers • Occasional drivers (like teenage children) • Each driver's date of birth and license number
Excluded drivers: Any household members specifically excluded from coverage. If an excluded driver operates your vehicle, your policy won't cover damages or injuries.
Why this matters: Only vehicles and drivers listed on your dec page are covered. If you buy a new car or add a teenage driver without updating your policy, they may not be protected.
Coverage Types and Limits
This is the heart of your dec page—what's actually covered and how much:
Liability coverage: Shown as three numbers (e.g., 100/300/100): • Bodily injury per person: Maximum paid for one person's injuries in an accident you cause • Bodily injury per accident: Maximum paid for all injuries in one accident • Property damage: Maximum paid for damage to others' property
Example: 100/300/100 means $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident for injuries, and $100,000 for property damage.
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle from crashes, regardless of fault. Lists your deductible (amount you pay before insurance kicks in).
Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision damage (theft, vandalism, weather, hitting an animal). Also shows your chosen deductible.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Protects you if you're hit by someone without insurance or without enough insurance. May have separate bodily injury and property damage limits.
Personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of fault. Amount varies by state requirements and your selections.
Additional coverages: May include: • Rental car reimbursement • Roadside assistance/towing • Gap insurance • Custom equipment coverage
For detailed explanations of each coverage type, see our comprehensive guide on types of car insurance coverage.
Deductibles Explained
Your dec page lists deductibles for applicable coverages:
What is a deductible? The amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance covers the rest. If you have a $500 collision deductible and $3,000 in damage, you pay $500 and insurance pays $2,500.
Common deductible amounts: $250, $500, $1,000, or $2,000. Higher deductibles lower your premium but increase your out-of-pocket costs after an accident.
Deductibles typically apply to: • Collision coverage • Comprehensive coverage • Sometimes uninsured motorist property damage
Deductibles DON'T apply to: • Liability coverage (if you cause an accident, you don't pay a deductible) • Medical payments or PIP • Rental reimbursement or roadside assistance
You can usually choose different deductibles for collision and comprehensive. Many drivers select higher deductibles for comprehensive since comprehensive claims (like weather damage) are less frequent than collision claims.
Premium Breakdown
Your dec page shows exactly what you're paying and why:
Total premium: Your complete policy cost for the policy period (6 months or 12 months).
Premium by coverage: Cost breakdown showing how much you pay for each type of coverage: • Liability: $X • Collision: $X • Comprehensive: $X • Uninsured motorist: $X • PIP/MedPay: $X • Additional coverages: $X
Premium by vehicle: If you insure multiple cars, you'll see the cost for each vehicle individually.
Discounts applied: List of all discounts reducing your premium: • Multi-car discount • Multi-policy/bundling discount • Good driver discount • Good student discount • Safety features discount • Low mileage discount • Defensive driving course discount
Fees and surcharges: Any additional fees (installment fees if paying monthly, policy fees, state-required surcharges).
Payment schedule: Whether you're paying in full or in installments, and when payments are due.
This breakdown helps you understand exactly where your money goes and identify opportunities to adjust coverage and lower costs.
Why Your Declarations Page Is Important
Proof of insurance: Law enforcement, DMV offices, and lenders accept your dec page as proof of insurance. Keep a copy (physical or digital) in your vehicle.
Filing claims: When you have an accident, your adjuster will reference your dec page to determine coverage limits and deductibles.
Comparison shopping: Your dec page makes it easy to get accurate quotes from other insurers. You can provide identical coverage details to compare apples-to-apples.
Loan and lease requirements: Lenders require proof that you have adequate coverage (usually full coverage with specific limits). Your dec page provides this documentation.
State registration: Many states require proof of insurance when registering or renewing vehicle registration. Your dec page fulfills this requirement.
Verification of coverage: If you're in an accident, exchanging dec pages with the other driver helps confirm their insurance information and coverage.
Annual review: Your renewal dec page lets you review changes in coverage, limits, and premiums to ensure your policy still meets your needs.
Where to Find Your Declarations Page
When you'll receive it: • Immediately when you first purchase a policy (via email or mail) • 30-45 days before each renewal • Anytime you make policy changes (add a vehicle, change coverage, etc.)
How to access it: • Email: Most insurers send electronic copies to your email address • Online account: Log into your insurer's website or mobile app; dec pages are usually in the "Documents" or "Policy" section • Mail: Physical copies arrive by postal mail if you haven't opted for paperless billing • Request from agent: Call your agent or customer service to request a copy anytime
Keep multiple copies: • One in your vehicle (for traffic stops or accidents) • One at home with important documents • Digital copy on your phone or in cloud storage • Copy for anyone else who drives your vehicles regularly
How to Read and Review Your Dec Page
When you receive your declarations page, check these key items:
✓ Verify all information is accurate: • Are all vehicles listed with correct VINs? • Are all drivers listed? • Is your address current? • Are coverage types what you selected?
✓ Confirm coverage limits meet your needs: • Do liability limits provide adequate protection? (Many experts recommend at least 100/300/100) • Are deductibles affordable if you need to file a claim? • Do you have uninsured motorist coverage?
✓ Review premium and discounts: • Are all applicable discounts applied? • Did your premium increase significantly? If so, why? • Are there any new fees or surcharges?
✓ Check policy dates: • When does coverage start and end? • When is your next renewal?
Report errors immediately: If anything on your dec page is incorrect—wrong vehicle, missing driver, incorrect coverage—contact your insurer right away. Errors can lead to denied claims.
Declarations Page vs. Insurance Card
Don't confuse your dec page with your insurance ID card:
Insurance ID card: • Small card (wallet-sized) • Shows policy number, coverage dates, insured vehicle(s) • Basic proof of insurance for traffic stops • Doesn't show coverage details, limits, or deductibles
Declarations page: • Full-page document (1-2 pages) • Complete policy summary with all coverage details • Shows limits, deductibles, premiums, discounts • More comprehensive proof of insurance
You need your insurance card in your vehicle at all times. Keep your dec page handy for reference, comparison shopping, or when more detailed proof of coverage is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's helpful but not legally required. Most states only require you to carry your insurance ID card. However, having a copy of your dec page (physical or digital) in your vehicle can be useful after an accident to quickly reference your coverage details.
Contact your insurance company or log into your online account. They can email or mail you a new copy within minutes. Most insurers also have mobile apps where you can instantly access your dec page.
No. Your dec page only shows your current policy details. It doesn't include your driving history, accidents, or violations—though these factors affect your premium amount.
You should exchange insurance information after an accident, but you don't have to provide your full dec page. Sharing your insurance company name, policy number, and contact information is sufficient. Your dec page contains personal information (like your full address) that you may not want to share freely.
You'll receive a new dec page at each policy renewal (every 6 or 12 months) and whenever you make changes to your policy, such as adding a vehicle, changing coverage, or adjusting deductibles.