Your declarations page is the summary page of your insurance policy. Most people call it the dec page. It’s usually the first page or two of your policy, and it shows who is covered, what is covered, how much coverage you have and what you pay.
Short version: Your dec page is your whole policy on one or two pages. Check it every time your policy renews. When you shop for insurance, it lets an agent quote the same coverage you have now, so you can compare prices fairly.
Ohio car and home insurance
Check your car or home insurance price
Pick what you want to insure. Our quote tool checks multiple carriers and shows you their prices on one screen. Have your dec page handy and it goes faster. Buying a home? You can check prices before you close.
Your information comes only to Kaufman Insurance Group. We don’t sell it or pass it to other agencies. One of our agents will call to go over your quote for accuracy. No hard sell, no pressure.
Free to check. You don’t have to buy anything.
This tool quotes Ohio only and doesn’t include every carrier we work with.
Outside Ohio? We can still help. Call or text 330-486-8404 or use the form at the end of this page.
What your car insurance dec page shows
Every insurance company lays out its dec page a little differently, and coverage names can change from state to state. Most car dec pages still have the same parts. Here is what a typical one looks like, with each part numbered.
- 1Policy periodStart date to end date
- 2Named insuredYour name and mailing address
- 3DriversEach driver on the policy
- 4VehiclesYear, make, model and VIN for each car
- 5Coverages and limitsLiability, uninsured motorist, medical payments and more
- 6DeductiblesCollision and other than collision
- 7EndorsementsAdd-ons and changes to the policy
- 8DiscountsDiscounts already in your price
- 9LienholderYour lender, if you have a car loan or lease
- 10PremiumWhat you pay for the policy period
Policy period
These are the dates your coverage starts and ends. Many car policies run for six months, and some run for a year.
Check: The dates are current, and you know when your policy renews.
Named insured
This is the person, or people, the policy belongs to. Your mailing address is usually here too. Where your car is kept can affect your price.
Check: Your name is spelled right, and your address is current.
Drivers
This lists everyone who is rated to drive your cars. Some pages also list excluded drivers. An excluded driver isn’t covered to drive any car on your policy.
Check: Everyone in your home who drives is listed the right way. Here’s why insurance companies ask about everyone in your home.
Vehicles
Each car shows its year, make, model and VIN, which is the vehicle ID number. Wrong car details can change your price and cause problems with a claim.
Check: Each VIN matches your car, and any car you sold is gone.
Coverages and limits
This is the heart of the page. Each coverage has a limit, which is the most the insurance company will pay for it. Here is what the common ones mean in plain words:
- Liability (bodily injury and property damage): pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. Bodily injury usually shows two limits, one for each person and one for each accident.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist: pays when you’re hurt by a driver who has no insurance or not enough.
- Medical payments: pays medical bills for you and your passengers.
- Collision: pays to fix your car after a crash.
- Other than collision: pays for damage from things like theft, hail, fire or hitting a deer. Many companies call this comprehensive coverage.
Check: The limits are the ones you picked. If you own a home or have savings, ask your agent if your liability limits are high enough. You can also read what umbrella insurance adds.
Deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you pay on a claim before the insurance company pays the rest. Collision and other than collision each have their own deductible. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium.
Check: You could pay each deductible tomorrow if you had to.
Endorsements
Endorsements are changes to the standard policy. They can add coverage, like rental car or roadside help, or limit it. They often show up as form numbers with short names.
Check: Every add-on you think you have is listed. If a form number doesn’t make sense, ask your agent.
Discounts
Most dec pages list the discounts that are already in your price. Having your home and car with the same company is one example.
Check: You’re getting every discount you qualify for. If one looks missing, ask.
Lienholder
If you have a car loan or lease, your lender is listed here. The lender usually requires this.
Check: Paid off your car? Ask to have the lender removed. You may need to show your title.
Premium
This is what the policy costs for the policy period. Many dec pages break it down by car and by coverage, then show a total. That breakdown shows you what each coverage costs you.
Check: The total matches your bill. If it went up at renewal, ask why. Sometimes a quick check of other companies is worth it.
What your home insurance dec page shows
A home dec page has a lot in common with a car dec page. The big difference is the coverages, which are usually listed with letters from A to F.
- 1Policy periodStart date to end date
- 2Named insured and homeYour name and the home that’s covered
- 3Coverages and limitsCoverage A to F
- 4DeductiblesAll other perils, and sometimes wind or hail
- 5EndorsementsAdd-ons like water backup
- 6DiscountsDiscounts already in your price
- 7MortgageeYour mortgage lender, if you have one
- 8PremiumWhat you pay for the policy period
Policy period
Most home policies run for one year. Your renewal date is a good time to look over the whole page.
Check: The dates are current. If you’re buying a home, the policy should start on your closing day.
Named insured and home
This shows who the policy belongs to and the home it covers. It may also show details like the year the home was built.
Check: The names match who owns the home, and the home details are right.
Coverages and limits
- Coverage A, dwelling: pays to repair or rebuild your house. This limit should be about what it would cost to rebuild, which isn’t the same as what your home would sell for.
- Coverage B, other structures: covers things that aren’t attached to your house, like a detached garage or a shed.
- Coverage C, personal property: covers your belongings, like clothing and furniture.
- Coverage D, loss of use: helps pay extra living costs if a covered loss means you can’t live in your home for a while.
- Coverage E, personal liability: helps if someone is hurt at your home or you damage someone else’s property.
- Coverage F, medical payments to others: helps pay medical bills for a guest who gets hurt at your home.
Check: Your dwelling limit still fits today’s cost to rebuild. See whether your belongings are covered at replacement cost or actual cash value. Replacement cost pays to buy new. Actual cash value takes off for age and wear.
Deductibles
Most home policies have one deductible for most claims. Some also have a separate deductible for wind or hail. That one may be a percentage of your dwelling limit instead of a set dollar amount.
Check: You know every deductible on your policy and could pay it if you had a claim.
Endorsements
These add or change coverage. Common ones include water backup from a sewer or drain, and extra coverage for jewelry or other valuables.
Check: If you have a finished basement, ask your agent about water backup coverage.
Discounts
Like a car dec page, your home dec page usually lists the discounts in your price. Having your home and car with the same company is one example.
Check: Anything you’ve updated, like a new roof or an alarm system, is listed if your company gives credit for it.
Mortgagee
If you have a mortgage, your lender is listed here. If you pay your insurance through an escrow account, your lender pays the bill for you.
Check: The lender’s name and loan number are right, especially after you refinance.
Premium
This is what the policy costs for the year, often broken down by coverage and add-on. Learn more on our homeowners insurance page.
Check: The total matches your bill or your escrow statement.
What to check on your dec page
Pull out your dec page and go down this list. It only takes a few minutes.
- Dates. Your policy is current, and you know your renewal date.
- Names. Everyone is spelled right, and your address is current.
- Drivers. Everyone in your home who drives is listed the right way.
- Cars. Each VIN matches, and any car you sold is gone.
- Liability limits. They are the limits you chose, and they fit what you own.
- Deductibles. You could pay each one if you had a claim tomorrow.
- Dwelling limit. It still fits what it would cost to rebuild your home today.
- Add-ons. Coverage you want, like water backup or rental car, is listed.
- Discounts. You’re getting the ones you qualify for.
- Lenders. Your lienholder and mortgagee are right, and paid-off loans are removed.
- Premium. The total matches your bill.
- Questions. Anything you don’t understand gets a call to your agent.
Can’t find your dec page?
Here are the easiest places to look.
Your insurance company’s app or website
Log in and look for policy documents. Many companies let you download your dec page there.
Your email or mail
Look for the papers from when your policy started or last renewed. Some companies send only a new dec page at renewal, not the whole policy.
Just ask
Call your insurance company or your agent and ask them to email you a copy. They do this all the time.
Shopping for insurance?
Your dec page makes comparing easy
When you share your dec page with one of our agents, we can quote the same coverage you have now. That way you compare prices fairly, and we can point out any gaps we see. For car insurance, we work with Progressive, GEICO, Grange and many more. For home insurance, we work with Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Grange and many more.
We’ll try to save you money. Sometimes what you have is already a good deal, and we’ll tell you that too.
Already talking with one of our agents? Text or email a photo of your dec page. You can text it to 330-486-8404 or reply to your agent’s email.
Common questions about dec pages
Is my dec page the same as my insurance card?
No. Your insurance card is proof that your car is insured, and it belongs in your car. Your dec page is the summary of your whole policy.
Does my dec page show everything my policy covers?
No. It shows your coverages, limits and deductibles. The full policy explains what each coverage means and what isn’t covered. If you have a question about a claim, ask your agent to check the full policy.
How often do I get a new dec page?
You usually get one each time your policy renews. You often get a new one when you make a change, like adding a car or a driver.
Why does my lender want my dec page?
It shows that your car or home is insured and that the lender is listed on the policy. If you’re buying a home, you can get a home insurance quote before you close.
What if something on my dec page is wrong?
Call your agent or insurance company right away and ask them to fix it. Wrong details can change your price and can cause problems if you have a claim.
The bottom line
Your dec page is the fastest way to see what you’re paying for. Read it at every renewal, and ask about anything you don’t understand. If you want a second set of eyes on it, we’re happy to help.
Kaufman Insurance Group is an Ohio-based independent agency with agency licenses in Ohio and North Carolina.
Sources
- NAIC, Declarations of Saving
- NAIC, “Understanding Your Homeowners or Renter’s Policy”
- Ohio Department of Insurance, “Automobile Insurance Guide”
- Maryland Insurance Administration, homeowners declarations page guide
- Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, “What is a Dec Page?”
RV, boat, business or outside Ohio?
We can help with that too. Tell us what you need here and one of our agents will get back to you. Rather talk? Call or text 330-486-8404.
