Declarations page
A declarations page is the summary at the front of an insurance policy. It lists who and what is insured, the policy period, coverage types and limits, deductibles, premium, discounts, endorsements and any lender. It confirms what you bought and what it costs; the full policy decides whether a claim is payable.
Also called: dec page, declarations, declaration page, dec sheet
When you want the policy number, the dates of coverage, a limit or a deductible, the declarations page is where to look. The NAIC (opens in a new tab) says a policy begins with it, and it names the policy number, policy term, coverage limits, the insured and the covered vehicles. It also holds figures a lender or DMV may ask for. What it cannot do alone is settle a claim, because the exclusions, conditions, definitions and endorsements in the rest of the policy decide that.
How the numbers on the page work in a claim
The NAIC's sample homeowners declarations page (opens in a new tab) shows a $250,000 dwelling limit, a $500 deductible and a $640 policy premium. Suppose a covered loss causes $20,000 in eligible dwelling damage. The $20,000 is an illustration, and before any other policy limitation applies the arithmetic runs like this:
Hover or tap a row to highlight it.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual premium paid | $640 |
| Eligible dwelling damage | $20,000 |
| Deductible the policyholder pays | $500 |
| Insurer's covered payment ($20,000 minus $500) | $19,500 |
| Dwelling limit left after the claim ($250,000 minus $19,500) | $230,500 |
The $230,500 assumes no prior payments and no other limits apply. The page supplies the limit, deductible and premium, while the policy form, exclusions, valuation rules and the facts of the loss determine the actual payment.
Common fields and what changes them
Each entry moves either the premium or the payout.
- Liability limits. New York's minimum auto limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, according to the New York Department of Financial Services (opens in a new tab). Higher limits generally raise the premium and the insurer's maximum payment for covered liability.
- Property limits. The NAIC sample lists $250,000 for the dwelling, $30,000 for other structures and $150,000 for personal property. A higher limit can raise the premium along with the maximum.
- Deductibles. The NAIC sample shows $500 and the New York sample shows $1,000. A higher deductible generally lowers the premium but increases what you pay on a covered loss.
- Percentage deductibles. The NAIC sample uses 10 percent for earthquake and for hurricane or wind. The policy must state which amount the percentage applies to.
- Optional coverages and endorsements. Water backup, identity theft, rental-car reimbursement, towing, additional living expense, ordinance or law coverage and replacement-cost options can each add premium and may carry a separate limit or deductible.
- Discounts and surcharges. These change the premium, not necessarily the coverage limit.
No amount is typical for every policy, because state minimums, underwriting rules, property details and your selections all vary.
Where you will see a declarations page
Declarations pages come with auto, homeowners, renters, condo, commercial property, commercial liability, life, health and other policies; the fields depend on the form and the insurer. The page sits at the front of the policy, next to the insuring agreement, exclusions, conditions and endorsements, and endorsements should be listed or identified on it.
The same information turns up in a quote, binder, issued policy, renewal packet, revised declarations page, certificate request, lender request and claim correspondence. A quote estimates proposed coverage and price. A binder is a temporary insurance contract and proof of coverage until the permanent policy is issued, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab). A claim letter explains how the claim is being handled and is not the declarations page.
A certificate of insurance is a business document showing that insurance is in effect. It is not the policy and cannot add coverage or obligations the policy does not contain, according to New York DFS Circular Letter No. 8 (1995) (opens in a new tab).
Connecticut and New York rules that touch the page
In Connecticut, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-292 (opens in a new tab) lets an insurer post a policy and its endorsements online instead of mailing them when the statutory conditions are met. The insurer must get your agreement, keep the documents accessible while the policy is in force and keep expired-policy records for five years. With each declarations page at issuance and renewal, it must provide a description of the policy and endorsements, a free way to get paper copies and the website address. If you opt out, the insurer must mail or deliver paper copies.
For proof of auto insurance, the Connecticut DMV (opens in a new tab) accepts a declaration page in specified compliance situations, and temporary insurance cards, bills and binders are not accepted for that process. The Connecticut car insurance requirements guide covers what the state requires.
New York regulates the page itself. Insurance Law § 2307 (opens in a new tab) requires prior Department approval of property and casualty policy forms, including declarations pages. Insurance Law § 2345 (opens in a new tab) requires disclosure of specified automobile premium reductions and surcharges, and New York DFS (opens in a new tab) says the declarations page must show applicable discounts and surcharges. Under 11 NYCRR § 65-1.5 (opens in a new tab), an auto declarations page must specify basic economic loss coverage and separately identify Optional Basic Economic Loss coverage when it is purchased.
Questions to ask your agent or insurer
- What coverage limits, deductibles, endorsements and exclusions apply to the vehicle, property, person or business shown on this page? This separates the summary from the complete contract.
- Did any limit, deductible, endorsement, driver, vehicle, address, discount, surcharge or premium change from the prior declarations page? This shows renewal changes before they affect a claim. For a rate increase, the Connecticut homeowners insurance increase guide lists questions to bring.
- Which losses have separate or percentage deductibles, and what amount is used to calculate each percentage? A percentage deductible can produce a very different payment than a flat one.
- Which endorsements are attached, and where can I read the full policy forms and endorsements? Endorsements can modify the base policy.
- Can I get the complete current policy, and if it is posted electronically, how do I request a free paper copy? Connecticut requires this information when electronic posting is used.
Frequently asked questions
These come up most often once you have the page in hand.
Why did my premium change at renewal?
The declarations page can show changed limits, deductibles, discounts, surcharges, vehicles, drivers, property details or endorsements. Compare it line by line with last year's page. The insurer or agent must explain the specific rating change.
Can I use a declarations page as proof of insurance?
Sometimes. Connecticut accepts it for auto-insurance verification with the DMV in specified situations, but requirements differ by agency, lender, landlord and state.
Does a listed coverage pay its full limit?
The limit is generally the maximum. Deductibles, the actual loss, sublimits, depreciation, coinsurance and policy conditions can reduce the payment, so a $250,000 limit does not mean a $250,000 check.