What Is a Car Insurance Declaration Page?

What Is a Car Insurance Declarations Page?

When you buy an auto insurance policy, you might not remember every detail of what you selected. Your car insurance declarations page summarizes the key details of your policy, such as the policy number, policy period, names of insured drivers, covered vehicles, coverage amounts and limits. It is typically the first page in your auto insurance plan.

Here's a closer look at everything listed on the page:

1. Basic Policy Details

Your declarations page includes your policy period, which refers to the length of time your policy provides coverage. The policy period is usually six or 12 months. You'll also find the policy's effective date (when coverage begins) and its expiration date (when coverage ends).

2. Names and Address

The declarations page also includes the names of people who are covered under the insurance policy. These are people who you've listed on the policy because you know they'll drive your car at some point. The address of where the car is primarily parked should be listed too.

3. Vehicles Covered

Any vehicles you've insured on your auto insurance policy should be listed on the declarations page. Your insurance carrier should identify each vehicle by its make, model, year and VIN.

Other details may be listed as well, such as where you park the car, the self-reported number of miles you drive each year and how long you've owned the car.

4. Types of Coverage

You'll also find a list of car insurance coverages you've included in your policy, such as liability insurance and collision and comprehensive coverage.

The declarations page may split these coverages into two categories: compulsory (required coverage) and elected (optional coverage).

5. Coverage Limits

The policy limit for each type of coverage should be listed as well. For example, liability coverage has per-person and per-accident limits. Other types of coverage, such as roadside assistance, may have a per-use limit.

5. Premium

Your declarations page should itemize the cost for each type of coverage included in your policy along with the total premium. If you're insuring multiple vehicles, the declarations page should include both the itemized costs and total premium for each car.

6. Deductible

Your car insurance deductible is the out-of-pocket cost you'll cover when filing certain types of claims. The deductible you've chosen for each applicable coverage should be listed on the declarations page.

7. Loss Payees

A loss payee is a third party, such as your auto lender, that's listed on your car insurance policy. The company or individual has a vested interest in your car and has the first right to receive payment from an insurance claim. If you have a loss payee, it will be listed on the declarations page.

Where Do I Find My Car Insurance Declaration Page?

The easiest and fastest way to find your declarations page is by logging into your online account and looking for a document center. From there, you can typically open your insurance contract and look at the declarations page.

Here are the steps you can follow with the five largest auto insurance companies:

• State Farm: Visit the Document Center in your online account. Once you open the policy, look for the declarations page, which may be called the policy notice or renewal notice.
• Progressive: Find the Documents section in your online account and look for your Policy Contract. The declarations page is called your Policy Coverage Summary, and it should be the first page in the contract.
• Geico: After logging into your online account and finding your auto policy, choose Manage Policy and then Policy Documents. You'll see a list of links to items you can view, which should include the declarations page.
• Allstate: Log into your online account and find the Documents section. Open your policy and look for the declarations page.
• USAA: Log into your online account and find the My Documents link. Choose the insurance folder and open your Automobile Insurance Renewal file.

In addition to finding the information online, you can refer to the hard copy of your policy if you requested one from the insurer. If you can't log into your account and you don't have the printed copy, contact your agent or the insurance carrier by phone.

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When Do I Need My Car Insurance Declaration Page?

You can use the declarations page as:

• A personal resource anytime you have basic questions about your policy.
• A tool when you're shopping for car insurance and want to compare quotes against your current plan.
• The place where you find your vehicle identification number (VIN) whenever you need it.

You may also be able to use your declarations page as proof of coverage when you buy a car. The page proves you have at least the minimum insurance coverages required in your state.

However, if you get into an accident or you're pulled over while driving, your declarations page doesn't act as proof of insurance. Depending on state law, you'll typically show your physical auto insurance card, an official digital card through your insurer's app or your vehicle registration form.

The Bottom Line

Your declarations page gives you a quick snapshot of your auto insurance policy. It includes drivers listed on the policy, cars that are insured, the specific coverages you purchased and the cost breakdown for each. You can typically find the page in your online account listed in the documents center. It may come in handy when you're buying a car or you have questions about the policy, but it doesn't double as proof of insurance coverage.