Your declaration page is a one-page summary of everything that matters in your insurance policy. If you only read one document, read this one. It tells you exactly what you're covered for, how much protection you have, and what you're paying.
Homeowners Dec Page — Section by Section
Policy Information
- Named insured: Who's covered (you, and usually your spouse)
- Policy number: Your unique identifier — reference this on every call
- Policy period: Start and end dates (usually 12 months)
- Property address: The insured location
- Mortgagee: Your lender (listed for loss payee purposes)
Coverage Limits
- Coverage A — Dwelling: Replacement cost of your home's structure
- Coverage B — Other Structures: Usually 10% of Coverage A
- Coverage C — Personal Property: Usually 50-70% of Coverage A
- Coverage D — Loss of Use: Usually 20-30% of Coverage A
- Coverage E — Personal Liability: $100K-$500K
- Coverage F — Medical Payments: $1K-$5K per person
Deductibles
- All-peril deductible: Your standard deductible (usually $500-$2,500)
- Wind/hail deductible: May be a percentage in storm states (1-5%)
- Hurricane deductible: Separate percentage in coastal states
Premium Breakdown
- Base premium for each coverage
- Discounts applied (multi-policy, claims-free, security, etc.)
- Surcharges (if any)
- Total annual premium and payment schedule
Auto Dec Page — Section by Section
- Listed vehicles: Year, make, model, VIN for each car
- Listed drivers: Everyone on the policy (and their rating class)
- Bodily Injury Liability: Per person / per accident limits
- Property Damage Liability: Per accident limit
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Your UM/UIM limits
- Collision: Coverage limit and deductible per vehicle
- Comprehensive: Coverage limit and deductible per vehicle
- Medical Payments / PIP: Per person limit
How to Use Your Dec Page
- Review at every renewal: Compare to last year's — spot changes and increases
- Give to a new agent: When shopping for better rates, give them your dec page for an exact apples-to-apples comparison
- Check accuracy: Verify address, vehicles, drivers, and coverage levels are correct
- Verify deductibles: Make sure you know your ACTUAL deductible — especially wind/hail
- Confirm discounts: Make sure all applicable discounts are showing
Bottom line: Your dec page is the single most useful insurance document you have. Pull it out at every renewal, review it, and use it when shopping for better rates. If anything looks wrong or confusing, call your agent and ask. Understanding your dec page puts you in control of your coverage.