Key takeaways

  • Your auto insurance declarations page summarizes the key aspects of your car insurance policy.
  • It can serve as a quick reference to your policy if you need to know what is covered and your insurance agent isn't available.
  • A declarations page can also be helpful if you want to get quotes from other companies to compare to your current policy.

Most people know they need car insurance (in most states), but do you understand your policy? What if you need to understand what your policy covers but your insurance agent isn’t available? The good news is that information is readily available. Your policy comes with a car insurance declarations page, which details key information about what your policy covers. Knowing what this declaration page is, what info it contains and where to find it could help you find critical policy information when you need it. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team breaks it all down for you so you know what to look for—and what you’re looking at.

Savings

Compare rates and save on auto insurance today!

ZIP code
Close X
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Caret DownCaret Up
Please select age
Location-Icon
Badge No spam. No fees. No surprises.

Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:

Progressive

Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year

Liberty Mutual

Are you overpaying for auto insurance?

Allstate

Safe drivers choose Allstate®

Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

See more providers in
Choose from insurers in

What is an auto insurance declarations page?

An auto insurance declarations page is an insurance document that lists the key details of your insurance policy. It summarizes everything that’s contained in your policy, including your coverage types, coverage limits and the covered drivers and vehicles.

Sometimes, you’ll hear the declarations page abbreviated as the “dec page.” It’s usually easy to find if you have questions about your policy, serving as the front page of your policy documents or in a prominent place on most websites and apps.

What does an auto declarations page contain?

Your auto insurance declarations page contains a summary of the most important aspects of your car insurance policy, including:

  • Your name and vehicle information: The page includes your name and the names of anyone else covered by the policy, as well as details about any vehicles covered by the policy, such as make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • Company or agency contact information: This includes the name of the insurer or agency you’ve bought coverage from and a way to get in touch if you have questions or have to file a claim.
  • Lender information: If you lease your car or have an auto loan, the name and contact information of the lender should be listed in case you need to file a claim.
  • Policy details: The page will list the specifics of your policy, such as the types of coverage included as well as the coverage limits, any deductibles, your renewal date and any exclusions.
  • Premium: The page lists your auto insurance premium, including how much is due and when.
  • Discounts: The dec page will also note any discounts that are currently applied to your policy.

Who needs an auto declarations page?

Everyone who has car insurance should keep a copy of their auto declarations page easily accessible so you can refer to it if you have an accident or other covered incident and your insurance agent isn’t available. The declarations page could help you figure out what damages should be covered and what limits will apply so you can decide whether to file a claim.

It’s also useful to have your declarations page handy when it comes time to renew your policy so you can review and assess your coverage to see if you should make changes. For example, if you’ve paid off your auto loan, you’ll want to make sure that your lender is no longer listed on your policy. Or maybe you want to reduce or increase your coverage limits for your comprehensive coverage based on your vehicle’s current value. You can also use it to compare your current policy details to quotes from other insurers while shopping around for a better deal.

How do you get your insurance declarations page?

When you purchase an auto insurance policy or make changes to an existing policy, you will receive a copy of your declarations page. Every driver should have a copy of their declaration page either in hard copy or electronic format.

If you misplace your dec page, you may be able to download your policy documents from your insurance company’s online portal or mobile app. You could also contact your agent for a new copy. Having a copy of your declarations page, whether physical or electronic, could help you when you need to attain basic information about your policy quickly.

Frequently asked questions

    • The best car insurance company will differ for each driver based on what’s important to them. For instance, a driver who has had a DUI conviction may have more limited options and may only get reasonable rates from a handful of companies. A newly licensed teen and their parents may want a company that offers multiple discount opportunities for young or new drivers. To find the best company for you, consider what your top needs are and then select a handful of companies to request quotes from for the same coverage types and levels.
    • Your declarations page is fairly comprehensive, but it is meant to summarize your coverage at a glance, not to explain it in detail. Information about exclusions or descriptions of the various coverage types will not be included on your declarations page. Your Social Security number is also not listed on your declarations page, as most companies omit this information to help keep your information safe.
    • A declarations page is meant to reflect what is already listed on your auto policy. If you review your declarations page and find that the information on your declaration page is incorrect, you should contact your insurance company immediately. If you need to make changes to your policy due to something like a name change or a new vehicle, contact your insurance company to update your policy information and a new declarations page should be issued.
    • Yes, your auto insurance declarations page should serve as proof of insurance in many cases. It provides enough details to show that you and your vehicle are insured and notes things like coverage amounts and the policy’s expiration date. Check with your state’s department of insurance if you want to know exactly what your state requires for proof of insurance.