A homeowners insurance declaration page (or “dec page”) is a one- to two-page document that provides a brief overview of your policy, such as your address, coverage types and limits, and your premium amount.
In addition to providing you with helpful information about your policy, a declarations page can also act as proof of homeowners insurance when taking out a mortgage. Your insurance company should send out a paper or electronic copy of your dec page (along with the rest of your policy) within three business days after you’ve purchased your policy.
Homeowners insurance declaration page example
Homeowners insurance declarations page overview
A homeowners insurance declarations page includes high-level details about you, the insured property, and the policy itself.
Named insured: Found at the top of your declaration page, the named insured refers to the policyholder. If there are other people in your household covered under the policy, they may also be listed as an “additional insured”.
Policy details: The top of your dec page will also include details about the policy itself, including the policy number and the effective dates of the policy.
Home information: Rounding out the top of every dec page is the address of the property being insured. This means your house and any additional property covered under the policy.
Coverage details: Further down the declarations page, you’ll find information about the types of coverage included in the policy, along with the limits of liability (aka coverage amounts) for each. This section may also include information about coverage add-ons and your out-of-pocket deductible when you make a claim.
Insurance premiums: Toward the bottom of your declarations page you’ll find your home insurance premium amount, or the total cost of your policy, along with any discounts or credits that were applied to the final premium.
How to read a homeowners insurance declaration page
A standard homeowners insurance declaration page consists of roughly three overarching sections: a policy summary, a coverage summary, and a breakdown of your total premium. Here’s a look at how to best understand each section and ensure everything is accurate.
Review your policy summary
Take the time to familiarize yourself with high-level details about your policy. In the event you need to file a claim, you’ll need to provide your claims agent with the policy number provided in this section. Your insurance agent’s contact info should also be listed here should you need to update or cancel your homeowners insurance.
Additionally, you’ll want to check to make sure the insured property information is correct and policyholder details are up-to-date and accurate.
Review your coverage limits & deductibles
Your dec page also has a section summarizing the six main home insurance coverages and the limit of liability for each of them. This is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay out on a claim for any individual disaster or incident.
For example, if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage, then that is the maximum amount your insurance will pay out for damage to your home.
Section 1: Property
Coverage A - Dwelling: Covers your home’s structure, roof, and built-in appliances or structures like your water heater and countertops.
Coverage B - Other structures: Covers detached structures on your property like your garage, shed, deck, fence, or pool.
Coverage C - Personal property: Covers your personal belongings, like your furniture, electronics, jewelry, clothes, and kitchen appliances.
Coverage D - Loss of use: If your home becomes unlivable because of property damage, this coverage compensates you for temporary lodging and any additional living expenses you incur.
Section 2: Liability
Coverage E - Personal liability: Covers your legal expenses if you or one of your dependents is held liable for bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
Coverage F - Medical payments to others: Covers minor injuries to guests if they get injured on your property and require medical treatment. This is a form of no-fault coverage, meaning it will cover injured guests regardless of who was at fault.
Other coverages
Optional coverage add-ons are also included on your dec page. Some common home insurance endorsements are:
Water backup coverage: Covers water damage due to sump pump or sewage backups.
Scheduled property coverage: Higher coverage limits for expensive valuables that have limited coverage.
Equipment breakdown coverage: Covers household appliances if they break down due to electrical or mechanical failure.
Service line coverage: Covers repairs or replacement of utility lines if they rupture or break underneath your property.
Identity theft protection: If your identity is stolen, this reimburses you for the amount you spent reclaiming your identity and repairing your credit.
Deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in to cover a claim. Your deductible may be listed as a fixed amount, like $1,000, or a percentage, like 2% of your home’s insured value. If your policy has a separate deductible for windstorm or hurricane damage, it will likely be listed as a percentage.
Review your policy premium
Lastly, check your total premium to make sure it’s accurate. Some dec pages itemize the premium for each coverage type in your policy, giving you an idea of what you’re paying for.
How to get your homeowners insurance declaration page
After you purchase your policy, your insurer will likely send you your dec page within three business days. If you don’t have a declaration page, contact your insurance company to see if they can send you a physical or digital copy. You may also be able to access your dec page online through the carrier’s website or app.
