Declarations Page (Dec Page)

The declarations page, commonly called the dec page, is the summary document at the front of every insurance policy that lists who is insured, what is covered, the policy dates, all coverage limits, deductibles, and the total premium.

What information appears on a declarations page?

The dec page condenses the most critical policy details onto one or two pages. It shows the named insured, the property or risk being covered, the policy’s effective date and expiration date, the coverage limit for each section, your deductible, any active endorsements, and the total premium. It does not contain the full terms and conditions of the policy, those live in the policy forms themselves, but it gives you all the key numbers at a glance.

When will I need to produce my declarations page?

The dec page is the document used most often outside of a claim. For example, a mortgage lender closing on a home purchase typically requires the borrower to provide the declarations page from their homeowners policy before the closing date, and the lender keeps a copy on file for the life of the loan. When an auto accident requires exchanging insurance information, the carrier name and policy number on the dec page are what the other party needs. Keep a copy accessible: in your glove box for auto, and in a secure cloud storage or household document file for home and other policies.

What should I check every time my declarations page renews?

At every renewal, read the new dec page before paying. Premiums change, coverage limits can shift without notice, and endorsements can be added or removed. For example, if a carrier automatically lowered your dwelling coverage limit at renewal without a notice you caught, the declarations page is where that change appears, and comparing it to the prior year’s page reveals it immediately. Georgia requires carriers to issue a declarations page at inception and at each renewal. For homeowners policies, mortgage servicers typically require the carrier to send a copy directly to them as well.

Why does the value on my declarations page differ from my home’s market value?

The dwelling coverage limit on a declarations page reflects what the carrier calculated as the cost to rebuild the structure, not its market value or purchase price. Those figures can differ by a wide margin. Construction costs in Georgia have moved substantially in recent years, and a rebuild estimate set several years ago may no longer reflect current labor and materials costs in your area. The market value of a property includes land, location premium, and buyer demand, none of which factor into a rebuild cost calculation.

A free coverage review with Olive Insurance Services can walk through your declarations page line by line and help confirm whether your limits, deductibles, and endorsements still fit your situation.