What is a homeowners insurance declaration page?

A homeowners insurance declarations page is a quick summary of your policy coverages and how much they cost. It also acts as proof of homeowners insurance when taking out a mortgage.

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Pat HowardManaging Editor & Licensed Home Insurance ExpertPat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

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Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

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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.

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Homeowners insurance declaration page example

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. 

  1. 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”. 

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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. 

  5. 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.

For info about what is and isn’t covered, read the fine print of your policy

Your home insurance dec page is a high-level overview of your policy details and coverage. While it explains the type and amount of each coverage, it typically doesn’t specify the types of damage or losses you’re covered against. You’ll need to check your actual policy or contact your insurer to see if your policy covers a specific incident.

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.

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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:

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.

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Author

Pat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

Expert reviewer

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

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