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How to Make Sense of Your Car Insurance Declarations Page

Car insurance can seem like a complicated business. This is even in the research phase when you're trying to find a good insurer and policy. Then you come to your car insurance declarations page and are bombarded with information.

 

The good news is that your car insurance declarations page is not as complex as it sounds. It is the first page of your policy and covers all the basic information about your car and the policy itself. It is essentially a summary of the policy as a whole.

 

The declarations page includes your car make, model, and VIN, your premium and deductibles, and the lienholder on a policy if you are leasing your car.

 

Here is what you need to know about the various sections of your car insurance declarations page (or dec page).

 

The Basics

 

Let’s start off with the basic information your dec page will list. Essentially, it reads like a summary of the main factors relevant to your insurance policy. It will start with the policy number, which provides an easy way of communicating with the provider about your policy. It may also include the details of previous policies you have owned.

 

Policy Term

 

The page will continue to list information about your policy itself. This will include your policy’s term (including the start and end date) and the regularity of payments (usually each month).

 

Named Parties

 

The policy dec page will name relevant parties. The owner of the car is the person insured, and as such is the main named party. If there are members of your household that are excluded from coverage for whatever reason, they will be listed.

 

The agent in charge of your policy from the insurance company will be named, in addition to the name of the insurer. If you are leasing your car, the lienholder will also be listed by name.

 

Vehicle Details

 

What vehicle details are included? Everything relevant to the policy is named. This includes the make and model as well as the year the car was manufactured. It will also include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which is a 17-digit code given to every car.

 

Premium Details

 

The details of your premiums will also be listed. The set price you will pay every month (or whatever term you have accepted) in addition to your deductibles is included.

 

Your premium price will be based on a number of factors, including the details of the car and demographic factors like age and gender. Your driving history and where you live also impact your premium.

 

Deductibles refer to the amount you must pay yourself before your insurance kicks in. You can choose a higher deductible if you want to lower the cost of your premiums. Some people go as high as $1,000.

 

Coverage

 

Car insurance can refer to a number of different things. There is liability coverage that is required by law in most states. This ensures that you can pay any claims made against you for accidents you caused. Personal injury protection (PIP) is for healthcare costs to you or your passengers in a collision you caused.

 

You can also get collision coverage, which pays for damages to your car if you caused the collision. Comprehensive cover provides coverage for theft and damage due to named perils (things like fire, hail, and vandalism).

 

You may also have additional coverage like underinsured motorist cover and gap insurance.

 

The extent of your coverage is included on the dec page, including how much you are covered for.

 

Riders

 

If you have any additional policy terms that you have included – known as riders – these may be included on your dec page. They will be accompanied by unique codes that the insurer uses for reference.

 

Riders are not always included on the dec page.

 

Discounts

 

Whenever you get car insurance, you should ask what discounts are available. You can get discounts for bundling your home insurance and car insurance with the same company, insuring multiple vehicles, safe driving, and many other factors. Any discounts may be listed on your dec page.

 

The above details all the basic information that is listed on the dec page for your new car. A car insurance declaration page is intended as a simple summary of your insurance coverage. By knowing exactly what to look for, you are in the best possible position to understand your policy in full.

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