What Is a Home Insurance Declaration Page?
A homeowners insurance declaration page serves as proof of coverage and summarizes key policy details like coverage, coverage limits, and deductibles.
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Written bySarah Archambault
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Sarah ArchambaultInsurance Writer, Editor
Experienced personal finance writer
Background working with banks and insurance companies
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
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Edited bySara Getman
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Sara GetmanAssociate Editor
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves yoga and knitting.
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Reviewed byDavid Marlett
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David MarlettAdvisor
David Marlett is the Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He is a professor in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance at Appalachian State University and holds the IIANC Distinguished Professorship. David also serves on the Board of Directors for the Invest program and previously chaired the Loman Advisory Committee for the CPCU Society.
David has taught courses in Risk Management and Insurance for the last 25 years, starting at Florida State University while in the doctoral program. Prior to graduate school, David worked as a commercial lines underwriter for USF&G in Tampa.
He serves as a resource on insurance issues and is a frequent media contributor. He has been quoted by a wide range of outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, and NPR.
David has been reviewing articles for Insurify since March 2025.
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Table of contents
An insurance declaration page is a detailed summary of your home insurance policy. Unlike your full contract, the insurance declaration page shows only key details about your policy, like your policy number and coverages. Homeowners commonly use it as proof of insurance for lenders and HOAs or as a quick reference document when filing a claim.
This article takes a closer look at what’s on the declaration page, how to read it, and when you might need to provide it.
What is an insurance declaration page?
Sometimes called a “dec page,” an insurance declaration page is a document your insurer provides that summarizes key details about your homeowners insurance policy.[1] It’s not the same as a full policy contract, which is a legally binding agreement between you and your insurer.
All insurance policies have declaration pages, and the dec page is typically the first page in your policy documents. Your insurer provides the insurance declaration page when you sign up for a new insurance contract, renew your policy, or make changes.
But you can typically access your dec page anytime online, through your insurer’s mobile app, or by getting a copy from your insurance agent.
On the insurance declaration page you’ll find important information about your policy. The concise summary usually includes the name of your insurer, the address of the insured property, the policy period, your coverage types, the insurance premium amount, and other policy details.
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What an insurance declaration page includes
The insurance declaration page is an at-a-glance list of the most important details of your homeowners policy. Declaration page layouts vary by insurer but typically include:[2]
Insurance company name: This field shows the name of the insurer listed on your homeowners policy contract.
Policyholder name and address: The name and address of the insured person on the policy is included on the dec page.
Policy number: This is the unique number used to identify your policy.
Policy period: This shows the effective date of your coverage and its expiration date.
Property location: The physical address of the insured property is listed, which may not always be the same as the policyholder’s address.
Coverage: This lists your coverages on the policy, like dwelling, personal property, and loss of use. Endorsements are also listed.
Coverage limits: Limits are shown for each type of coverage listed.
Deductibles: The amount you pay before insurance kicks in shows up here, along with any separate deductibles on the policy, like wind and hail.
Premium amount: The total amount you pay annually for the policy is listed, plus any discounts.
How to read a home insurance declaration page
It’s important to know how to read a home insurance declaration page in order to understand your policy information, like coverage, limits, and deductibles. Coverage limits are how much your insurer will pay if something goes wrong. But first you must meet your deductible amount, then the insurance company pays the remainder of the claim, up to your coverage limit.
For example, if you suffer $10,000 in personal property damage and have a $1,000 deductible and a $100,000 policy limit, you’d pay $1,000 and the insurer would pay $9,000 to cover the loss.
With homeowners insurance, it’s especially important to be aware of your dwelling coverage. It protects the physical structure of your home and may also cover permanently attached structures, like your garage or porch.
So if you have $400,000 in dwelling coverage, this means your insurer will pay up to $400,000 to repair or rebuild your property after a covered loss.
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Why homeowners need an insurance declaration page
The declaration page serves as proof of homeowners insurance. Some common reasons why homeowners need an insurance declaration page include:[3]
Mortgage lender requests: Lenders typically require proof of insurance for mortgaged properties.
Home purchase or refinance: When you buy a home or refinance your mortgage, expect to provide a copy of your declaration page to the lender. But if you don’t have a mortgage, you’re not legally required to have homeowners insurance.
HOA requirements: Most HOAs require homeowners to show proof of insurance.
Proof of insurance after policy changes: When you make changes to your policy, such as raising coverage limits, a new declaration page that reflects any adjustments is needed.
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How to get a copy of your insurance declaration page
You can get a copy of your homeowners insurance declaration page in several ways:[4]
Receive a copy with your policy documents after purchase
Your insurer will send you a declaration page when you buy a new policy, typically by email.
Download a copy online or through your insurer’s mobile app
You can usually also access your dec page online or through your insurer’s mobile app.
Request a copy from your insurance company or agent
To get a copy of your insurance declaration page quickly, you can typically contact your insurer or agent directly.
Insurance declaration page vs. full policy
While you can use declaration pages as proof of home insurance, they’re only a snapshot of your policy’s key information. A full policy, on the other hand, is the legal contract between an insurer and policyholder that outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
Similar to a dec page, it includes your policy’s coverage, limits, deductible, and other important information. But the full policy goes into much greater detail, like listing covered perils and exclusions. The full policy document you receive after purchasing home insurance is typically an original and should be stored securely with other important financial paperwork.
Insurance declaration page FAQs
If you still have questions about your homeowners insurance declaration page, check out the additional information below.
Is an insurance declaration page the same as proof of insurance?
Yes. An insurance declaration page is a type of proof of insurance you can use with lenders, HOAs, and other third parties to demonstrate that a property is insured.
Does the declaration page show what perils are covered?
No, the declaration page doesn’t list covered perils. But since certain types of events may have a separate deductible, like windstorms, you may be able to get some information about your policy’s covered perils from the dec page.
Can a mortgage lender require an insurance declaration page?
Yes. It’s common for mortgage lenders to require an insurance declaration page as proof of coverage when you mortgage a property.
How often does an insurance declaration page change?
Your declaration page will change at least once per year when your policy renews. But if you make updates to your policy, such as raising your coverage limits or raising your deductible, or updating policyholder information, that would change your dec page. It may also change if you need to update policyholder contact information.
What errors should you check for on a declaration page?
The information on your declaration page summarizes your policy details; you should check it for accuracy. Make sure that your policy number, personal information, coverage, coverage limits, deductible, premium, policy terms, and other details are all correct. If something is wrong or missing, contact your insurer right away.
Can you use an insurance declaration page as proof of insurance for a mortgage?
Yes. You can use an insurance declaration page as proof of insurance for a mortgage, and most lenders require it as part of the underwriting process. To avoid delays, double-check the details on the dec page for accuracy before sending to the lender.
What’s the difference between a declaration page and an insurance binder?
A declaration page is an official proof of insurance document that summarizes policy details for a standard homeowners policy. A binder is only a short-term legal document that shows proof of temporary and immediate coverage while your formal policy is finalized.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:
Default Coverage Assumptions
- Dwelling coverage: $300,000
- Deductible: $1,000
- Personal property limit: $25,000
- Liability limit: $300,000
Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.
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Sources
- Texas.gov. "How to read your auto or home insurance declarations page."
- Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel. "What is a Dec Page?."
- III. "Can I own a home without homeowners insurance?."
- Maryland Insurance Association. "UNDERSTANDING YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE DECLARATIONS PAGE."
)
Sarah ArchambaultInsurance Writer, Editor
Experienced personal finance writer
Background working with banks and insurance companies
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
Featured in
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
Sara GetmanAssociate Editor
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves yoga and knitting.
David MarlettAdvisor
David Marlett is the Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He is a professor in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance at Appalachian State University and holds the IIANC Distinguished Professorship. David also serves on the Board of Directors for the Invest program and previously chaired the Loman Advisory Committee for the CPCU Society.
David has taught courses in Risk Management and Insurance for the last 25 years, starting at Florida State University while in the doctoral program. Prior to graduate school, David worked as a commercial lines underwriter for USF&G in Tampa.
He serves as a resource on insurance issues and is a frequent media contributor. He has been quoted by a wide range of outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, and NPR.
David has been reviewing articles for Insurify since March 2025.