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- The declarations page of your policy provides a quick summary of who is insured, which vehicles are insured and your coverage limits.
- The discounts you receive and the amount you pay for your car insurance, called the premium, are listed on the declarations page.
- The policy form, the longest part of a policy, contains background information regarding conditions, exclusions and riders.
Your car insurance policy is easier to read than it looks. The key is knowing where to find what matters: your declarations page shows who’s covered, what’s covered and how much you pay.
The policy form covers the specifics: coverages, conditions and exclusions. This guide walks you through each part so you can pick up your policy and understand how it works.
What are the main parts of a car insurance policy?
A car insurance policy has two main sections. The declarations page is the summary; it shows who is insured, which vehicles are covered, your coverage types, limits, deductibles and premium. The policy form follows and contains the full legal terms: the insuring agreement, conditions, exclusions and any endorsements you’ve added.
The key terms below can help you understand what appears in your policy.
Policy number
This long number assigned to your policy is an identifier for the coverage that you purchased for your vehicle or vehicles. The policy number can include letters or numbers and should be denoted on all correspondence or paperwork from your auto insurance provider. The auto insurance cards you carry in your vehicle also include your policy number.
Policy term
This is the length of time that your policy is in effect. Most terms are 6 months to 1 year, after which a renewal may occur. The policy term is from the start date to the expiration date listed on your policy. If you plan to switch auto insurance providers at any point, know when your previous term expires to avoid a lapse in coverage.
Policyholder address
This is the address for the person or persons to whom the policy belongs.
Named insured(s)
Just another way of stating who is covered by a policy, the ‘named insured’ specifies who the policy protects in the event of an accident. In most cases, the ‘named insured’ is the same person as the policyholder, who is responsible for making payments for the policy and any changes. But the named insured can also refer to another driver listed on the policy who may not be the policyholder, such as a spouse or child, who is protected by the insurance policy.
Coverages
These are the protections and benefits that an auto insurance policy provides. Your detailed coverage could list what you purchased for liability, collision, comprehensive and other coverages.
Policy premium
This is the cost for all your coverages and benefits during the policy term. If you choose a 12-month policy, it’ll cost more than a six-month policy, but then you only need to think about renewals annually instead of every six months – and you can pay in monthly installments as well. While the total premium for a 12-month policy is higher than for a 6-month policy (because it’s for 12 months rather than six), the monthly breakdown is similar.
To receive a rough idea about what your insurance would cost, estimate the cost of your car insurance before renewal.
VIN(s)
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit number assigned to each vehicle to uniquely identify it. It’s printed on your policy paperwork and inside your car, typically on the dashboard or the driver’s side door. Although the VIN looks like a random series of letters and numbers, it contains information regarding the model, make and year of your car.
Coverage types/limits
In addition to details about your coverage types — like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance — your policy will also list the limits for liability coverage. If you have a split-limit policy, these limits show how much the auto insurance provider will pay for injury or bodily harm to others in an accident and also the maximum it will pay for property damage.
Split limits are typically divided into bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage per accident.
Discounts
These detail the reduction in your premium resulting from the discounts you qualify for, such as bundling discounts, good/safe driver discounts, loyalty discounts, etc.
If you have other questions about the meaning of terms in your policy, you can use a car insurance glossary for more context.
What is a declarations page and what does it show?
Your declarations page is the one-page summary of your car insurance policy. It shows who is insured, what vehicles are covered, your coverage types and limits, your deductible amounts and how much you pay for the policy. When you have a question about your coverage, the declarations page is the first place to look.
Other items that should appear on your declarations page include:
- Your vehicle identification number or numbers
- Types of coverage
- Coverage limits
- Deductibles
- Vehicle discounts
- Policy discounts
- Payment plan
- The name and phone number of your insurance company
Once you have a policy in effect, your policy declarations page will be sent to you by email, in the app or by mail. You can also access it online, as most insurance companies now offer online access to policy documents. You can print it from your account or read it online to review the details.
How do I make changes to my declarations page?
After your policy is in place, you might need to make changes. Examples could include adding a new driver – such as your teenager who just obtained their license, increasing or decreasing your deductible, or purchasing a roadside assistance plan.
Changes like these can increase or decrease your premium. Ensure you receive an updated declarations page after you make changes to confirm that your policy reflects them.
“Always get an updated declarations page (or a ‘Dec page’) when changes are made,” says Noah White, an agent who sells auto, life and burial insurance with Ark Insurance. “This is important because if anything were to happen, you know exactly what’s covered, and so does each insurance company.”
Any change to your car insurance policy, adding a driver, adjusting a deductible or adding roadside assistance, should be followed by a new declarations page. That updated doc is your proof that the change took effect.
Sophie’s Tip
When your new or renewed policy arrives, review the declarations page first. Make sure your name, address, vehicle VIN, and coverage limits are accurate. If anything looks off, even a minor spelling mistake, contact your insurer right away. Errors on the declarations page can cause problems later, especially at claim time.
What is the policy form in a car insurance policy?
The policy form is the legal document that follows your declarations page. It contains the full terms of your coverage: the insuring agreement (what your insurer promises to pay), conditions (when coverage applies), exclusions (what isn’t covered) and any endorsements you’ve added.
This general information is available to insureds and provides greater context for the information listed on the declarations page.
Remember that some of the information in the policy form may not reflect what’s in your policy. For example, you could find several pages devoted to optional coverages you didn’t purchase. However, other consumers may have purchased those coverages as part of their policy.
The policy form may include a list of definitions for words or phrases like “bodily injury,” “family member,” and “property damage.”
Following that, you can find details about the following:
- The insuring agreement: It’s an agreement between the carrier and the insured. It describes what is covered and what isn’t.
- Conditions: The terms under which losses are covered, and when or how insurance will kick in.
- Exclusions: Items not covered by the policy. They are usually precise. In the liability coverage part of the insuring agreement, exclusions might include the following:
- Property being transported by the insured
- Property that is being rented or used by the insured
- For liability, when using the vehicle for public or livery conveyance
- For liability, vehicles used in racing contests
- Endorsements/Riders: These are extra coverages, such as rental vehicles, rideshare coverage or roadside assistance, that are added to a policy and incur an additional cost.
Key takeawayExclusions are the part of your policy that defines exactly where your coverage ends. Ride-sharing without a rideshare endorsement, racing and property you’re transporting are common exclusions, meaning your insurer won’t pay for those losses if you’re in an accident.
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What are liability limits in car insurance?
Liability limits are the maximum dollar amounts your insurance company will pay if you cause an accident. On your declarations page, they’re listed as three numbers separated by slashes, each representing a different payout cap type. Your policy will use either a split limit or a combined single limit; both are explained below.
Split-limit policy
A split-limit policy represents coverage broken into three limits: the amount paid for bodily injury per person in an accident, the maximum amount paid for all injuries, and the maximum amount paid for property damage to another person’s vehicle in an accident. For example, liability coverage with split limits of 100/300/100 means that your auto insurance provider should pay up to:
- $100,000 for bodily injuries to a single person in an accident you cause
- $300,000 total for bodily injuries to all people in an accident you cause
- $100,000 for property damage for other vehicles or other property per accident you cause
If the expenses of a crash exceed what your insurance company will pay, you are responsible for the additional costs, meaning they come from your pocket. If you have higher limits, you’ll have more coverage if you are at fault in an accident.
Combined single limit policy
Another option is a combined single-limit policy, which works differently. A combined limit is the total amount that your insurance company will pay out per accident, no matter how the payments are used—to cover bodily injuries, property damages or both. Instead of getting a policy with split limits of 100/300/100, you might choose a policy with a combined limit of $500,000.
“A combined limit of, say, $500,000 means that’s what you have in total coverage for the accident,” White says. “Split limits are better, in my opinion. That way, each scenario has an allocated amount.”
Key takeawayA 100/300/100 split-limit policy caps bodily injury coverage at $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. A $500,000 combined single limit can be used more flexibly, but it does not guarantee a specific amount for each injured person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important part of a car insurance policy to read?
The declarations page is key — it shows your coverage types, limits, deductibles and premium amounts in one place.
How can I tell what my car insurance actually covers?
Look at the coverage section of your policy. Each type (liability, collision, comprehensive, etc.) lists what’s covered, the limits and your deductible.
Where can I find the deductible on my policy?
Your deductible will be listed under each coverage type, such as collision or comprehensive, on the declarations page.
What are exclusions in a car insurance policy?
Exclusions are situations your policy doesn’t cover — for example, using your car for ride-sharing without the proper coverage.
How do I know if I have full coverage?
“Full coverage” typically means you have liability, collision and comprehensive coverage. Check your policy for all three to confirm.
Can I change my policy if I don’t like what I see?
Yes. You can update limits, deductibles or add/remove coverage anytime. Changes may adjust your premium.
Why is it important to read my policy carefully?
Understanding your coverage prevents surprises at claim time and ensures you’re not underinsured or paying for extras you don’t need.
What to do after reading your car insurance policy
Anytime you need a refresher on your coverages and liability limits, look at your declarations page and other insurance documents.
If anything in your policy doesn’t match what you expect, or you’re curious whether you’re paying the right rate, you can compare quotes without sharing your personal information until you’re ready.
Sources
Progressive. “What is split-limit insurance coverage?” Accessed May 2026.
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