Declarations page guide
How Do I Read My Homeowners Insurance Policy? Start With the Declarations Page
Every line on the summary page, explained.
Start with the declarations page, the summary at the front of your policy. It lists who and what is insured, your coverage limits, your deductibles, and the endorsements that change the standard contract. Then read the full policy for exclusions and conditions.
Last updated: November 2, 2026
Step by step
- 1Check the policy period and the named insured. Confirm the dates, the names, and the property address.
- 2Read the coverage limits. Coverage A is the dwelling, B is other structures, C is personal property, and D is loss of use. Some of these are set as a percentage of Coverage A.
- 3Find liability and medical payments to others, often listed as Coverages E and F.
- 4Look at every deductible, including any separate wind, hail, hurricane, or named-storm deductible written as a percentage.
- 5Read the forms and endorsements list. Each form number points to pages that add, remove, or change coverage.
- 6Then open the full policy. The insuring agreement, exclusions, conditions, and each endorsement's text explain how those numbers apply.
Watch the short video, or scroll and explore.
The declarations page summarizes key policy details, including who and what is insured, limits, deductibles, and listed forms.
The full policy and endorsements contain the terms that determine what your policy says it covers.
Four lines worth a closer look
Tap each line. Same four things every time: what it is, why it matters, where it is on your page, and what to ask.
1Replacement cost or actual cash value
What it is
Why it matters
Where to find it
A line called Loss Settlement on the declarations page, or an endorsement with Replacement Cost in its name. Roofs often have their own line.
Ask your agent
“Are my roof and my belongings paid at replacement cost or actual cash value?”
CoverageDecoder finds each one in your policy, quotes the page, and explains what it means.
2The storm deductible
What it is
Why it matters
Where to find it
The Deductibles section. Look for a second line under the flat dollar one.
Ask your agent
“Which deductible applies to wind or hail, and what does it come to in dollars on my house?”
CoverageDecoder finds each one in your policy, quotes the page, and explains what it means.
3Special limits
What it is
Why it matters
Where to find it
A list called Special Limits of Liability, usually on page two of the declarations.
Ask your agent
“Which of my things are over these limits, and would listing them separately make sense?”
CoverageDecoder finds each one in your policy, quotes the page, and explains what it means.
4Endorsements
What it is
Why it matters
Where to find it
Forms and Endorsements, near the bottom of the declarations page, listed by form number. The full text of each one is further back in the packet.
Ask your agent
“Which of these add coverage, and which limit or remove it?”
CoverageDecoder finds each one in your policy, quotes the page, and explains what it means.
When do you get it and where is it?
When it arrives
When the policy is first written, again at every renewal (usually a month or two before the renewal date), and any time you make a change, like adding coverage or a new mortgage company.
Where to look
Most insurers put it in their app or website under “policy documents” or “declarations.” Smaller and regional companies may not have an app; check the packet that came in the mail.
Can't find it?
Call the customer service number on your bill or insurance card and ask them to email it. If you have an agent, the agent can send it too. If renewal is coming and nothing has arrived, ask.
Read the rest of the page
Open each section as you move down your own declarations page.
Policy dates
Near the top you will find the policy period: the effective date and the expiration date. Homeowners policies typically renew every 12 months.
Check this section carefully when you move, refinance, or switch insurers. If you make a change mid-term, the declarations page may show an endorsement date next to the change.
Who and what is insured
The named insured is usually the person or people who bought the policy. The page also shows the property address and may include details such as construction type, year built, or square footage.
Make sure the address matches the property. Condo documents may reference an association master policy. A renters policy names the tenant and rented residence, not the landlord.
Dwelling, or Coverage A
This is the amount shown for the house, attached structures, and built-in fixtures. The full policy explains how that limit applies.
It can also be the anchor for other limits. Other structures, belongings, and loss of use are often set as percentages of Coverage A, so changing it can move other numbers.
Other Structures, or Coverage B
This line applies to detached structures such as a detached garage, fence, shed, or gazebo. The amount is often a percentage of Coverage A, but policies vary.
If you have an expensive detached structure, ask your licensed agent how the shown limit and full policy terms apply.
Personal Property, or Coverage C
This is the amount shown for belongings such as furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances, and other movable items. The full policy contains the terms and special limits.
Jewelry, watches, firearms, art, and electronics may have smaller special limits. Use a home inventory to organize what you own before speaking with your licensed agent.
Loss of Use, or Coverage D
Also called additional living expense, this section addresses extra costs when a covered loss makes the home unlivable, such as temporary housing and costs above normal living expenses.
The declarations page may show a dollar amount or a percentage. The full policy may also include time limits and documentation requirements.
Liability and Medical Payments, or Coverages E and F
Personal liability addresses legal defense and damages when an insured is legally responsible for injury or property damage to others, subject to the full terms.
Medical payments to others is a smaller amount for certain medical bills involving guests. It does not apply to the insured or household members.
Deductibles
A deductible is the amount the policyholder pays first when a covered loss is subject to that deductible. The page may list a flat amount and separate percentage deductibles for wind, hail, hurricane, or named storms.
Read the declarations page with the full policy to learn when each deductible applies.
Forms and endorsements
Endorsements add, remove, or change standard policy terms. The declarations page usually lists them by form number and sometimes by title.
Examples may address water backup, scheduled personal property, home business, earthquake, inflation guard, or roof settlement. Match each listing to the full form or ask your licensed agent what it changes.
Premium, fees, and discounts
The declarations page shows the premium for the current term and may list fees, taxes, and discounts.
If the premium changes at renewal, compare the current and prior declarations pages. Ask your insurer or licensed agent to explain the differences.
Questions you may want to ask your agent
- 1Are my belongings and my roof paid at replacement cost or actual cash value?
- 2Which deductible applies to wind, hail, or hurricane, and what does it come to in dollars?
- 3Which listed endorsements add terms, and which ones limit or remove terms?
- 4Are any of my valuables above the special limits, and should we discuss listing them separately?
See the full list of questions to ask your insurance agent, with an email ready to copy.
Now that you can read the numbers on your declarations page, the next question is what those coverages actually do. Our guide to what homeowners insurance typically covers walks through the main parts.
Common questions
Is the declarations page the whole policy?
No. It is the summary at the front. The full policy and its endorsements contain the terms, exclusions, and conditions that decide how each limit applies.
Where do I find my declarations page?
In your insurer's app or website under policy documents, in the renewal packet, or by asking your agent or the customer service number on your bill to email it.
How often does it change?
A new one is issued when the policy is written, at each renewal, and whenever you make a change, such as adding coverage or a new mortgage company.
Can CoverageDecoder read it for me?
Yes. Upload your declarations page or full policy as a PDF for the $9 full review. A declarations page alone gives a shorter report, because exclusions and conditions live in the full policy.
Keep reading
Want your own policy explained?
That is how declarations pages work in general. What matters is what yours says. Start with a free quick check, or upload your declarations page or full policy PDF for the $9 full review, with page citations and questions for your agent.
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CoverageDecoder is an educational tool, not insurance advice. For decisions about your coverage, talk with your licensed insurance agent.