Declarations Page
What Are Insurance Declaration Pages?
A declarations page (often called a dec page, POI, or proof of insurance) is a summary of your insurance policy.
It shows the key details of your coverage at a glance, like:
- Who is insured (you or your business)
- What coverage you have
- How much coverage you have (your limits)
- When your policy starts and ends
- Your policy number (and sometimes your premium)
Think of a declarations page like the ingredients label on a dog food bag. The full policy is the whole bag. The declarations page just tells you what’s in it, fast.
For pet pros, the declarations page of your insurance policy is mostly a reference document. If your info is incorrect on this page, it can slow things down or cause your coverage to be rejected.
You’ll usually use your declarations page to:
- Double-check your coverage, limits, and dates
- Make sure your business name on your policy matches your contracts
- Share more detailed proof of coverage, if requested
Pro Tip:
Did someone ask to see your declarations page? That’s not a red flag. When someone needs proof of insurance, you usually send a certificate of insurance (COI). If they ask to also see your declarations page, it just means they want more detail. It’s less common, but nothing to worry about.
What’s on a Declarations Page?
Here’s what you’ll typically see on the declaration page of an insurance policy and why it matters.
| What You’ll See | What It Means |
|---|---|
|
Named insured |
Your legal business name. This should match your contracts exactly. |
|
Policy number |
Your policy number. |
|
Policy dates |
When your coverage starts and ends. |
|
Coverage types |
What’s included (like general liability). |
|
Coverage limits |
The most your policy will pay. |
|
Business address |
Where your business operates. |
|
Premium |
What you paid (sometimes shown). |
Pro Tip: Before sending your declarations page to a landlord or a client, check that your name, dates, and limits are correct. Better to get it updated now than have problems with uncovered claims later.
Is a Declarations Page the Same as a Certificate of Insurance?
Nope. These are both summaries of your coverage, but with different levels of detail.
| Document | What It’s For | Who Uses It |
|---|---|---|
|
Declarations page |
Full summary of your policy details |
Usually just you |
|
Certificate of insurance (COI) |
Proof of coverage for others |
Landlords, clients, venues |
Quick way to remember:
- Declarations page = mostly for your own reference
- COI = mostly proof for others
Some landlords or contracts may ask for your declarations page instead of your COI. You’ll usually just need to share one or the other. Default to sending your COI unless someone asks for your declarations page specifically.
Where Do I Find My Declarations Page?
At PCI, you can usually find it:
- By logging into your user dashboard
- In your full policy PDF (it’s usually the first page)
- By asking customer service to help you
If you update something (like your name, address, or coverage), make sure to download the latest version of your declarations page so everything matches.
Insurance can feel like a big stack of confusing documents. Your declarations page is the one that helps it all make sense. Once you know where to look, you can quickly check your coverage, confirm you meet requirements, and catch issues before they turn into delays.
Keep Sniffing Around
- Certificate of insurance (COI)
- Limits of Insurance
- Named Insured
- Premium
- Effective date
- General liability insurance
Kyle Jude | Program Manager
Kyle Jude is the Program Manager for PCI, where he helps design and maintain liability coverage specifically for pet professionals. With 10+ years of insurance industry experience, he works closely with carriers, underwriters, and compliance teams to ensure PCI coverage stays accurate, responsive, and relevant to real-world risks. At home, he puts that same expertise to use wrangling his four beloved dogs
Kyle Jude is the Program Manager for PCI, where he helps design and maintain liability coverage specifically for pet professionals. With 10+ years of insurance industry experience, he works closely with carriers, underwriters, and compliance teams to ensure PCI coverage stays accurate, responsive, and relevant to real-world risks. At home, he puts that same expertise to use wrangling his four beloved dogs