Major Parts Of A Car Insurance Policy Document
When you buy auto insurance, your carrier will give you a policy document that explains your relationship with them. The policy document, which represents the legal contract between you and the insurance company, has specific information in different sections. Below are the sections or parts of a typical policy document.
Declarations
The declarations page is a brief page in your auto insurance policy. This page specifies, without going into too much detail, the critical details of your insurance policy. For example, the declarations page mentions:
- The insurance company
- The insured vehicle
- The vehicle's owner
- The policy number and type
- Coverage and endorsement
Scrutinize the declarations page as soon as you receive your policy document. Contact the agent or insurance company if you spot errors on the page.
Definitions
The insurance industry contains a lot of jargon that the average person might not understand. For example, insurance professionals and documents usually mention:
- Binders – temporary contracts
- Indemnity – loss compensation
- Subrogation – recovering insurance compensation from the liable party
The definitions page explains the meanings of the key terms the policy document uses.
Insuring Agreements
This part of the policy summarizes the agreement or contract you have with the insurance company. The summary contains the identity of the insured party, the scope of coverage, and the insurance company's responsibilities to you. The type of policy determines the specifics of the insuring agreement.
Exclusions and Limitations
Insurance policies have a specific coverage scope, and the exclusions and limitations page specifies this scope. The exclusions define what your insurance coverage won't cover. For example, personal auto insurance doesn't cover commercial use of your private car.
The limitations define the extent to which your insurance company will compensate you for the covered losses. For example, if you have a liability coverage of $50,000, then that is the maximum the insurance company can pay a third party for an injury claim against you.
Conditions
Just because you have auto insurance doesn't mean you are free to use your car as you wish and get compensation from the insurer in case of damage. The insurance policy conditions page defines the conditions you must keep to enjoy your coverage. For example, you must pay your premiums on time, avoid intentional car damage, and report accidents immediately.
The policy document look may vary by insurance company, but they all reveal details of your insurance contract with the carrier. The main thing is to understand your policy, which you can do by reading the document and seeking clarification from your insurance agent or company. For more information on automobile insurance, contact a professional near you.