Car Insurance Lingo 101 - ‘Dec Pages’

Like many other professionals, insurance agents often throw around industry jargon that you may not understand. Some of them do it subconsciously - they’re so out of touch with the everyday world that they fail to realize that not everyone devotes his or her entire life to insurance! But worse yet are the agents who try to use fancy terminology to confuse you and make themselves look all-knowing.

Dec Pages - Fancy Name for a Simple Document

One such term that gets thrown around in insurance offices is “dec pages.” The typical scenario consists of an agent using the term several times throughout your discussion and then asking you, “Do you know where your dec pages are?” When you have to admit that you don’t know what the term means, he has won. Now you feel inferior, and he is the omnipotent financial professional who must be trusted and admired.

Since “dec pages” is such a commonly used insurance term, it is important that you understand its meaning. By merely understanding this simple term, you will have a major leg up on any insurance agents who try to play the jargon card.

“Dec page” is short for “declarations page” - a simple document that identifies the insured parties and the insurer; what is covered, including where, when and at what limits; and applicable rates and premiums per vehicle and per policy period. More specifically, your dec pages will define the duration of insurance and all limits associated with the policy, and contain additional information about the insured parties, the automobiles being insured, a list of any endorsements that apply, and the premiums that you have to pay.

So… Do You Know Where Your Dec Pages Are?

Even more important than understanding the simple term is understanding your coverage. Like most professionals, insurance agents enjoy the leverage of superior knowledge over their clients, but as with stockbrokers, real estate agents, and even doctors and lawyers, the internet is greatly mitigating the advantage that insurance agents have. If you simply read your dec pages and know the types of coverage you carry, you are already ahead of the vast majority of insurance consumers.

Knowledge is power, and in the case of car insurance, this power can be utilized to lower your premiums through comparison shopping. Talk to several agents from several different car insurance companies - with the internet, it’s easy. Insurance premiums are priced in the free market, so if you search out the best coverage for your budget, you will find it. Is it worth the time you will need to devote? Well, if you’re a brain surgeon who makes several thousand dollars an hour, then perhaps not. But to most people, saving a few hundred dollars by devoting just a couple of hours to research and comparison shopping is more than worth it.

And of course, the good news is that web sites like this one make it even easier to save money. We have collected more than 80 articles on car insurance that provide a basic education in an easily digested format. Once you’re armed with the knowledge, then it is time to shop for car insurance quotes. By devoting just a minimal amount of time to your financial education, you could potentially save yourself money while enhancing your coverage at the same time.