Glossary
Declarations Page
By LiabilityGap EditorialUpdated 2 min read
The short answer
Where do I find my actual liability limit — is it on the declarations page or the policy wording?
Your liability limit is on the declarations page — the one- or two-page summary at the front of your policy, commonly showing $1,000,000 beside "Legal Liability" or "Third Party Liability." The policy wording (sometimes called the policy wording form) is the separate, longer document containing the full contract, exclusions, and definitions that govern how a claim actually plays out.
A declarations page is the one- or two-page summary at the front of your insurance policy. Often called the "dec page," it lists who is insured, what property or vehicles are covered, the policy period, each coverage with its dollar limit and deductible, every endorsement attached to the policy, and the premium. It is the answer key to your own insurance — and most Canadians have never read theirs. Some people ask their broker for the "policy wording" or "policy wording form" when what they actually need first is this shorter summary — the two documents are related but not the same, and the difference is explained below.
Why it matters to you#
Almost every question this site raises — what's my liability limit? do I have a short-term rental endorsement? is my boat covered? — is answered on the declarations page in under a minute. It's also what a broker will ask for when quoting an umbrella policy, because umbrella insurers require specific minimum limits on your underlying policies (commonly $1 million or $2 million) and the dec page proves what you carry. One caution: the dec page is a summary, not the contract. The limits it lists are real, but they're governed by the full policy wording and its exclusions. Read the dec page to learn your numbers; read the wording to learn your gaps.
How to read yours#
- Find it: it's the first page or two of the policy package your insurer sends at renewal, or the first document in your insurer's app or portal.
- Home policy: look for "Legal Liability" or "Personal Liability," usually listed under Section II. The figure beside it — on most Canadian policies, $1,000,000 — is your limit for lawsuits against you.
- Auto policy: look for "Third Party Liability." Ontario's legal minimum is $200,000, but most drivers carry $1 million or $2 million.
- Then scan the endorsement list. Anything you do that isn't reflected there — hosting, renting, a new boat — is worth a call to your broker.
Pull your dec page, find the liability number, and then answer the harder question: is that number big enough for what you have to lose? Take the 2-minute Lawsuit Exposure Quiz →
Frequently asked questions
What is a declarations page?
The declarations page (or 'dec page') is the summary at the front of an insurance policy. It lists the named insured, the property or vehicles covered, the policy period, each coverage with its limit and deductible, all endorsements, and the premium.
Where do I find my liability limit?
On the declarations page. Look for 'Legal Liability' or 'Personal Liability' on a home policy, or 'Third Party Liability' on an auto policy, and read the dollar figure beside it. On most Canadian policies it will say $1,000,000.
Is the declarations page the whole policy?
No. It's a summary — the limits and endorsements it lists are governed by the full policy wording, including the exclusions. But for checking what your limits actually are, the dec page is the right place to start.
Is the declarations page the same thing as the 'policy wording'?
No, though people often use the terms loosely. The declarations page is the one- or two-page summary with your numbers on it. The policy wording (sometimes called the 'policy wording form') is the full contract — the pages of terms, definitions, and exclusions that actually govern a claim. Ask your broker for both.
How exposed are you? Most people have no idea.
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