How do I read my insurance declaration page?

Every insurance policy begins with a declaration page — commonly called the dec page — that condenses your entire coverage program into a one- or two-page summary. For tree service owners, understanding how to read this document is essential because errors on the dec page can leave you uninsured or non-compliant with contract requirements.

The top section identifies the named insured, which should match your legal business entity name exactly. If your LLC is registered as 'Smith Tree Care LLC' but the dec page reads 'Smith Tree Service,' you could face claim denials. The mailing address, policy number, and policy period (effective and expiration dates) also appear here. Verify that the policy period aligns with what you purchased — a common error is a policy that starts on the wrong date, leaving a gap in coverage.

The middle section lists each coverage part with its corresponding limits and deductibles. For a typical tree service GL policy, you will see the per-occurrence limit (commonly $1,000,000), the general aggregate limit ($2,000,000), the products-completed operations aggregate ($2,000,000), personal and advertising injury limit ($1,000,000), damage to rented premises ($100,000 or $300,000), and medical expense limit ($5,000 or $10,000). For workers' compensation, you will see the statutory limit for Coverage A and the employers' liability limits for Coverage B (typically $500,000/$500,000/$500,000 or $1,000,000/$1,000,000/$1,000,000). Commercial auto will show liability limits, uninsured/underinsured motorist limits, and physical damage deductibles.

The premium section breaks down what you are paying for each coverage part. Review this carefully against your quote — carriers occasionally transpose numbers or apply incorrect class codes. For workers' comp, check that the NCCI class code (0106 for tree trimming) and estimated payroll figures are correct, as these directly drive your premium calculation. Incorrect payroll estimates will result in a larger audit adjustment at policy expiration.

Finally, the dec page lists the forms and endorsements attached to the policy. These are identified by form numbers (like CG 00 01 for the commercial general liability coverage form) and edition dates. Important endorsements to verify include your blanket additional insured endorsement, waiver of subrogation endorsement, primary and noncontributory endorsement, and any exclusions. If a scheduled endorsement is missing from this list, the coverage it provides does not exist on your policy regardless of what was discussed verbally.

Review your dec page within 48 hours of receiving it and compare every line item against your quote and your clients' contract requirements. If anything is wrong, contact your broker immediately to request a correction endorsement.