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Policy Endorsements

Changes to Your Policy During Its Current Period

Policy endorsements are unilateral modifications to the terms of your policy. They come in those pesky letters from your insurance company and they look like junk mail.

Most people do not even read them.

In these endorsements, the insurance carrier will change important pieces of the policy.

They might change the definition of a word. They might also change the word “and” to “or” in certain places.

Your carrier will not wait for you to renew your policy to incorporate the changes they think will benefit them. Instead they will send policy endorsements to make these changes effective immediately. Once the policy is renewed, the changes should be included in your new auto policy.

Policy endorsements are considered part of the policy itself, so you need to be aware of what changes the carrier is making.

If you do not have a copy of your insurance policy, then the best thing to do is to call your agent and ask for your policy declarations, your auto policy, and any endorsements that are active.

Many agents will have to get back to you on that. They do not know what is going on with the underwriting department, and probably are not aware of the latest endorsement modifications.

If you do have a claim, be sure to have the three pieces of the policy are in front of you. This way, the adjuster cannot tell you that there was a change or that there was something that you missed.

Make them point out to you exactly the policy language they are using in YOUR auto policy (same issue, edition, and publication date).

If the change is not crystal clear, then remember the Interpretation of the Policy concept.

Now that you know how to piece together the declarations page, the auto policy, and the policy endorsements, you can now learn the overview of your insurance coverages.

Did you know that your insurance company can change the terms of your policy in the middle of the policy period? Unfortunately, they can. If you are in a situation where a claim is being denied because of modifications by policy endorsements, then you need to contact an attorney to help you with your claim. 

More about the auto policy below:

Learn How to Read Your Auto Insurance Policy
Auto Policy Declarations Page
Auto Dec. Page II
The Auto Policy Part I
The Policy Part II
Read Your Policy Endorsements

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