Quoting a Live Transfer From the Dec Page
The caller's declarations page is the fastest route to an accurate, apples-to-apples quote. Here's how to ask for it, what to read first, and how to use it to win the switch.
TL;DR
On a live transfer, the caller's current declarations page gives you their drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and current premium in one document. Asking for it early speeds up the quote, makes the comparison apples to apples, and surfaces coverage gaps you can use to justify the switch.
A live transfer gives you a caller who's ready to talk. What it doesn't give you is their current policy in front of you. Most agents spend the first ten minutes of the call rebuilding it from memory: "How many cars? What year? What are your limits now? Not sure? Okay, let's guess."
The declarations page fixes that. It's the one document that already holds almost everything you need, and most callers can find it in under a minute.
Why ask for the dec page at all?
Three reasons, and each one shows up in your close rate.
- Speed. Drivers, vehicles, VINs, addresses and current limits in one place means a first price sooner.
- Accuracy. Quoting from the real policy instead of the caller's memory means fewer surprises at bind.
- A fair comparison. You quote the same coverage they have today, so the price difference is real.
The last one matters most. A caller who saves money because you quietly quoted lower limits will find out at the first claim. A caller who saves money on the same coverage stays.
When should you ask for it?
Early, but not first. Open the call the way you normally would: confirm who they are, what they're shopping for, and why they're shopping now. Then ask for the dec page while you're still building rapport.
A simple version:
"The fastest way for me to get you an accurate price is to work from your current policy. Do you have your declarations page handy? It's usually in your carrier's app or in your email. You can text me a photo or send the PDF."
Most callers know what the app is, even if they don't know the term "declarations page." If they can't find it, don't stall the call. Start the intake by hand and keep the request open. Many callers find it a few minutes in.
What should you read first?
Once you have it, don't read it top to bottom. Go to the parts that change the quote.
Section | What you're looking for |
|---|---|
Named drivers | Everyone in the household, and anyone excluded |
Vehicles | Year, make, model, VIN, and how each is used |
Liability limits | The numbers you'll match, and whether they're too low |
Deductibles | Comprehensive and collision, per vehicle |
Endorsements | Rental, roadside, gap, custom equipment |
Term and premium | What they pay now, and for how long |
The premium and term matter more than agents think. A six-month premium compared against an annual quote makes your price look twice as high. Confirm the term before you say any number out loud.
How do you turn the dec page into a reason to switch?
Price gets the caller on the phone. Coverage is often what closes them. While you're reading, look for gaps you can raise honestly:
- Liability limits at the state minimum. Many callers don't know what their limits are, or what they'd owe if a serious accident went past them.
- No uninsured motorist coverage, or limits that don't match their liability.
- A missing household driver. That's a claim problem waiting to happen, and it's better found now.
- High deductibles they can't actually afford. Ask what they'd do with a $1,000 bill tomorrow.
You don't have to upsell every gap. But naming one or two shows the caller you read their policy, and the comparison becomes "better coverage for about the same price" instead of "a slightly cheaper price."
What about callers who won't share it?
Some won't, and that's fine. Quote from the conversation, note what you assumed, and tell the caller the price may move once you see the policy. Then ask again at the end: "If you can send that page tonight, I'll double-check everything and make sure there are no surprises." Agents who follow up with a corrected quote often close the deal on the second call.
Let the software do the reading
Reading a dec page by hand still takes time, and it's easy to mis-key a VIN. A good intake tool should read the document for you. Drop in the PDF or photo, and the drivers, vehicles and limits fill in on their own. Your agent checks the result instead of typing it. We wrote more about that in what to look for in a comparative rater.
The bottom line
The dec page is the shortest path from "hello" to an accurate price. Ask for it early, read the parts that change the quote, match the coverage before you compare prices, and use what you find to give the caller a reason to switch beyond a few dollars.
In Truvo Platform, your agents drop the dec page into the rater and it reads the drivers, cars and limits for them, so the first price comes while the caller is still warm. Get started or see how live transfers work.