Reconciliation Methodology
Our deterministic rules engine is open and transparent. We document how fields are extracted, how multi-car policies are matched, and how billing schedules are audited.
1. Canonical Field Definitions
Auto declarations pages vary drastically by insurance carrier. Our normalizer extracts and categorizes fields into standardized data structures:
| Category | Canonical Field | Description | Recognized Aliases |
|---|---|---|---|
| policy | Total Policy Term Premium | The full cost stated on the declaration page for the specified policy period. | Total Policy Premium, 6 Month Premium, 12 Month Premium, Term Premium |
| policy | Policy Period | The starting (effective) and ending (expiration) dates of coverage. | Effective Dates, Policy Term, Period of Insurance |
| liability | Bodily Injury Liability | Covers injuries to others when you are at fault in an auto accident (per person / per accident limits). | BI Liability, Bodily Injury, BI Limits |
| liability | Property Damage Liability | Covers damage to another persons vehicle or property when you are at fault. | PD Liability, Property Damage, PD Limit |
| liability | Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) | Protects you and your passengers if struck by a driver who lacks sufficient auto insurance. | UM/UIM, Uninsured Motorist BI, Underinsured Motorist |
| medical | Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | No-fault coverage paying medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. | PIP, No-Fault Medical, Personal Injury |
| medical | Medical Payments (MedPay) | Direct medical expense reimbursement for you and passengers after an accident. | Med Pay, Medical Expense, Medical Payments to Others |
| physical_damage | Collision Deductible | Your out-of-pocket cost before insurance covers repairs from an accident or rollover. | Collision Ded, Coll Deductible, Collision |
| physical_damage | Comprehensive Deductible | Your out-of-pocket cost for non-collision events (theft, vandalism, weather, animal strike, glass). | Other Than Collision, Comp Ded, Comprehensive |
| options | Rental Car Reimbursement | Daily allowance for a replacement rental car while your vehicle is repaired after a covered claim. | Transportation Expense, Rental Car Coverage, Car Rental |
| options | Roadside Assistance & Towing | Emergency towing, flat tire change, lockout, fuel delivery, and jumpstart services. | Towing and Labor, Emergency Road Service, Roadside |
| bill | Current Amount Due | The immediate payment requested on your renewal billing notice. | Total Due, Minimum Due, Current Payment Due |
2. Multi-Vehicle Matching Logic
When households insure multiple vehicles, declaration pages frequently reorder or renumber vehicles between renewal terms. The engine matches vehicles via a 3-tier deterministic cascade:
- Exact VIN Match (Tier 1, 100% confidence): Matches against the 4-digit or 17-digit VIN snippet when present on both declaration pages.
- Year + Make + Model Match (Tier 2, 90% confidence): Matches exact year, manufacturer, and trim descriptors (e.g. "2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE").
- Make + Model Fuzzy Alignment (Tier 3, 75% confidence): Flags potential vehicle replacement or typo for user confirmation in Step 2 of the review workflow.
3. Billing Schedule Reconciliation Formula
Insurance billing statements separate full-term policy premiums from payment plan fees. The mathematical check verifies:
If the sum of scheduled payments differs from the declaration page stated premium by more than $1.00, the ledger assigns state Needs Confirmation and provides itemized questions to clarify administrative fees or prior-term balance carryovers.
4. Primary Regulatory Sources & Bibliography
Consumer Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance
Outlines standard 6- to 12-month auto policy renewal periods, line-by-line coverage comparison worksheets, and consumer rights.
What is a Declarations Page?
Defines standard declaration page components (coverages, limits, deductibles, endorsements, vehicle schedules) and explains why a dec page is a summary rather than the complete insurance contract.
How to Read Your Auto or Home Insurance Declarations Page
Consumer educational resource explaining how deductibles, limits, and listed drivers affect renewal billing.
Automobile Insurance Information Guide
Official state guide covering mandatory liability minimums, comprehensive & collision physical damage, and consumer rate-filing review transparency.
New York Consumer Guide to Automobile Insurance
Comprehensive breakdown of No-Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP), supplementary uninsured motorist limits, and policyholder billing protections.