Overview

Why this guide matters

A denial letter is not the policy. A statement of minimum limits is not the policy. A declarations page is not the full policy. Colorado law gives disclosure rights that matter before suit, and those rights should be used early, in writing, with proof of delivery.

Liability-policy information affects settlement value, permissive-use disputes, work-use questions, umbrella and excess coverage, commercial-coverage investigation, release drafting, and whether the injured person's own UM/UIM carrier needs accurate liability information.

Why this matters

Policy information changes strategy. It affects whether a claimant should settle, whether a release is safe, whether a work-use or household issue may enlarge the insurance picture, and whether the injured person's own UM/UIM carrier can evaluate the claim accurately.

Start here first

Get the claim number, date of loss, insurer name, insured party name, a written request with proof of delivery, and a clean deadline log. Those basics make the difference between a vague demand and a trackable statutory request.

Reader warning: Do not assume a carrier has complied just because it gave you a limits letter, declarations page, adjuster email, or coverage opinion. The statute requires specific information and, for claimant requests, a copy of each known policy that is or may be relevant to the claim.

Start Here

What to gather first

Core identifiers The claim number, date of loss, full name of the at-fault driver or insured party, insurer name, policy number if known, and claim adjuster contact information.

Delivery proof A written disclosure request with proof of service or delivery, plus a calendar entry for the 30-day deadline. Claimant requests under C.R.S. § 10-3-1117 should be sent to the insurer's registered agent.

Response log Keep every response from the insurer or insured party and maintain a log showing what was produced, what was withheld, when it was received, and whether the production included endorsements.

Role framing Know whether you are proceeding as an insured party or as a claimant. The statute gives different rights and duties depending on which role you occupy.

Coverage scope Frame the request broadly enough to include each policy that is or may be relevant, including excess, umbrella, commercial auto, employer, owner, hired auto, or non-owned auto coverage where facts justify the request.

Issue Spotting

Plain-English issue spotting

Questions to ask immediately

Are you proceeding as an insured party or as a claimant?
Was the request written?
Was the claimant request sent to the insurer's registered agent?
Was the request broad enough to reach each policy that is or may be relevant?
Did the insurer produce the actual policy or only a summary?
Were endorsements included?
Was umbrella or excess coverage addressed?

Common traps

The insurer produces only a declarations page.
The insurer produces only a limits letter.
No endorsements are provided.
The insurer decides on its own that another policy is “not relevant.”
The insured party ignores a written request for known insurers.
The response arrives after day 30 without full production.
The claimant shares disclosed information beyond what the statute permits.

Practical rule: The carrier's opinion about coverage is not a substitute for the policy text itself.

Statutory Language

The statutory framework, with practical guidance

The blocks below keep the statute-focused language distinct from the practical explanation under each block. This preserves the page's legal-and-practical function while making it easier for public readers to follow.

A. Legislative declaration behind the disclosure statute

Colorado's policy is to promote transparency in the insurance claims process, encourage settlement, prevent unnecessary litigation, and help claimants and injured parties understand the total amount of insurance coverage available to them.

Guidance: This is the policy foundation for the guide. The disclosure law is not a technical formality. It exists so injured people can evaluate available coverage, settlement options, and possible UM/UIM issues before making irreversible decisions.

B. Insured-party right to obtain the complete policy

Not more than 30 calendar days after receiving a written request from an insured party, an insurer that issues a commercial automobile or personal automobile policy of insurance for delivery in Colorado must provide the insured party a copy of the complete policy, including endorsements.

Guidance: This is the insured-side disclosure right. The statute requires the complete policy, including endorsements, within 30 calendar days after a written request.

C. Claimant right to request liability-policy information

An insurer that provides or may provide commercial automobile or personal automobile liability insurance coverage to pay all or part of a pending or prospective claim must provide the claimant or claimant's attorney, within 30 calendar days after receiving a written request sent to the insurer's registered agent, information regarding each known policy of insurance of the named insured, including excess or umbrella insurance, that is or may be relevant to the claim.

Guidance: This is the core claimant-side rule. It reaches each known policy that is or may be relevant to the claim, including umbrella or excess coverage, and it requires a copy of the policy itself.

D. What the claimant-side disclosure must include

The required disclosure includes the name of the insurer, the name of each insured party as the name appears on the declarations page, the limits of liability coverage, and a copy of the policy.

Guidance: A limits-only response is incomplete. A declarations-page-only response is incomplete. A response without the policy and endorsements may leave the claimant unable to evaluate exclusions, definitions, conditions, other-insurance clauses, and release risk.

E. Insured party's duty to disclose known insurers

An insured party, upon written request of a claimant or claimant's attorney, must disclose the name and coverage of each known insurer of the insured party.

Guidance: This provision matters when the claimant is dealing directly with the tortfeasor or policyholder. The insured party also has a disclosure duty. That duty may be important where the claimant suspects umbrella, excess, employer, owner, or business coverage.

F. Penalty for violation

An insurer that violates the disclosure section is liable to the requesting claimant for $100 per day, beginning on and including the 31st day following receipt of the claimant's written request. The penalty accrues until the insurer provides the required information. The insurer is also responsible for attorney fees and costs incurred by a claimant in enforcing the penalty.

Guidance: This is the enforcement mechanism. Calendar day 31 immediately and keep proof of receipt. A clean delivery record is critical.

G. Confidentiality limitation in the statute

The claimant and any attorney of the claimant must not disclose the claimant-side disclosure information to any party, except that the claimant and claimant's attorney may discuss the information with the claimant's insurer.

Guidance: This is a practical caution. The statute limits onward disclosure of information obtained through the claimant-side request process, with a carve-out for discussion with the claimant's own insurer.

H. Definition of claimant

For purposes of the disclosure section, a claimant means a person that has provided notice to an insurer of a potential claim.

Guidance: The disclosure right begins early. A person can qualify as a claimant by providing notice of a potential claim.

I. DOI / DORA consumer path

The Colorado Division of Insurance regulates the insurance industry, helps consumers understand insurance, answers consumer questions, and investigates complaints.

Guidance: The DOI complaint path can help create an administrative record when a disclosure response is late, incomplete, evasive, or inconsistent with Colorado law. A complaint is not a substitute for legal advice or litigation when enforcement is required.

In Practice

What this means in practice

The strongest consumer-side points

Colorado law gives insured parties the right to obtain the complete policy, including endorsements, within 30 calendar days after a written request.
Colorado law gives claimants a right to obtain insurer identity, insured names as shown on the declarations page, liability limits, and a copy of each policy that is or may be relevant to the claim.
The claimant-side rule includes known umbrella or excess insurance that is or may be relevant to the claim.
The statute includes a $100-per-day penalty beginning on day 31, plus attorney fees and costs, for violations by insurers.
The legislative declaration ties the disclosure rule to settlement transparency and UM/UIM evaluation.

The strongest pressure points and traps

The request must be written.
Claimant requests under subsection (2) must be sent to the insurer's registered agent.
The request should be broad enough to capture each policy that is or may be relevant.
A mere limits letter is not the same as a copy of the policy.
A declarations page alone is not the complete policy.
Proof of delivery and a clean deadline record matter.
The confidentiality language in subsection (4) should be respected.

Practical rule: If the carrier has produced only a declarations page, a minimum-limits statement, or an adjuster's coverage opinion, the disclosure process may still be incomplete.

Model Request

Model written-request points

A disclosure request should be direct, trackable, and broad enough to reach every known policy that is or may be relevant. The exact wording should be adapted to the facts.

#	Request item
1	Name of the insurer.
2	Name of each insured party as shown on the declarations page.
3	Liability limits for each known policy that is or may be relevant to the claim, including excess or umbrella insurance.
4	A copy of each policy, including declarations, forms, schedules, exclusions, conditions, and endorsements.
5	Identification of any insurer that provides or may provide coverage for all or part of the claim.
6	Confirmation of the date the request was received.
7	Written explanation if any known policy is withheld on the ground that it is not relevant.

Checklist for a Colorado policy-disclosure claimant

Basic records Written request letter or email, proof of service or delivery, claim number, date of loss, name of insured tortfeasor and insurer, and registered-agent information.

What should come back Insurer name, insured names as shown on the declarations page, liability limits, a copy of each policy that is or may be relevant, and umbrella or excess policy information if applicable.

Red flags Only a minimum-limits letter is produced, only a declarations page is produced, no endorsements are provided, a policy is withheld as supposedly “not relevant,” or the insurer responds after day 30 without full production.

Deadline Log

Track the 30-day deadline

The penalty question turns on receipt and compliance. Keep a simple record that can be understood months later.

Item to track	Why it matters
Date request sent	Shows when the statutory process began from your side.
Recipient and address	For claimant requests, confirm the request was sent to the insurer's registered agent.
Proof of receipt	The 30-day clock is measured from receipt, so delivery proof is critical.
Day 30	Calendar the compliance deadline.
Day 31	Calendar the first day on which the statutory $100-per-day penalty may begin for insurer noncompliance.
Documents received	List exactly what was produced: limits letter, declarations page, policy, endorsements, umbrella policy, or other documents.
Documents missing	Identify what was not produced so follow-up is specific and enforceable.

Documentation warning: A late, partial, or evasive disclosure response is much harder to enforce if you cannot prove the date of receipt and exactly what was missing.

FAQ

Common questions

Is a limits letter enough? No. The claimant-side statute requires specified information and a copy of the policy for each known relevant policy. A limits letter alone does not show definitions, exclusions, endorsements, or other-insurance provisions.

Does the statute include umbrella or excess insurance? Yes. The claimant-side disclosure rule expressly includes known excess or umbrella insurance that is or may be relevant to the claim.

Why does the registered-agent requirement matter? The claimant-side request provision requires the written request to be sent to the insurer's registered agent. A request sent only to an adjuster may create avoidable disputes about statutory compliance.

Can the disclosed information be shared publicly? The statute contains a confidentiality limitation for claimant-side information. The claimant and claimant's attorney may discuss the information with the claimant's insurer, but broader disclosure is restricted.

Should this be done before signing a release? Yes. A release can waive claims before all relevant policies are known. Policy disclosure helps prevent settlement decisions based on incomplete coverage information.

Authorities

Colorado authorities and public resources

The links below point to Colorado statute, DOI/DORA, and legislative resources readers can use to verify the disclosure rules and consumer process.

C.R.S. § 10-3-1117 — Required liability disclosures Primary Colorado statute governing required automobile-policy disclosures to insured parties and claimants. Read C.R.S. § 10-3-1117

C.R.S. § 10-3-1101 — Legislative declaration Explains Colorado’s public policy favoring transparency in the insurance claims process, settlement, and informed UM/UIM evaluation. Read C.R.S. § 10-3-1101

HB19-1283 — Disclosure of insurance liability coverage Colorado General Assembly bill page summarizing the enacted disclosure law and its required contents. View HB19-1283

Regulation 5-2-03 / 3 CCR 702-5 Colorado regulation concerning requests for commercial or personal automobile policy information from a claimant or claimant's attorney. Read Regulation 5-2-03 Search the official Colorado Code of Regulations

C.R.S. §§ 10-3-1115 and 10-3-1116 — Unreasonable delay or denial Related first-party statutes often considered when insurer conduct becomes a separate issue, especially for MedPay, UM/UIM, collision, or comprehensive benefits. Read C.R.S. § 10-3-1115 Read C.R.S. § 10-3-1116

C.R.S. § 10-4-609 — UM/UIM coverage Important because liability-policy disclosure helps injured people and their own insurers evaluate whether uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits may be triggered. Read C.R.S. § 10-4-609

Colorado Division of Insurance / DORA consumer resources Colorado DOI regulates the insurance industry, helps consumers understand insurance, answers questions, and investigates complaints. Visit DORA insurance resources File a DORA complaint

Colorado DOI auto-insurance resources Consumer-facing resources for Colorado automobile insurance questions and claim-related concerns. Visit DOI auto-insurance resources

Colorado DOI automobile liability disclosure request resources Colorado DOI resource page for automobile insurance liability policy disclosure requests and related forms or guidance. Visit DOI disclosure request resources

Short glossary

Claimant: A person who has provided notice to an insurer of a potential claim.
Insured party: The person insured under the policy whose insurer information may be requested.
Registered agent: The service address point the claimant must use for a claimant-side request under C.R.S. § 10-3-1117.
Declarations page: The page showing insured names, covered autos, limits, premiums, policy period, and related summary information.
Endorsements: Policy forms that modify the main contract and should be included when the complete policy is produced.
Excess or umbrella insurance: Additional liability coverage that may apply above a primary policy and must be considered when it is known and may be relevant to the claim.

Bottom line

Policy disclosures are gateway rights. Use them early, in writing, with proof of delivery and a deadline log. Do not let a limits letter, declarations page, or coverage opinion replace the actual policy when Colorado law requires more.

About

About this page

This page provides public-interest educational information and commentary for Colorado auto-insurance readers. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. Every disclosure dispute depends on its own facts, delivery proof, policy wording, deadlines, release language, confidentiality limits, and governing law.