What do you call untrue statements made on an insurance application?

Untrue statements made on an insurance application are referred to as misrepresentations. This term specifically denotes inaccurate information provided by the applicant that can affect the underwriting process. Misrepresentations can be intentional or unintentional, but they are crucial because they can influence the insurer's decision on whether to issue a policy and under what terms.

In the context of insurance applications, a representation is a statement that is believed to be true and is made to the best of the applicant's knowledge, while a warranty is a statement that guarantees a particular fact is true. Declarations typically refer to the formal sections of an insurance policy that outline coverage, limits, and other basic information rather than the truth of the statements made during the application process. Misrepresentations specifically highlight inaccuracies that could lead to issues in claims handling or policy enforcement.