How To Identify a Car Insurance Company Using a Policy Number
When it comes to identifying a car insurance policy, there are several key factors to consider. Start by evaluating your specific needs and requirements. Think about the type of coverage you need, such as liability, collision, comprehensive, or personal injury protection. Consider your driving habits, the value of your vehicle, and your budget.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Dec 11, 2023
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Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 11, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single insurance company.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Are you looking to purchase car insurance but feeling overwhelmed by the countless options available? In this comprehensive guide on “How to Identify a Car Insurance,” we will explore the key factors to consider when selecting the right policy for your needs. From understanding coverage types and limits to evaluating deductibles and discounts.
Stay tuned for expert tips and insights to help you make an informed decision. Ready to find the best insurance providers in your area? Enter your zip code now and compare rates to secure the ideal coverage for your vehicle and budget.
What is an insurance policy number?
A policy number is a special number or code that connects an auto insurance policy to its person. After getting into an accident, this number is shared with the other individual in order for a claim to be filed.
The next step is figuring out how to verify a number. Once you know this, you will know how to find an insurance company by policy number, such as a USAA policy number.
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How can you verify a policy number?
There are many reasons that someone might not give you all of their car insurance information. It’s possible that in the adrenaline and stress from the accident, the other driver just forgot. They may not carry their insurance cards and don’t have access to a digital insurance card.
Another possible reason for a driver not giving out all of the pertinent information is that they don’t have an auto policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 13 percent of drivers were uninsured in 2015. Uninsured drivers may try to avoid the consequences they will face for not having coverage.
So, there are certain steps you can take to find a company by policy number.
First, make sure that you have the entire policy number. Companies use different number formats so the number of characters could vary, but you will need to know the entire number.
If you’re given letters preceding or following the numbers, including those in your query as well; even though we refer to it as a number, this code can include letters depending on the provider. Some companies use letters in their policy numbers as state identifiers or to specify policy type, for example.
While you may see something like this, “CAPD 123456789,” you shouldn’t ever see a mixture of letters and numbers like “12B64F8332XA984Y.” A combination of sixteen letters and numbers is most likely a VIN number for a vehicle, not a policy number. Learning how to decode your VIN number is also important. Although how many numbers are in an insurance policy number vary, most policy numbers are nine to ten digits long.
Unlike the string of numbers at the bottom of your check, any beginning or ending zeros should be included when giving a policy number. Not all insurance companies have flexible search capabilities for their databases, so giving an incomplete entry won’t return any results.
This table will break down the steps you need to take to find the insurance company from a policy number.
Steps to Take if You Have a Policy Number to Find the Car Insurance Company
| Who to Contact | Actions to Find the Car Insurance Company |
|---|---|
| Call Your Agent | Report the accident. The other party might be covered by the same insurer, in which case your agent might recognize the policy number. |
| Call Other Insurance Companies | While it seems unlikely, the policy number can be sent to multiple organizations to see if it is one of their numbers. |
| Contact the DMV | They may not be able to prove any information, but you should try them anyway. |
| Ask Your Insurer to Put a Hold on the Claim | Although this process can take longer than the insurance company may allow, you will be able to request the police report once it is filed and get the information you need. |
In the event that the policy number you’ve been given looks incomplete or incorrect, try to get a copy of the police report if one was made.
Although the other driver (hopefully) wrote down their information to give you, police officers are required to take down insurance information from an ID card themselves so it’s much more likely to be accurate. If a cop forgets to return your insurance card, read how to get it back here.
The police report should also include the name of the other driver’s insurance company so this may be all you need to find the information you’re looking for.
Where can you look up a car insurance policy number?
If you know the name of the insurance agency where someone is insured, your best bet is to call an agent. While they won’t be able to give you any more information about the policy, they should verify what company the policy is through if you’re needing to file or inquire about a claim.
After an accident, it isn’t uncommon for a driver to give out the name of their agent instead of their provider if they use an independent agent.
Although they may have used the same agent for many years, it’s possible their insurer has changed several times since independent agents can write policies for multiple companies.
Call Your Local Agent
Without even an insurance agent name to search for, try calling your agent. Explain your situation then ask if they have any idea what company the policy may belong to.
Usually, with incoming information from new customers changing companies, insurance agents are exposed to multiple types of policy numbers every day.
After seeing them so often, some agents are able to tell at first glance what company a policy number belongs to. Or, your agent may be willing to do a little research to help you find out.
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Check With the DMV
For residents of states that require insurance reporting, you may be able to call or visit your local DMV and have them search for the company by giving them the policy number you have. A lot of the time, providing proof of insurance is just part of the registration procedure someone goes through in order to drive at all.
They may also require the name or vehicle description of the other party before they will release any information.
However, if you don’t have to report your car insurance to your state, this method of research will most likely not be feasible. Unfortunately, at this time not all states keep current databases of all drivers with active insurance.
Get a Copy of the Police Report
The police report should have all of the information you will need about the other driver. Not only should their policy number be listed, but the car insurance providers should also be on the report.
How can you avoid this situation in the future?
Not all car crashes are avoidable. However, you can prevent getting the runaround in future accidents by taking a few steps.
Here are the steps to take after being in a car accident to help you in the future:
- Make sure you get all of the information for any other involved drivers when you are in a car accident. Get their name, phone number, policy number, agent name and number, the name of the company, vehicle year make and model, and license plate number. With all of this, you should be able to easily contact their insurance company.
- Instead of writing down their policy details, take pictures after a car accident of their insurance card and vehicles with your phone. Be sure to take pictures of both front and back and note whether or not the date on the card is current. Offer to let the other driver take a picture of your ID card as well as a sign of good faith.
- Always file a police report when possible. Since the police are required to take down the insurance information of both drivers, you have a guaranteed source of accurate identification. The police report also details who is at fault in an accident, which is very useful when you need to file a claim. Determining fault in a multiple car accident doesn’t always have to be difficult.
Although being in a car accident is stressful, there are certain steps you can take at the scene to make things go as smoothly as possible.
Once you know that everyone is okay, call the police, take pictures of the cars and insurance cards, and determine how to get home. Everything else can be figured out later.
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What do you need to know about your car insurance policy number?
Your policy number is located on your insurance card and on the policy itself. If your car insurance company uses an app, it will be listed there as well. This is especially true if you’ve signed up for paperless billing, etc. If all else fails, you can always contact your agent directly and they can look up your number for you.
If you are in an accident, how do you use your policy number?
You will give your policy number, as well as the company information, to the police and other drivers. This policy number connects you to your auto insurance company and will be used to move the claims process along.
Now that you know how to identify an auto insurance company using a policy number, make sure you are getting the best deal on your car insurance.
Enter your ZIP code now to compare quotes after you use a policy number to find a car insurance company.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a policy number in car insurance?
A policy number is a unique identifier assigned to an insurance policy by an insurance company. It helps identify the policyholder, the coverage provided, and other details related to the insurance policy.
Why is it important to identify a car insurance company using a policy number?
It is important to identify a car insurance company using a policy number because it helps you obtain important information about your car insurance policy such as coverage details, policy limits, and contact information for your insurance provider.
How can I identify a car insurance company using a policy number?
You can identify a car insurance company using a policy number by contacting your state’s department of insurance or by using an online insurance database, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) database.
How can I contact my state’s department of insurance?
You can find your state’s department of insurance contact information online or in the phone book. You can call them, email them or visit their website for information on how to identify your car insurance company using your policy number.
How can I use the NAIC database to identify my car insurance company?
To use the NAIC database, visit their website and click on the “Consumer Information Source” link. Enter your policy number, state, and other required information to find information about your car insurance company.
Can I identify my car insurance company using my policy documents?
Yes, you can identify your car insurance company using your policy documents. Your policy documents should have your insurance company’s name, contact information, and policy number.
Can I identify my car insurance company using my insurance card?
Yes, you can identify your car insurance company using your insurance card. Your insurance card should have your insurance company’s name, contact information, and policy number.
Compare The Best Insurance Quotes In The Country
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.