Last Updated on November 12, 2022
Many people don’t know what to do when they get in an auto accident. It’s understandable, especially considering it can be a very emotional time for both drivers involved. Maybe both of you were in a rush to leave, especially if the accident wasn’t very major.
What are you supposed to do if your only information of the other driver is their auto insurance policy number? Is there a way to identify which insurance company they use by the policy number? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about identifying a car insurance company by its policy number.
Table Of Contents
- What Information Should You Get After an Accident?
- What If You Only Have the Policy Number?
- What Do Car Insurance Policy Numbers Look Like?
- Ask Around Local Agencies
- Other Options for Identifying Insurance Company Policy Numbers
- Gather the Information First
- Other Frequently Asked Questions
What Information Should You Get After an Accident?
First, knowing what information you should ideally get if you are involved in an accident is important. Assuming the other person is fully cooperating, it’s best to obtain:
- The person’s full name
- At least 1, if not 2, phone numbers
- Address
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle information
- License plate number
- Insurance information, including
- Name of the company
- Contact information of the company
- Policy number
If you have your phone with you (who doesn’t these days!), then you could ask for permission to take a picture of the other person’s driver’s license and insurance card. At least write as much of this information down as you can.
It’s always a great idea to get the police involved, even in minor accidents. The police will look up the other person’s information and file a police report. You can give the police report number to your insurance company, and they will be able to see all the information relating to the accident and the drivers involved.
What If You Only Have the Policy Number?
That is what would happen in an ideal scenario. But if you’ve already had the claim and a policy number is all you have, it’s not impossible to find out who the driver is and proceed with the claim. Difficult, but not impossible.
Every auto insurance company has a different structure for numbering their auto policies. And there isn’t an encyclopedia of insurance numbers out there, which means it will be impossible to learn every company’s structure unless your hobby is memorizing policy numbers.
You can first try to see if the other policy number looks exactly like yours. For example, if you have an 8-digit number and are insured with Progressive, and the other driver has an 8-digit policy number, chances are pretty good that they are also with Progressive.
Not all auto policies are just numbers. Many are prefaced with one, two, or three letters, such as Safeco (K1111111) or Liberty Mutual (AOX-111-111111-1111).
What Do Car Insurance Policy Numbers Look Like?
The following table shows the policy number formats and some example policy numbers for the major insurance companies in the US.
Insurer | Policy Number Format | Example Policy Number(s) |
---|---|---|
AAA | Start with a series of three letters, and then 9 digits. | AUT 012345678 |
AARP | 11 digits total with a "PHZ" in the middle and one space. | 55 PHZ123456 |
Allstate | 3 digits, a space, 3 digits, a space, 3 digits. (9 digits total) | 998 404 051 |
American Family | String of numbers (and maybe two letters). 10 digits. | 10AB987654 1234567890 |
Auto Club Group Insurance | 1 digit, a space, 7 digits, a space, 2 digits. (10 digits total) | 9 8765432 10 |
Automobile Club of Southern California | 12 characters with no spaces. | CAA012345678 |
Esurance | 4 letters (usually starting with "PA"), a dash (-), 7 digits. | PAAL-1234567 |
GEICO | String of numbers. 10 digits. | 0123456789 |
GMAC | Either 10 or 13 characters long. Numbers and letters included. | SAN1234567 1234567A01 1000111111A01 |
Liberty Mutual | Three letters, a dash (-), three digits, a dash (-), 6 digits, a dash (-), 2 digits. | ADC-321-987654-12 |
National General | 10 characters long. Start with the number 2. | 2009999999 |
Nationwide | 4 numbers and 1 letter, a space, 6 numbers. | 1234B 567890 |
Progressive | String of 9 digits, OR 8 digits, a dash (-), 1 digit. (9 digits total) | 752804168 75280416-8 |
Safeco | One letter followed by string of numbers. | K1111111 |
The Hartford | 10 digits total with a "PH" and two spaces in the middle. | 31 PH 123456 |
Travelers | 9 digits, a space, 3 digits, a space, 1 digit. (13 digits total) | 123456789 101 3 |
USAA | USAA account number followed by the letter "U" and a string of digits. | 12345 67 89U 7101 7 |
As you can see, there isn’t a standard type of auto insurance policy number. They can be any combination of numbers and digits, with some letters thrown in as well.
You can try to call your insurance company and ask them if they know. If you’re with a direct carrier with a call center, your chances are pretty slim that anyone will be able to help you.
If you’re with an independent insurance agent, then read on!
Ask Around Local Agencies
If the two policy numbers don’t match and your own insurance company can’t help, your best place to go next is a local independent insurance agent. Independent agents represent many companies (often more than ten) and have experience working with competing companies.
There is a good chance that the independent agent will be able to recognize the company or help you look up the policy number. If they do, you can inform your insurance company and proceed with the claim.
Other Options for Identifying Insurance Company Policy Numbers
If an independent agent can’t identify the policy number, you could try calling a few insurance companies directly and asking them. Since you are blindly picking companies, this approach likely won’t result in any success. You could at least try the 5 or 10 largest auto insurers in the country.
If this still doesn’t work, then it’s worth a shot to go to the local DMV and see if they can help you. Due to privacy laws, it’s all but certain that they will not give you any information, but it’s worth a shot if all else has failed.
Gather the Information First
Hopefully, you’re able to identify the company with just the policy number and proceed with your claim. But the best thing to do is to prevent this situation from happening in the future.
When involved in an accident, always gather as much information from the other driver as possible.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is a policy number?
Your car insurance policy number is a unique number that identifies your account. Your insurance company uses your policy number to identify your account.You can find your policy number on your insurance card.
How can I tell what insurance I have?
The easiest way to check what insurance you have is to check your policy documentation – like your declarations page or the document you keep in your car to verify you have insurance coverage. Alternatively, you can contact your insurer to ask what type of car insurance you have, including which coverages you carry.
Do policy numbers have letters?
Some policy numbers have letters, while others consist entirely of numbers. Different companies use different policy number identification systems. GEICO, for example, uses a string of 10 numbers with no letters, while Liberty Mutual uses a mixture of letters and numbers.
Is an insurance policy number confidential?
Insurance policy numbers should be confidential. Ideally, only you and your insurer know your insurance policy number. Like other personal information, your insurance policy number should be kept private to avoid allowing someone to access your account. However, it’s unlikely someone would be able to access your account or personal information using only your policy number.
Andrew FlueckigerAndrew Flueckiger is an experienced insurance agent with experience in sales, management, leadership, and marketing. A graduate of Indiana University, Andrew is a licensed insurance agent specializing in personal and commercial insurance. Andrew not only holds a wealth of insurance industry knowledge and expertise, in 2016, he also obtained the Certified Insurance Counselor designation.
FAQs
What do car insurance policy numbers look like? ›
A policy number is like an ID number. Most car insurance cards have a number with eight to ten digits that is your policy number. If you have more than one car, you might have them all listed on one card, or each car might have its own number or card.
What do the numbers on your insurance policy mean? ›They are usually written in a shorthand format like this: 20/40/20. The first number represents the bodily injury liability limit per person in the accident. The second number represents the coverage limit for the entire accident. The third number represents the limit for property damage.
How many numbers is an insurance policy number? ›You can find your policy number on your insurance card or on bills and statements associated with your insurance account. Your account number will typically be between nine and 13 digits and could contain both numbers and letters.
What information should you considered when selecting an insurance company? ›There are several factors to consider before choosing an insurance company. Some fo the factors to consider include, reputation, financial stability, customer service, price and claims paying ability.
What is an auto policy number example? ›Here are some examples of policy numbers: 0123456789. 12345678-9. 1 23 456789 01.
How do I find my car insurance company name? ›Visit the website of the Insurance Information Bureau, which is framed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and enter the registration number of your car to check the details of your car insurance cover.
Is an insurance policy number the same as a group number? ›Is policy number the same as group number? Your insurance policy number on your health insurance card will not be the same as your group number. The policy number on health insurance refers to your individual member number, but the insured's policy group number is different.
What codes do insurance companies use? ›CPT codes are used to track and bill medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. Insurers use CPT codes to determine how much money to pay providers. This article will go over what CPT codes are used for and what problems you might encounter related to CPT codes on your medical or insurance records.
Are policy numbers the same? ›Car insurance policy numbers are usually 9-13 digits long and are unique to you. Consider it your social security number for car insurance. No other person will ever have the same insurance policy number as you.
How to research an insurance company? ›- Check out your state insurance department. ...
- Consult Standard & Poor's ratings to gauge your insurer's financial strength. ...
- Check A.M. Best's ratings. ...
- Find out if anyone has filed a lawsuit against your insurance company.
What are 4 things you should look at when choosing an insurance plan? ›
- Type of Plan and Provider Network. Do the health care. ...
- Premiums. How much will you pay per month for coverage? ...
- Deductibles. What is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in? ...
- Co-pay or Coinsurance. ...
- Coverage of Medicines.
The Conditions
Common conditions in a policy include the requirement to file a proof of loss with the company, to protect property after a loss, and to cooperate during the company's investigation or defense of a liability lawsuit.
An account number is a 10-digit number associated with a State Farm Payment Plan (SFPP). If you have questions about your policy or payment plan, please contact your agent.
How can I check someone else's car insurance? ›- Obtain the registration number of the vehicle you wish to check.
- Search the askMID database for the details that you need.
- If the vehicle is found in the MID database, then the insurance details of the other vehicle will appear on your screen.
All-payer claims databases (APCDs) are large State databases that include medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims, and eligibility and provider files collected from private and public payers. APCD data are reported directly by insurers to States, usually as part of a State mandate.
How do I find my car insurance policy? ›- Check your emails. Most insurers send confirmation and essential policy details by email. ...
- Check your paperwork. ...
- Call your bank. ...
- Check the Motor Insurance Database.
Third-party insurance offers protection against damages to the third-party by the insured vehicle. It covers physical injuries, damages to the vehicle, damage to the property, and death. Third-party insurance does not provide any compensation, if: The accident was caused due to drunken driving.
What are the 4 key elements of an insurance policy? ›Like most common-law concepts, it has taken many individual cases and many decades—in some cases, centuries—to develop a settled view of the necessary elements for a valid insurance policy. These elements are a definable risk, a fortuitous event, an insurable interest, risk shifting, and risk distribution.
What is a group policy number? ›Group Plan Number
The insurance company uses this number to identify your employer's health insurance policy. As an employee, you are covered by that policy. Not all insurance cards have a group plan number.
Progressive Insurance's ICC code is 24260. The ICC code stands for Insurance Company Code and is designated to an insurance company by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The ICC code is commonly referred to as the company's NAIC code.
What is Geico's 3 digit insurance ID number? ›
GEICO's NAIC number for car insurance is 35882.
What is 066 code insurance? ›066 INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC - Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group.
How do I know if my insurance company is legitimate? ›- #1: Check the insurance company's financial strength. ...
- #2: Check for proper state licensing, claims and complaints. ...
- #3: Consider a company's claims process. ...
- #4: Work with an independent agent who has relatable experiences with various carriers.
Yes. There are specialty consumer reporting agencies that collect information about the insurance claims you have made on your property and casualty insurance policies, such as your homeowners and auto policies.
What is the database used by insurance companies? ›This claims information service is traditionally called the “Index System” (or “Index Database”) and is used by most insurance companies to secure the claims history of every claimant.
What are 3 things we should consider when choosing auto insurance? ›To be sure you don't overpay for coverage you won't use, review your state's coverage requirements and decide what type and how much coverage you need based on the age of your car, your driving habits, and your current financial situation.
What are 5 factors that determine your auto insurance premium? ›- Age. Age is a very significant rating factor, especially for young drivers. ...
- Driving history. This rating factor is straightforward. ...
- Credit score. ...
- Years of driving experience. ...
- Location. ...
- Gender. ...
- Insurance history. ...
- Annual mileage.
Some factors that may affect your auto insurance premiums are your car, your driving habits, demographic factors and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose. These factors may include things such as your age, anti-theft features in your car and your driving record.
Where can I find my insurance policy number? ›You can find your policy number on your policy documents, statement, email or letter we've sent you or it may be your reference number on your bank statement. For life insurance, pension, annuities, investment bonds and income drawdown the policy number should contain letters, numbers and /.
What do the numbers 50 100 20 represent in an insurance policy? ›Numbers like 50/100/25 are the dollar limits (in thousands) for auto liability insurance coverage: The first number is the amount of Bodily Injury liability coverage you have for injuring or killing an individual in an accident.