How to Verify Car Insurance Coverage in 2024

Each state has minimum car insurance requirements. It’s important to know how to confirm that all parties are insured in the event of an accident. There are a few ways to check auto insurance coverage, but you will need to have the right information collected first, such as a policy number and the name of the insurer. 

Once you have your information, you can use the DMV for insurance verification or call an insurance company directly. Read on to find out how to quickly find if your car insurance coverage is active or if another driver has car insurance on their vehicle. 

How to Verify Car Insurance Coverage Quickly   

In order to verify the details of someone’s car insurance, you will need to collect information on the driver and their insurance policy. Once you have what you need, there are a few different ways that you can check for active auto insurance coverage. We’ve outlined the complete steps for how to verify car insurance below. 

Collect Relevant Driver and Coverage Information 

Before verifying car insurance coverage, you need to collect the proper information about the car insurance policy in question, be it your own or someone else’s. Generally, the following information is what you’ll need to have handy: 

• Basic contact information 
• Vehicle identification number (VIN) 
• License plate number 
• Driver’s license number 

It’s best to collect this information before checking for car insurance coverage, so you aren’t scrambling to find it when on the phone or checking online. Once you have everything on the list, you can move on to the process of verifying coverage. 

Check Auto Insurance Coverage With Reputable Source 

There are a few different ways you can verify car insurance coverage. If you want to check your own coverage, the quickest way to check is to sign in to your car insurance account or call your insurance company.

However, the process takes a little longer if you want to check another driver’s car insurance. We’ve listed some of the ways to verify car insurance coverage for another driver below. 

• Insurance company. You can call the insurance company to check that a driver actually has active insurance through that provider. 
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can check for DMV insurance verification of another driver’s insurance coverage, but you will need proof of why you want to check coverage, such as a police report of a crash involving the driver. 
• Contact police. If you are in an accident with another driver and they are being dodgy about their insurance information, the police can take down insurance and driver information for you and verify coverage.

Read More: Compare Best Car Insurance Companies That Don’t Report to the DMV When They Cancel a Customer

Contacting the police is a smart decision if you get into a car accident and need to verify another driver’s coverage. The police report is useful documentation for verifying coverage or if you need to file a hit-and-run claim later with your insurer.

When You Should Verify Auto Insurance Coverage 

There are a few situations where you should verify auto insurance coverage, whether for yourself or another driver, as driving without insurance is illegal. We’ve covered some common situations where you should verify car insurance coverage below. 

• Borrowing a car. If you are using another person’s car, you should always verify that there is insurance on the car you are driving. 
• Businesses. If you are an owner of a business, you need to check that your employees have auto insurance if they use company cars for their job. 
• Divorce. If you are divorcing, you need to make sure that whatever car you keep has auto insurance coverage in your name and remove your former partner’s name from the vehicle registration. 
• Schools. If a parent is driving students, you should always check that they have auto insurance coverage. 

Anytime you are driving someone else’s car or entrusting someone else to drive, you should verify car insurance coverage. The last thing you want is to get into a car accident and find out afterward that the car doesn’t have insurance coverage. (For more information, read our “How do I find out if a car has insurance?“).

Case Studies: Verifying Car Insurance Coverage

Case Study 1: John’s Accident

John was involved in a car accident and needed to verify the insurance coverage of the other driver. He collected the necessary information, including the driver’s name and insurance policy number. To quickly verify the coverage, John contacted the police, who were able to provide him with the necessary documentation for his insurance claim.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Concerns

Sarah allowed her friend to borrow her car but was worried about whether her friend had insurance coverage. Before lending her car, Sarah collected all the relevant information, including her friend’s insurance policy number and the name of the insurer. Sarah verified coverage by contacting friend’s insurer for peace of mind and car protection.

Case Study 3: David’s Comparison

David was in the process of shopping for car insurance and wanted to compare quotes from different companies. He used an online comparison tool that allowed him to enter his ZIP code and receive quotes from multiple insurers. By comparing the coverage options and prices, David was able to find a car insurance provider with affordable rates that met his needs.

The Bottom Line 

Verifying auto insurance should be done anytime you have doubts about another driver’s insurance coverage or worry about your insurance having a possible coverage lapse. As long as you have the proper information, you can quickly verify insurance coverage. 

If you don’t have the right information, it is smart to call the police for help, especially if you are in an accident, as it will help you file a claim later. 

If verifying your auto insurance coverage has left you looking for a new car insurance policy, shopping around for quotes is the best way to find a car insurance provider with affordable rates.