How to find out if someone has car insurance

How can you find out if someone has car insurance? There are several methods, and you should start with the simplest before trying other options. Bear in mind that insurance information is not public record, and you can't simply ask for it and get it for no reason. However, if there has been an accident, you have options.

  1. Ask the driver for their insurance information. The simplest way is simply to ask another person for that information to prove they have valid insurance coverage. In most cases, they'll provide it, but you may find yourself in a situation where the other driver refuses or even leaves the scene without exchanging any information at all. In this case, make sure you gather what information you can, including the make and model of the car and the plate number.
  2. File a police report. In a situation where the other driver has not provided any information, you can and should file a police report. The police will be able to check if the car insured by plate number, so it's important to get that information at the scene. Take a picture of it or write it down.
  3. Check with the DMV. The DMV may be able to provide you with the name of the other driver's insurance company if you can provide the plate number. Laws vary by state as to what information can be provided, and you will likely have to fill out a request detailing the accident that is the reason for the request.
  4. Let your insurance company track them down. Contact your own insurance company and inform them of the situation and accident details. If you have full coverage, your insurance company will begin the process of repairing your vehicle while they track down the at-fault party. Insurance companies have a process for subrogation, where they pay your claim and then seek repayment from the other driver's insurer. In many cases, it's best to let the insurance companies handle things.

"You should also alert your own insurance company about the crash," says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. Your insurance company has the resources to help you through the process.

Can you get someone's insurance information from their license plate?

Yes, you can check if a car is insured with the license plate number. In fact, this is one of the most crucial pieces of information you can have when trying to track down a driver's insurance. However, to find insurance by license plate, you need to file a request showing that there was an accident and you have a reason for needing the information.

"The license plate number should help track down the individual and ultimately establish whether the other driver has insurance," Walker says.

What car insurance information do you need to know?

Regardless of who you think is at fault, it's important to get the other driver's insurance and other details at the scene of an accident.

Auto insurance-related information you should seek from the crash scene includes:

  • The driver's name. Make sure you get the name as it appears on the policy. If the driver isn’t the person listed on the insurance policy, make sure you also get the name of the person on the policy.
  • The driver's insurance company. Your insurance company will need the name of the other driver's insurance provider and policy number.
  • The other party's driver's license number and the vehicle's license plate number.
  • The make, color and model of vehicle.

Completing a few other tasks before you leave the accident scene is also helpful to the claims process, Walker says.

"Take photographs, make notes and even interview any potential witnesses," she says.

What to do if the other driver doesn't have car insurance

If an uninsured driver crashes into and damages your car, follow these steps.

  1. File a police report. Driving without insurance is illegal in all states except New Hampshire. If you've been hit by an uninsured driver, call the police.
  2. Contact your insurance company. If you have collision coverage, it should cover damages to your car, minus your deductible. Uninsured and underinsured coverage, which is required by law in some states and optional in others, reimburses you for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It also may reimburse you for property damage, including the damage to your car, if your coverage includes uninsured motorist property damage insurance. "If the other driver is at fault and doesn't have insurance, you can file a claim under uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy," Walker says.
  3. Hire a lawyer. If you don't have coverage on your own policy and there is significant damage, you may want to sue the other driver. However, it's worth noting that a person who doesn't have insurance may not have the means to pay a judgement, either. Consider the likelihood of getting anything from the other driver before you put time and money into a lawsuit.

In nearly every state, drivers must carry at least a minimum level of liability car insurance coverage. Unfortunately, some drivers ignore these liability insurance laws and drive without insurance.

In fact, nearly 13% of U.S. drivers are, according to the Insurance Information Institute's most recent data.

The best way to protect yourself financially from uninsured drivers is to carry a full coverage policy with collision and uninsured motorist coverage for both bodily injury and property damage.

What to do to get another driver's insurance information after a hit-and-run

If you’re involved in a hit-and-run, auto insurance experts generally advise against pursuing the other driver. Instead, follow these steps.

  1. Stay at the accident scene. Look for witnesses; try to find one who may have noticed and recorded the driver's license plate number, and the make, model and color of the car.
  2. Call police immediately and file a report. A hit and run is a crime and should be reported. The police report will also help with tracking down the other driver.
  3. Call your insurance company. If you have collision or uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company might still reimburse you for damages. However, remember that if you can’t locate the other driver or his or her insurance information, insurance companies may charge you the deductible on your own policy when making a claim.

What information is needed in a crash report?

When you file a crash report, the police will ask for specific details. The exact nature of the information you will need may vary, but, in general, police will want:

  • Details about the crash, including who was involved and a description of the vehicles that crashed
  • Statements from the drivers involved and any passengers or witnesses
  • A diagram that shows where the accident happened and where the vehicles collided

In addition, the police officer might add his or her comments about what happened to the report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which auto insurance covers hit-and-runs?

Unless you can track down the driver in a hit-and-run, you will need coverage from your own policy to reimburse you for damages incurred in the accident. Typically, collision insurance and uninsured motorist coverage are the best bets for covering these types of crashes.

How do you get someone's insurance information after an accident without going through the police?

If you can't get the other driver's insurance information at the scene of the accident, your next best bet is the DMV or your insurance company. However, it's very difficult to request another driver's insurance information without some evidence of the collision, and the required evidence is usually a police report. As a result, you will have difficulty getting insurance information without involving the police.

How do you check if your insurance is active?

To find out if your insurance is active, log into your account on your insurance company's website or mobile app and check the policy status. Alternately, you can call the insurance company directly and ask.

Do you have to provide proof of insurance after an accident?

You must be able to provide proof of insurance at all times when you’re driving, and present it at the scene of an accident. If you refuse to show proof of insurance to the other driver, they can call the police who can then require you to produce it.

What should I do if the DMV can't provide me with the other driver's auto insurance information?

If your department of motor vehicles can’t help you locate the information, you still have options. For example, the police report associated with the accident should have this information. You can also turn to your insurance company for help.

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