Verify Auto Insurance: Can I Trust You?

It is essential to know how to validate a person's auto insurance, especially if you are in a collision. While the simplest way is to ask the driver for their insurance information, there are other ways to verify their insurance status. For instance, you can contact the police or your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and provide them with the driver's license plate number and an incident report. Alternatively, you can reach out to your insurance company for assistance in tracking down the other driver's insurance information. It's worth noting that nearly 13% of drivers in the United States are uninsured, so it's important to be cautious and take the necessary follow-up steps.

Contact the driver's insurer or the DMV

If you've been involved in an accident with another driver and they refuse to provide their insurance information or flee the scene, you can contact their insurer or the DMV to validate their auto insurance. Here are some detailed steps you can take:

Contacting the Driver's Insurer

If you know the name of the driver's insurance company, you can contact them directly to validate the driver's auto insurance. Ask to speak to a representative and provide them with as much information as possible about the incident, including the driver's name, the date, time, and location of the accident, and any relevant police or accident reports. The insurer will be able to look up the driver's policy and confirm whether they have valid insurance coverage.

Contacting the DMV

If you don't know the driver's insurance information or are unable to contact their insurer, you can reach out to your state's department of motor vehicles (DMV). The DMV may be able to provide auto insurance details, especially if you can provide them with a police report that explains why you need the information. Each state's DMV may have a different process for requesting this information, so be sure to check their website or give them a call to inquire about the necessary steps. When submitting your request, be prepared to provide relevant details such as the driver's name, license plate number, and vehicle information.

Keep in mind that validating a person's auto insurance coverage can be a challenging process, especially if the other driver is uncooperative. It is always a good idea to collect as much information as possible at the scene of an accident, including the other driver's name, insurance information, license plate number, and vehicle description. This information will be crucial in helping you validate their auto insurance coverage through their insurer or the DMV.

Ask the other driver

If you've been in a collision, the first thing you should do is ask the other driver for their insurance information. Exchanging insurance information is useful for both parties to make insurance claims. When asking, remain calm and be ready to give your own insurance information to the other driver.

To make a claim or pay a claim, you'll need the following information from the other driver:

• Their name (as it appears on the policy)
• Their contact information (email address and telephone number)
• The name of their insurance company
• Their insurance policy number

If the other driver refuses to provide you with insurance information or flees the scene, you can request this information from the police. Provide the police with the other driver's license plate number and an incident report. The police may then track down the insurance information.

Request information from the police

Requesting information from the police about another person's auto insurance is possible, but typically only in the event of a collision. In the US, around 13% of drivers are uninsured, so it is important to be cautious and follow up.

If you have been in a collision, the first step is to file an accident report with the police. They will then take statements from both drivers and any witnesses, and request proof of insurance. If a driver refuses to provide insurance information, the police should obtain this.

To obtain insurance information from the police, you will need to provide the license plate number and the incident report to the police officer. The police may then be able to track down the insurance information. They can also confirm whether a driver is insured by scanning their license plate.

In some cases, the police may not come to the scene of the accident, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, where they may only attend if someone has been injured. In this case, you will need to go through the state to report the accident and find the other driver's information. You will need to file an accident report with the state DMV, and then request the insurance information of the other driver.

Talk to your insurance company

If you've been in an accident and the other driver has disappeared or is being uncooperative, you can speak to your insurance company to help track down the other driver's insurance information. Your insurer is a great resource for helping you with this.

You will need to file a claim with your insurer if the other driver doesn't have insurance. You will need evidence that you are not at fault, such as pictures, police reports, and witness statements. The insurance company will investigate the accident and determine fault.

If the other driver has disappeared, you can also contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the auto insurance information. However, you will need to give your contact information and reasons for the request, and you may be denied if you provide false information. You can also ask the police for information about the other person's auto insurance if you have been in a collision with them. Provide the license plate number and the incident report to the police officer.

File an accident report with the police

If you are involved in a road accident, it is important to file a police report. This is a vital part of your claim and will help protect you, especially when car accident claims are being made. Depending on the state or territory, you will be filing a TAC or CTP claim.

If the accident is dangerous, involves serious injuries, or is life-threatening, you should call the emergency services. If the situation is non-urgent, you can call the police assistance line. You should also call the police if you suspect criminal behaviour, such as reckless or dangerous driving, or if you suspect a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In some states, you must report a traffic crash when the incident occurs on a road or in a public place, such as a car park, and when the incident results in bodily harm or a certain value of property damage. In other states, you must report the accident within 24 hours if someone is injured or killed, or if the police did not attend the scene.

To file a police report, you will need to provide the following information:

• The precise location of the crash
• Your personal details (from your driver's licence)
• Your driver's licence number and expiry details
• Your vehicle licence plate and expiry details
• Details of other involved drivers/passengers/owners/vehicles/witnesses
• Details of any injuries
• Crash features (traffic control, road features, etc.)
• Total estimated cost of damage to all vehicles and property
• Description of how the crash happened
• Optional: digital images of the crash incident

Once a police report is made, you will be provided with a police event number, which is important for any insurance claims.

Frequently asked questions