At Marble, we're committed to guiding you towards better insurance choices. While our editorial content adheres to strict standards, we do occasionally mention products from partner companies. Find out how we keep the lights on.
Sometimes, it seems life is just a series of account numbers and usernames: You’ve got your bank account, gym membership number, cell phone plan — and the list goes on. So it’s no surprise that insurance comes with its own account system, too.
For every insurance policy that you have, your insurance provider will also assign you an eight to ten digit string of numbers and letters that identifies the account. This number — known as the insurance policy number — is what you use to make payments, file claims, or review your account information. In short, it’s a unique numerical sequence that identifies your account.
And that policy number is pretty darn important. In general, you’ll need to provide your full insurance number when:
And while car insurance policy numbers look the same as any other policy number, there are a few more instances when you might be asked to provide that number.
%20Free%201.jpg)
While we don’t expect you to have your auto insurance policy number memorized, you’ll want to know how to find it — and fast. Here’s are a few common scenarios when you’ll need your car insurance policy number:
While most of us rarely need our insurance policy cards day-to-day, when we do have to find those details, we need them pretty urgently. And just like identifying your closest exit on an airplane, it’s useful to know where your policy number is located well before an emergency.
One of the first places to look for your insurance policy number is on your insurance card, which has information about your coverage. While ID cards vary in look depending on the provider, they all contain the insurance policy number.
If you own more than one car, you can either choose to have the vehicles listed on one policy or open a different policy for each. Usually, insurance companies issue two cards for each policy. This means that if your car insurance covers two vehicles, you’ll get two cards for each car. All the cars included under one policy will share a policy number, whereas cars on different policies will have their own unique numbers.
You must carry your auto insurance card, either physically or digitally, while driving your car. You should keep one card in the vehicle or your wallet, and the other somewhere secure for safekeeping.
Your monthly billing statement will list your policy number at the top of the page — so it’s good practice to keep old statements, and not just for your financial records. But while we’re on the subject: we’re often asked how long insurance-related records should be stored, and the truth is that longer never hurts, especially if you store them digitally in your Marble wallet.
That’s a bit vague, we know, but we do recommend having copies of your insurance ID cards, declaration page, claim documents (if any), and your three most recent billing statements on hand at all times. And we’d suggest holding onto all documents for at least four months after a policy has been terminated.
Your policy paperwork is the most detailed information that you’ll receive from your insurance provider. It contains your personal details, vehicle identification number, information about the rate and deductibles, coverage benefits, and insurance duration, to name a few.
Your policy number will be on the top of the declaration page, which means you don’t have to sift through the entire policy package to find it. Don’t be surprised if the policy number is labeled ‘Account Number,’ since some providers use the two terms interchangeably.
If you still can’t find the policy number, contact your insurance company’s customer support team. You may be able to do so online or through your carrier’s mobile app. You can also call your provider directly. An agent will be able to assist you in locating the policy number, but to do so, they will need to verify your account for security reasons — and they may even ask you to confirm your date of birth, address, or other personal details.
Before you hang up, let your agent know if you misplaced your insurance documents and would like to request a copy for future reference. Some companies may charge you for the new policy documents, but you can ask to have the documents sent digitally, which might eliminate some fees.
Looking for a better way to organize your paperwork? Sign up for Marble, where you can store all your policy documents in a digital wallet. It’s the easiest way to keep track of your policies, stay organized, and earn rewards just for having insurance.
