Police have issued a special notice regarding the issuance of digital motor vehicle insurance cards, which came into effect from May 1.
In accordance with a decision jointly taken by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka, and other stakeholders in the insurance industry, insurance companies commenced issuing Digital Motor Insurance Cards in place of conventional Motor Insurance Certificates.
Accordingly, the Inspector General of Police has issued the necessary instructions to all police stations and this announcement is being released to raise public awareness regarding the new system.
Methods of Issuing Motor Insurance Coverage Motor insurance coverage will now be provided through the following formats:
- Digital Motor Insurance Card
- Printed insurance certificate (issued only upon the policyholder’s request)
- Digital insurance card accessible through the insurance company’s mobile application
National Insurance Verification System
With the introduction of the Digital Motor Insurance Card, the National Insurance Verification System has also been launched. This system enables the public and law enforcement officers to verify the validity of motor insurance coverage using the following methods:
1. USSD Code – *1338#
- Dial *1338# from any mobile phone.
- Enter the vehicle registration number or insurance certificate number.
- The current status of the insurance policy (Active/Inactive) will be displayed instantly.
2. SMS Verification – 1338
- Send the vehicle registration number or insurance certificate number via SMS to 1338.
- An immediate response will confirm whether the insurance policy is active.
3. Hotline Verification – 1338
- Call 1338 from any mobile phone.
- Follow the automated instructions and select the relevant insurance company.
- You will be connected to the customer service unit of the selected insurer.
- Provide the vehicle registration number or insurance policy number.
- The representative will confirm the validity of the insurance coverage.
Correct Format for Entering Vehicle Registration Numbers
When using the USSD or SMS service, vehicle registration numbers must be entered as follows:
- Include the prefix, a hyphen, and the four-digit registration number.
- Do not leave spaces between letters or numbers.
- If the registration includes “Sri,” enter it as “SRI” in English.
Additional Information
- Insurance verification can be completed instantly using any of the above methods.
- The SMS service is the most convenient option for quick verification.
- No charges will apply for calls or SMS messages sent to 1338.
- Although Digital Motor Insurance Cards are now being issued, temporary insurance cover notes will continue to be valid until further notice.
- Existing physical insurance certificates will remain valid until their expiry dates.
- If a driver is unable to display the digital insurance card but presents a printed copy, police officers may verify its authenticity through the USSD, SMS, or hotline service.
Legal Recognition of Digital Insurance Cards
In terms of Section 3, Chapter II of the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, electronic documents are legally recognized. Accordingly, Digital Motor Insurance Cards are fully valid and enforceable under Sri Lankan law.
