Find car insurance: Your guide to quick identification
13.05.25
9
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Have you had an accident and need to find out the other party’s motor insurance provider? Or would you like to know more about a used car’s insurance history before buying it? This guide shows you the necessary steps and your rights.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The Central Call Service for Motor Insurers (0800 250 260 0) is the central point of contact for identifying the other party’s motor third-party liability insurance after an accident.
To obtain information from the central enquiry service, you will need the other party’s registration number, the date of the accident and the country where the accident occurred.
For data protection reasons, it is only possible to determine motor vehicle insurance data to a very limited extent outside a specific claims case.
Why determining car insurance is crucial
Knowing the correct motor vehicle insurance is essential in several situations. After a road traffic accident, for example, the third-party liability insurance of the person causing the accident is your first point of contact for settling the damage to your vehicle. Without this information, the claims process can be delayed by weeks. When buying a used car, information about the previous insurer can also be useful, for example to better assess the no-claims bonus, even if it is not transferred directly. Quickly identifying the insurer can therefore save you time and significant costs. In Germany, there is a legal requirement to take out motor vehicle liability insurance for every registered vehicle.
This mandatory insurance ensures that accident victims are not left to bear the costs. Around 1.3 million enquiries are handled each year via the Central Call Centre of Motor Insurers, which underlines the relevance of this information service. Failure to identify the insurer, or incorrect information, can lead to significant financial disadvantages. It is therefore important to know the correct ways to obtain the information.
Motor insurers' central call centre: your first point of contact after an accident
The Central Enquiry Service for Motor Insurers is the official point of contact in Germany for identifying the third-party motor liability insurer after an accident. This service is operated by the German Insurance Association (GDV) and is free of charge for accident victims. You can reach the Central Enquiry Service 365 days a year, around the clock. For calls from Germany, the service number is 0800 250 260 0. From abroad, the Central Enquiry Service can be reached on +49 40 300 330 300 (Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
To obtain information, you usually only need three details: the registration number of the other vehicle, the date of the damage and the country of the accident. If you make a telephone enquiry, you will usually receive the information within a few minutes. An online enquiry is also possible via the Central Enquiry Service website; processing here can take up to 24 hours. It is important that only persons with a legitimate interest, such as those involved in the accident or their representatives, receive information. Any misuse of this service may result in criminal consequences. The Central Enquiry Service also helps in accidents involving vehicles insured in other European countries. Knowledge of the General Terms and Conditions for Motor Insurance can also be of additional benefit here.
The following information is required for an enquiry to the Central Enquiry Service:
Registration number of the other driver
Date of the damage
Country of the accident
For damage abroad: country of origin of the other vehicle
These precise details enable the Central Enquiry Service to quickly assign and provide the information requested.
Further ways to assess insurance coverage and their limitations
In addition to the central hotline, there is theoretically the possibility of asking the previous owner of a vehicle directly about their motor insurance. This is particularly relevant when buying a used car, if you want information about the claims history or the previous insurance record. However, the previous owner is not obliged to provide you with this information. Data protection reasons play a key role here.
A direct enquiry to insurance companies without a specific claim and without the policyholder’s consent is likewise unlikely to be successful. Insurers are subject to strict data protection regulations and may not simply disclose their customers’ data. The insurance number for car registration (eVB number) serves as proof of insurance cover for the licensing authority, but does not reveal the specific insurer of another vehicle. So if you want to find out the insurance of a vehicle outside of an accident situation, the possibilities are severely limited. The focus is clearly on claims settlement after an accident. Information on the vehicle type class is publicly accessible, but not the individual insurance.
Practical cases: when and how you need to find out the car insurance
The most common case in which you need to find out the other party's motor insurance is after a road traffic accident. Swift action is required here so that you can assert your claims for damages. Be sure to note the other party's number plate, as well as the date and place of the accident. With these details, you can, as described, contact the Central Call Centre of Motor Insurers. Another use case is buying a used car. Although you cannot view the previous owner's policy directly, asking about any previous damage and how it was settled can provide useful information. A reputable seller will usually provide information on this.
In the case of hit and run, identifying the insurer becomes more difficult. However, if you have been able to note the number plate or part of it, the Central Call Centre is also an option here. The police will also investigate in such cases. It is advisable to be clear about the costs of car insurance in order to organise your own cover optimally. Identifying the other party's insurer is the first step towards settling the claim and can significantly speed up the process.
Situations in which identifying motor insurance is necessary:
Immediately after a road traffic accident for claims settlement.
When buying a used car to assess the vehicle history (possible to a limited extent).
For parking damage with a known number plate of the person responsible.
In the event of hit and run, provided the number plate is known (even in part).
To clarify liability issues when using car-sharing vehicles (special rules often apply here).
These examples illustrate the importance of knowing the right points of contact.
Expert knowledge: legal fundamentals and data protection aspects
The identification of motor vehicle insurance via the central call service of motor insurers is legally grounded. The basis for this is Section 8a of the Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG). This law legitimises the central call service as an information point. Data processing is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is ensured that only authorised persons, i.e. accident victims or their representatives (e.g. solicitors, repair shops), receive information.
Our expert tip: Always document the course of the accident and the damage caused carefully, ideally with photos and an accident report. This not only makes the enquiry to the central call service easier, but also the later claims settlement with the identified insurer. Knowledge of the no-claims bonus classes is relevant to your own insurer, but initially plays no role in identifying the other party's insurer. Data protection is highly important; therefore, it is not possible to obtain information about a vehicle's insurance without a valid reason such as an accident. The query serves exclusively to initiate claims settlement.
After the investigation: The next steps in claims settlement
As soon as you have obtained the name and contact details of the other party’s motor vehicle liability insurer via the central information service, you should contact them immediately to report the claim. The insurer will then send you the necessary forms or explain the next steps. It is important to meet all deadlines. As a rule, you should report the claim within one week. In more complex cases or if fault is not clear, it may be advisable to involve an independent motor vehicle expert and, if necessary, a solicitor. In the event of an accident not caused by you, the other party’s insurer will usually have to cover these costs, at least up to a certain amount of damage.
Please note that reporting to the central information service does not yet constitute an official claim notification to the insurer. It is used solely to identify the responsible insurer. Also clarify whether there are any differences when the registered keeper and policyholder are different. Prompt and complete communication with the insurer speeds up the claims settlement process. Remember that the premium rate of the motor insurance of the other party is irrelevant to your settlement.
Checklist for contacting the other party’s insurer:
Name and address of the policyholder (if known)
Official registration number of the other vehicle
Insurance number (if provided by the central information service)
Date and time of the accident
Detailed description of the accident
Photos of the accident scene and the damage
Contact details of witnesses (if any)
Estimate or report (if already available)
These documents help the insurer process your case quickly.
Digital insurance portals such as nextsure do not offer any direct identification of third-party motor insurance policies, but they can provide valuable support throughout the entire process surrounding your own motor insurance. After an accident, for example, you can quickly view your own policy details or receive support in choosing a new, suitable comprehensive insurance policy. Many portals also offer guides and information on the correct course of action in the event of a claim. Using such platforms can help you keep track of things and manage your own insurance matters efficiently.
Even when it comes to understanding insurance terms and conditions or optimising your own cover, digital services are a great help. At nextsure, we place great importance on offering you transparent information and tailored solutions. That way, you are well positioned not only in the event of a claim, but also in the prevention and administration of your policies. The option of identifying the insurance policy via a registration number remains reserved for specialised bodies such as the central enquiry service.
Conclusion: Well informed about the right car insurance
Finding out the other party’s motor insurance is a crucial step in settling a claim, especially after an accident. The Central Contact Point for Motor Insurers offers a fast and reliable point of contact for this purpose, available free of charge to injured parties. With the other driver’s registration number, the date of the accident and the country where it occurred, you will usually receive the necessary information within minutes. Outside claims cases, obtaining third-party insurance details is heavily restricted for data protection reasons. Good documentation of the course of the accident and prompt contact with the identified insurer are key to a smooth settlement. Please note that notifying the Central Contact Point does not replace making the actual claim notification to the insurer.
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More useful links
Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) offers statistics on new vehicle registrations in Germany.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) provides tables on new vehicle registrations.
Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) offers statistics on the German insurance industry, in particular on the development of motor vehicle liability insurance.
Verbraucherzentrale provides information on the obligation for all vehicle owners to have motor vehicle insurance.
FAQ
Which office can help me find the other party’s motor insurance?
The Central Call Centre for Motor Insurers is the official body in Germany. You can reach it by phone on 0800 250 260 0 or online.
How long does it take before I receive a response from the central call service?
By phone, you usually receive the information within a few minutes. For an online enquiry, it can take up to 24 hours.
Can anyone enquire about another person's motor insurance?
No, only persons with a legitimate interest, such as those involved in the accident or their representatives (e.g. solicitors, repair shops), may make an enquiry. Misuse is punishable by law.
What do I do after I have identified the other party’s insurer?
Contact the identified insurer immediately to report the claim and agree on the next steps. Reporting it to the central call service is not a claim notification.
Does the central claims hotline also help with accidents abroad?
Yes, the Central Call Service also identifies the responsible insurer or claims representative in Germany for vehicles insured in the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
What role does data protection play in determining car insurance?
Data protection is very important. Zentralruf works in accordance with the GDPR and § 8a PflVG. Information is only provided where there is a legitimate interest, primarily for claims settlement following accidents.
