Central contact for car insurers: quick help identifying the other party’s insurer after an accident
03.04.25
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A road traffic accident is always a stressful situation. Often, it is unclear which insurer the other driver is insured with. The central enquiry service for motor insurers offers quick and straightforward help here.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The Central Call Centre of Motor Insurers identifies the motor third-party liability insurance of the other party involved in the accident free of charge in Germany and many European countries.
To make an enquiry, the other party’s registration number, the date of damage and the country where the accident occurred are required.
The central enquiry service is not a claims reporting office, but purely an information service for identifying the insurer.
Quick Facts: The central contact point for motor insurers at a glance
The central office of motor insurers is an important point of contact after a traffic accident. It makes it possible to identify the opposing motor third-party liability insurer. The organisation has existed for over fifty years.
Here are the key points summarised:
Legal basis: The central office operates on the basis of Section 8a of the Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG).
Free service: Enquiries to the central office are free of charge for the person making the enquiry.
Availability: For accidents in Germany, the service is available around the clock, 365 days a year. For claims involving losses abroad, limited hours apply.
Contact options: Enquiries can be made by telephone on the freephone number 0800 250 260 0 or online via a form.
International coverage: The central office identifies insurers for vehicles from the entire European Economic Area and Switzerland.
This rapid information is often crucial for the prompt settlement of a claim. In the next section, you will learn more about the specific tasks and how it works.
Practical guide: How to use the Zentralruf effectively
Using the Central Call Service is straightforward and only requires a few, but important, details. To make a successful enquiry, you usually only need three pieces of information. The other party’s registration number, the date of the accident and the country of the accident are the key details.
In the event of accidents abroad, the country of origin of the other vehicle and, where applicable, your email address for the online enquiry are also required. Providing a telephone number can speed up processing by the insurer. The Central Call Service stores information on all vehicles with insurance plates, i.e. cars, motorcycles and even mopeds. This is particularly helpful for international claims. The information includes the name and contact details of the other party’s insurer. In the case of claims abroad, the German claims settlement representative is also named. Please note that the Central Call Service does not settle claims, but only identifies the insurer. The actual claim notification abroad or at home is made directly to the identified insurer.
Most enquiries are processed within a few minutes. If an immediate response is not possible, the enquiry is forwarded to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, which can extend the response time to around one day. Next, we take a look at the legal framework and expert tips.
Expert knowledge: Legal foundations and important notes
The Central Call Service for Motor Insurers is a facility legally authorised under Section 8a of the Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG). Its main task is to provide information about the opposing motor liability insurance policy. Misuse or obtaining data by deception is a criminal offence. A legitimate interest must exist; this applies to accident victims or their representatives such as lawyers or repair shops. The Central Call Service itself is not responsible for claims settlement or enforcing claims. It merely provides the insurer's necessary contact details. For details of cover and the General Conditions for Motor Insurance, the identified insurer is the point of contact.
Our expert tip: after an accident, always note down as much information as possible. In addition to the registration number, this includes the driver's name and address, as well as any witnesses. This can significantly simplify the claims process, including beyond the Central Call Service. Digital support in motor insurance is playing an increasingly important role. The Central Call Service is operated by GDV Dienstleistungs-GmbH, a subsidiary of the German Insurance Association (GDV). This foundation ensures the data quality and reliability of the service. Below, we cover special situations and frequently asked questions.
Specific scenarios: damage abroad and special vehicle types
In the event of accidents abroad involving a vehicle registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the Central Insurance Enquiry Service provides valuable assistance. It not only identifies the foreign insurer, but also the responsible claims settlement representative in Germany. This enables the claim to be handled in the injured party’s own language, which is a considerable relief and often means time savings of more than fifty per cent. The telephone number for enquiries from abroad is +49 40 300 330 300 and is available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For identifying the insurer via the registration plate, this is a key service.
The Central Insurance Enquiry Service covers a wide range of vehicles. Information is available for all vehicles with an insurance number plate. This includes, in addition to passenger cars and motorcycles, mopeds, quadricycles and motorised wheelchairs. However, for moped number plates, only data for the current insurance year is supplied. This is an important point to bear in mind in older cases. Knowing the correct type class of the other vehicle is often also relevant for your own insurer, but this is not provided by the Central Insurance Enquiry Service. The clear structure of the Central Insurance Enquiry Service helps you keep track, even in more complex cases.
Understand the benefits and limitations of the central hotline
The greatest advantage of the motor insurers' central call service lies in the quick, free identification of the other party's insurer. This often speeds up claims handling by several days. Round-the-clock availability for domestic claims is another plus. The option of submitting an online enquiry also offers flexibility. For professional enquirers such as solicitors or workshops, there is even a dedicated platform (Z@Online) with enhanced functions, which allows up to twenty enquiries per day and per employee. The level of the contribution rate of the other party's insurer is irrelevant for the information provided.
However, there are also limitations. The central call service is not a reporting or claims-handling office. It does not help in enforcing claims. Responsibility for this lies with the injured party or their insurer. The depth of information is limited to insurer data; details of how the accident happened or the question of fault are not assessed. In the event of a hit-and-run without a number plate, the central call service cannot help either. A police report is essential here. The electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) serves as proof of insurance cover when registering the vehicle, not for identifying the other party to an accident. These clear distinctions are important for realistic expectations of the service.
Step by step: The enquiry at the Central Call Centre
Making an enquiry to the central call service for motor insurers is straightforward and can be completed in just a few steps. This ensures you receive the information you need quickly. To ensure the process runs smoothly, please note the following points:
Gather information: Have the other party’s number plate, the date of the accident and the country where the accident occurred ready.
Choose a contact method: Decide whether to make a telephone enquiry (within Germany: 0800 250 260 0, from abroad: +49 40 300 330 300) or submit an online enquiry via the Zentralruf website.
Submit the data: Provide the information you have collected accurately. For the online enquiry, an email address is often required for the response.
Receive information: In most cases, you will receive the information about the other party’s insurer and, if applicable, the claims settlement representative within a few minutes.
Next steps: Contact the insurer identified to report the claim and discuss the further settlement process. The insurance number of the other party will be provided to you.
Our expert tip: If you have a good internet connection, use the online enquiry directly at the scene of the accident. This way, you will have the details to hand quickly. The no-claims discount class of the other party is not relevant for the enquiry. With this information, you are well prepared to make the best use of the Zentralruf.
The correct handling of an accident claim begins with identifying the other party's insurer, for which the central contact point of motor insurers is an invaluable tool. But your own cover also plays a crucial role. At nextsure, we understand that every insurance situation is unique. As a digital insurance portal, we offer comprehensive niche insurance products and tailored cover solutions. Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive specific optimisation suggestions. Request your individual risk analysis now and ensure bespoke protection.
More useful links
Central Call Service of Motor Insurers provides the official platform for determining the other party's motor vehicle liability insurer after a road traffic accident.
Wikipedia offers a detailed overview of the Central Call Service of Motor Insurers, how it works and its significance.
The GDV Service GmbH is the operating company behind the Central Call Service and provides insights into its services for the German insurance industry.
The German Insurance Association (GDV) provides comprehensive information on claims and accident issues that are relevant to policyholders.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides official statistics and data on road traffic accidents in Germany.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) publishes extensive statistics on road traffic and the vehicle fleet in Germany.
The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) provides publications and research findings on accident research and road safety.
Justiz.NRW provides information from the Ministry of Justice of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia on civil-law issues in road traffic accidents.
FAQ
Is the central hotline for motor insurers available around the clock?
Yes, for accident damage in Germany the central call number is available by phone (0800 250 260 0) and online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For damage abroad, service hours are limited (weekdays 8 am-8 pm on +49 40 300 330 300).
Can I report my claim via the central hotline?
No, the central call service for motor insurers is purely an information point for identifying the other party’s insurer. The claim notification must be submitted directly to the insurer identified.
What happens if I provide false information or misuse the service?
The misuse of the central hotline or obtaining data by deception may be prosecuted under criminal law. A legitimate interest is a prerequisite for the enquiry.
Does the central information service also handle accidents involving foreign vehicles in Germany?
No, for accidents in Germany involving a vehicle insured abroad, the German Green Card Bureau e.V. is responsible, not the central hotline. The central hotline helps with accidents that have occurred abroad.
What information exactly do I receive from Zentralruf?
You will receive the name and contact details of the other party’s motor third-party liability insurer. In the case of claims from abroad, the claims settlement representative responsible in Germany will also be named.
Which vehicle types can the central enquiry service provide information on?
The central register stores data on all vehicles with insurance plates, including passenger cars, motorcycles, mopeds, four-wheeled light motor vehicles and motorised invalid carriages.
