How to check your car insurance: all the methods with step-by-step instructions

Checking your car insurance is a mandatory procedure before purchasing a used car, after an accident, or when filling out documents with the traffic police. The absence of a valid MTPL policy threatens with a fine of up to 800 rubles, and the absence of CASCO insurance in the event of an accident results in a refusal to pay. In this article we will analyze all official methods of insurance verification: from online services to a personal visit to an insurance company.

It is important to understand the difference between types of insurance: OSAGO (compulsory civil liability insurance) is checked through the database RSA, and CASCO (voluntary auto insurance) - only from the insurer or through its mobile application. We'll show you how to avoid fraud when purchasing a policy and what to do if your insurance information is not found.

1. Checking compulsory motor liability insurance through the official website of RSA

The most reliable way to check validity of the MTPL policy - use the base Russian Union of Auto Insurers (RUA). This method works for all policies issued after 2015, including electronic versions. The database is updated in real time, so the data is relevant to the current date.

To check your insurance through PCA:

• 🔹 Go to the website dkbm-web.autoins.ru (official RSA service).
• 📄 Enter series and policy number (20 characters, for example XXX 1234567890 12345678) or Vehicle VIN.
• 🚗 To check the car you will also need state number (for example, A123BV 77).
• 🔍 Click “Check” and wait for the result. The system will show the policy status, expiration date and insurance company details.

If the system displays the error “Policy not found,” this may mean:

• 🚨 The policy is fake - Fraudsters often sell fake electronic policies.
• 📅 Data has not been loaded yet — after registration it can take up to 3 days.
• 🔄 Error in number — check the symbols for typos.

2. Checking insurance by car number through the traffic police

From 2021 on the site traffic police it became possible to check insurance by vehicle registration number. This method is convenient if you do not have policy data, but have access to the car number. The information is taken from the same RSA database, but with additional linking to the vehicle register.

Step by step instructions:

1. Open the service vehicle checks on the traffic police website.
2. Enter state number (for example, M777MM 163) or VIN.
3. Enter captcha to confirm that you are not a robot.
4. Click Request Review.

The system will display the following information:

Parameter	What does it show
OSAGO status	Valid / Not valid / Not found
Insurance company	Name and contacts of the insurer
Validity period	Start and end date of the policy
Limitations	List of eligible drivers (if the policy is limited)

What to do if the traffic police does not show insurance?

If the traffic police service does not find the policy, but the RSA shows it as valid, the problem may be a mismatch of information about the owner. For example, if the car is re-registered, but the policy has not yet been updated. In this case, contact the insurance company for re-registration.

Important: the traffic police service does not show data on CASCO insurance - only on compulsory motor liability insurance. To check voluntary insurance, use the methods in the following sections.

3. Check through the insurance company’s mobile application

If you know which company issued the policy (for example, Ingosstrakh, RESO-Garantiya, SberInsurance), the fastest way is to use the official application of the insurer. Most companies provide access to a personal account, where you can check the status of the policy, payment history, and even issue an electronic duplicate.

Application examples:

• 📱 SberInsurance — for policies issued through Sberbank.
• 📱 Ingosstrakh Online - for Ingosstrakh clients.
• 📱 RESO-Garantiya — with the function of scanning the policy using a QR code.
• 📱 AlfaInsurance — supports checking by VIN and license plate number.

How to check your insurance through the app:

1. Download the insurance company app from App Store or Google Play.
2. Log in (you will need your policy number, SNILS or passport details).
3. Go to "My Policies" or "Check Insurance" section.
4. Enter the car details or scan the QR code from the policy (if available).

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Instant results — data is loaded from the insurer’s internal database.
• ✅ Additional information — you can see the history of insurance claims.
• ✅ Possibility of extension — many applications allow you to renew your policy directly on your phone.

4. CASCO check: features and nuances

Unlike OSAGO, CASCO policy does not fall into the general databases of the RSA or the traffic police. It can only be verified through the insurance company where it was issued. This is due to the fact that CASCO is a voluntary type of insurance, and data about it is not transferred to state registers.

Ways to check CASCO:

• 📞 Call the insurance company — tell the operator your policy number or vehicle details.
• 📧 Request by email — send a scan of the policy to the official address of the company.
• 🏛️ Personal visit to the office — if you need to get an extract or a duplicate.
• 🌐 Personal account on the website - if you are a client of the company.

What you need to know about CASCO check:

• 🔍 Policy number - required for verification (usually 9–10 digits).
• 📅 Validity period — CASCO can be issued for 1 year or for another period.
• 🚗 Linking to a car — the policy is valid only for the car specified in it.
• 💰 Franchise — the amount you pay in case of an insured event (indicated in the policy).

Attention: if the seller claims that CASCO is valid, but refuses to provide data for verification, this is a reason to be wary. Fraudsters often fake CASCO policies, passing them off as real.

5. Checking insurance through online services (alternative methods)

In addition to official methods, there are third-party services for checking insurance. However, you need to use them with caution - some sites may collect your data or show outdated information. We recommend using only proven platforms:

Reliable verification services:

• 🔗 Autocode (Moscow service) — checks OSAGO and the history of the car.
• 🔗 Auto.ru — shows the MTPL status when checking the car history.
• 🔗 Carfax — paid service with extended verification (including insurance).

How to use third party services:

1. Enter VIN or license plate number car.
2. Pay for the report (if the service is paid).
3. Check the “Insurance” or “MTPL” section.
4. Check the data with official sources (RSA, traffic police).

Dangers of Third Party Services

Some sites may display irrelevant information or require payment for data that can be obtained for free through PCA. Always double-check information through official sources.

Attention: if the service asks you to enter passport details or bank card number to verify insurance is a scam. Official sources (RSA, traffic police) do not require such data.

6. Checking insurance when buying a used car

When buying a used car, checking insurance is one of the key steps. Fraudsters often sell cars with expired or counterfeit insurance, and sometimes without insurance at all. To avoid problems, follow this algorithm:

Checklist before purchasing:

What you should be wary of:

• 🚩 The seller refuses to show the original policy.
• 🚩 The OSAGO policy is issued to another person (not to the seller).
• 🚩 The expiration date of the insurance coincides with the date of sale (the policy may have expired).
• 🚩 The policy contains notes or corrections (a sign of fake).

If you discover that your insurance is expired or fraudulent:

• 🔄 Ask the seller to issue a new policy before the transaction.
• 💰 Consider the cost of a new OSAGO in the price of the car.
• 🚫 Refuse the deal if the seller refuses to solve the problem.

Case study: in 2023, more than 12,000 cases of sales of cars with fake OSAGO policies were recorded in Moscow. The main method used by scammers is to sell electronic policies that are not listed in the RSA database. Always check your insurance before transferring money.

7. What to do if insurance is not found or is expired

If the check shows that there is no insurance or it is expired, act depending on the situation:

Situation	Actions
OSAGO policy was not found in the RSA database	Contact your insurance company for clarification. The data may not have been loaded yet.
The policy is expired	Apply for a new MTPL policy (can be done online on the website of any insurance company).
The policy is fake	Notify the RSA and the traffic police. If you have already bought a car, take out a new policy.
CASCO is not valid	Check with your insurance company for the reason. The policy may have been canceled for non-payment.

How to apply for a new MTPL policy:

1. Select an insurance company (for example, SberInsurance, VTB Insurance, AlfaInsurance).
2. Fill out the information on the website: car make, VIN, driver details.
3. Pay for the policy online (the cost depends on the length of service, the power of the car and the region).
4. Receive an electronic policy by email (valid as a paper one).

Attention: If you are driving a car without a valid MTPL, the traffic police inspector has the right to:

• 📋 Issue a fine 800 rubles (under Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
• 🚔 Detain the car until the violation is eliminated (if the policy is overdue for more than 10 days).

8. Frequently asked questions about checking car insurance

❓ Is it possible to check insurance by the owner's last name?

No, neither the RSA nor the traffic police provide information about the policy by last name. To check, you need car data (VIN, license plate number) or policy (series/number).

❓ How long does it take to check insurance through RCA?

The check takes a few seconds if the policy is in the database. If there is no data, please repeat the request after 24 hours - sometimes there is a delay in loading information.

❓ What to do if the seller says that the insurance is valid, but RSA does not find it?

This is a sign of fraud. Ask the seller for the original policy and contact the insurance company for clarification. If the policy is fake, refuse the deal.

❓ Is it possible to check CASCO online?

CASCO is checked only through the insurance company where the policy is issued. There are no common bases for checking CASCO insurance.

❓ Is the electronic OSAGO policy valid abroad?

Yes, the electronic MTPL policy is valid in countries that recognize the Green Card (international insurance certificate). For trips abroad, check with your insurance company about the need to obtain a Green Card.