Digital motor insurance cards for Sri Lankan motorists

The Police Media Division announced that digital motor insurance cards replaced physical certificates starting from 01 May 2026. This transition follows a decision by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and industry stakeholders. The Inspector General of Police issued necessary orders and instructions to all police stations regarding this new system.

Motorists can now obtain insurance coverage through three methods: a digital insurance card, a printed certificate issued only upon request, or a mobile phone application provided by the insurance company. Alongside this system, the National Insurance Verification System launched to allow the public to verify insurance validity free of charge.

Users can check the active status of insurance via a USSD service by dialling *1338# and entering the vehicle or certificate number. An SMS service also provides instant verification by messaging the vehicle or certificate number to 1338. Additionally, a dedicated hotline at 1338 connects callers to insurance company customer service for confirmation.

When entering vehicle numbers, a hyphen must separate the prefix and the final four digits, such as WP-1234 or CC-1234, with no spaces between characters. For older "Sri" registered vehicles, the English letters "SRI" should be used.

Existing physical insurance certificates remain valid until their expiration date. If a driver cannot present a digital card, a printed copy is acceptable, and authorities can confirm authenticity using the 1338 service.