The Police Media Division has announced that the issuance of Digital Motor Insurance Cards has officially commenced from May 1, 2026, replacing traditional motor insurance certificates.
According to the statement, the new system was introduced following a decision taken jointly by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders in the insurance sector. The Inspector General of Police has also issued the necessary instructions and guidelines to all police stations regarding the implementation of the system.
Under the new procedure, motor insurance coverage can now be accessed through three methods: a digital motor insurance card, a printed certificate issued only upon the request of the policyholder, and a mobile phone application provided by the insurance company.
Alongside this initiative, the National Insurance Verification System has also been introduced. Through this system, the validity of an insurance policy can be checked free of charge using several methods.
Users can dial *1338# and enter the vehicle number or insurance certificate number to check the active status of the insurance policy. They can also send the vehicle number or certificate number via SMS to 1338 for an instant response or call 1338 directly to verify the insurance through the respective insurance company’s customer service division.
Authorities further stated that vehicle numbers should be entered using a hyphen format such as WP-1234 or CC-1234 without spaces. Vehicles carrying old “Sri” number plates must use “SRI” in English letters.
The statement also clarified that currently issued traditional insurance certificates will remain valid until their expiry dates. If a driver is unable to present the digital card, a printed copy may be submitted and verified through the 1338 service
