Sri Lanka is transitioning from physical motor insurance certificates to digital motor insurance cards, modernizing vehicle documentation across the island. The joint decision by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka, and industry stakeholders establishes digital cards as the primary standard for motor insurance verification.
Implementation Timeline & Coverage Types
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Standard Motor Insurance (IRCSL & Industry): Effective May 01, 2026, general insurance companies will issue Digital Motor Insurance Cards. Coverage options include the digital card, a mobile app-based card, and a printed certificate (issued only upon request).
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Agricultural & Agrarian Insurance Board: Effective July 20, 2026, policies under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation will issue digital cards accessible via mobile apps, QR codes, or direct URL links sent to policyholders.
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Police Awareness: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued directive guidelines to all police stations island-wide to enforce and recognize these digital credentials.
Verification Systems
To enable instant verification on the road, authorities have launched the National Insurance Verification System alongside the Agricultural Insurance Policy Verification System. All short code services (1338 and 1918) are completely free of charge.
| Verification Method | IRCSL / General Insurance (Shortcode: 1338) | Agricultural & Agrarian Board (Shortcode: 1918) |
| USSD Code | Dial *1338# & enter vehicle or policy number |
Dial *1918# & enter vehicle or policy number |
| SMS Service | Text vehicle or policy number to 1338 |
Text vehicle or policy number to 1918 |
| Hotline Service | Call 1338 (follow voice prompts to connect) |
Call 1918 (connect directly with an officer) |
| Digital Features | Mobile App integration | QR Code scanning & direct URL access |
Vehicle Number Formatting Guidelines
When using USSD or SMS verification services, vehicle numbers must be formatted correctly:
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1338 System: Must include initial letters/numbers, a hyphen (
-), and a 4-digit number without spaces. Replace “ශ්රී” with “SRI” (e.g.,311-1234,CC-1234,CCC-1234,1-SRI-1234). -
1918 System: Must include initial letters/numbers, a hyphen (
-), and a 4-digit number without spaces or provincial letters. Replace “ශ්රී” with a hyphen (-) (e.g.,CC-1234,CCC-1234,123-4567,1-1234).
Transitional Provisions & Legal Frame
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Police Investigations & Accidents: If a physical copy is required for an accident investigation, motorists can request one from their insurer, print the digital interface, or download it via QR code.
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Existing Policies & Temporary Covers: Physical certificates issued prior to the rollout dates remain valid until their natural expiration. Temporary cover notes will continue to be issued until fully phased out.
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Legal Validity: Under Section 104(1) of the Motor Traffic Act, drivers remain responsible for presenting proof of insurance. If a digital card cannot be displayed, officers can verify the status via USSD/SMS or a printed copy. Under Section 3, Chapter II of the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, legal recognition and validity cannot be denied to these digital insurance cards.
