The auto insurance contract number is a unique identifier assigned by the insurer to each policy taken out. It appears on several documents, but the green card (or insurance certificate) was historically the most consulted place to find it. Since the removal of this paper document in 2024, locating this reference requires knowing exactly where to look.
Contract number and policy number: the same technical reference
The terms “contract number” and “insurance policy number” refer to the same thing. This alphanumeric sequence identifies your contract with the insurer and allows you to find all the guarantees, deductibles, and conditions associated with it.
This number is assigned upon subscription and remains the same throughout the duration of the contract, even in the case of changes to guarantees or vehicle changes with the same insurer. It should not be confused with the vehicle registration number or a claim number, which is generated at the time of a declaration.
In practice, you need it in three recurring situations: filling out a mutual report after an accident, carrying out administrative procedures related to your vehicle, or terminating your contract to change insurers. Without this reference, it is possible to find the contract number on the green card if you have kept an old certificate, but other documents mention it as well.
Location of the contract number on the old green card
Before its removal, the insurance green card contained several standardized information areas. The contract number was located in section 4, situated in the upper part of the document, just below the information related to the insurer.
This section was distinct from other fields that indicated the validity period, covered countries, or the characteristics of the insured vehicle. The green sticker, the small detachable part to be affixed to the windshield, did not always contain the full number. It mainly included the validity dates and the name of the insurer.
Why some numbers seem different from one document to another
Some insurers add a prefix or suffix to the contract number depending on the document. The certificate might display an abbreviated version, while the specific conditions included the full reference. In case of doubt, the number on the specific conditions is authoritative.
Removal of the green card in 2024: what replaces the document
Decree No. 2023-1152 of December 8, 2023, confirmed the removal of the green card for all vehicles registered in France. Since April 1, 2024, proof of insurance relies on the File of Insured Vehicles (FVA), a database accessed by law enforcement directly from the license plate.
During a roadside check, it is no longer necessary to present a paper document. Automatic radars can also verify the insurance status of a vehicle by cross-referencing data from the FVA.
The Insured Vehicle Memo as a reference document
In place of the green card, insurers now issue a document called Insured Vehicle Memo. This document is issued only once, at the time of contract subscription, and remains valid as long as the contract is active. It includes the following information:
- The insurance contract number, identical to the one that appeared on the old green card
- The insurer’s contact details and the phone number to use in case of a claim
- Information related to the insured vehicle (make, model, registration)
- The countries where coverage applies, useful for travel abroad
This memo also serves as a temporary proof. Insurers have a period of 72 hours to register a new contract in the FVA. During this window, the vehicle may not appear as insured in the database. The Insured Vehicle Memo then serves as a temporary proof in case of a check or accident.
Finding your contract number without a green card or memo
If you no longer have your old green card and have lost the Insured Vehicle Memo, several other documents contain your contract number.
- The specific conditions of the contract, provided at signing: the number is listed in the header or in the first lines
- The annual premium notice, sent by mail or email a few weeks before the renewal date
- The online client space of your insurer, accessible via the website or mobile app, where the number appears on the contract summary page
A call to your insurer’s customer service can also retrieve this information. Have your registration number and an ID ready to speed up the verification.
On a mutual report after an accident
The mutual report form includes a box dedicated to the insurance contract number (box 8 of the European form). Not filling it out does not invalidate the report, but it slows down the processing of the case by the respective insurers. Having this number accessible, on your phone or in the glove compartment, saves time at the scene of an accident.
International insurance card for travel outside France
The removal of the green card concerns French territory, but it remains a recognized document in many foreign countries. For travel outside France, your insurer can issue you a international insurance card, which follows the format and information of the old green card, including the contract number.
This document is particularly useful in countries that do not have access to the French FVA. Request it from your insurer before departure, as the issuance time varies by company. The Insured Vehicle Memo does not have recognized proof value outside the French regulatory framework.
The auto insurance contract number remains a stable data point, present on all documents issued by your insurer since subscription. The disappearance of the green card has not eliminated it; it has simply moved the place to look for it. The most reliable reflex remains to photograph the Insured Vehicle Memo upon receipt and store it in your phone’s files.