How to find a life insurance policy number

Each life insurance policy has a unique reference number, so your insurer can easily identify your policy. Without it, insurers can still find the policy, but it may take longer.

It is also needed for making a claim or managing your policy. For example, you may wish to update your personal details or payment information.

In other cases, you may just want to check how much cover you have or when the policy ends. If you're struggling to find your policy or number or are not sure where to start looking, here are several steps you can take:

Check your policy documents

When you take out a life insurance, you'll be sent several documents, such as the policy declaration page, the policy booklet, and other associated documents. These documents typically include your policy number prominently displayed on the first page.

They can often come in physical form, though it's now common for them to be sent to you via email. Make sure to mark these as important and store them in a safe, easily accessible location.

The same will apply to other policies, such as critical illness cover and income protection.

Check bank statements or direct debits

If you pay monthly premiums, your bank statements should show the name of your insurer. It's a good starting point, even if you can’t see the policy number itself.

Contact your insurer and provide details of your payments, such as the date and amount of your direct debits. They can use this information to trace your policy and confirm your policy number. This is handy if you no longer have the original paperwork or emails.

If you have a joint life insurance policy, you may not be the main account holder, but you can still use the relevant bank statements to identify payments related to the policy.

Contact your insurance provider

If you still can’t find your policy number, the simplest option is to get in touch with your insurer directly. You can usually do this over the phone or by email.

They will ask for some basic personal information such as your full name, date of birth, and address. In some cases, they may also request your National Insurance number to help verify your identity.

Once they’ve confirmed your details, they should be able to locate your policy and provide your policy number.

If you're claiming someone else's policy, you'll need to provide the policy number as well as other details. For more information, please see: How to make a life insurance claim.

Contact your insurance broker or adviser

If you purchased your policy through a broker, they should have a record of it on file. This can be a quick way to recover your policy details, especially if you’ve moved house or changed banks and can’t easily track the information yourself.

If you have purchased a policy through Cavendish Online, please get in touch with one of our advisers who will be more than willing to help.

Use online portals or apps

Most insurers now provide secure online portals or mobile apps where you can manage or review your cover. Once logged in, you’ll usually be able to view your policy number, download documents, and check your cover details.

If you haven’t registered yet, you can normally set up an account using your policy information, though sometimes your insurer can help you register using other personal details.

Check with your employer

Lots of employers offer life insurance cover as part of their employee benefits package, often referred to as group life insurance.

If you receive cover through your workplace, your HR or payroll department should be able to confirm the details of your cover. While you may not be given the policy number, they can confirm your cover and guide you on how to access your policy information.

Search unclaimed assets databases (last resort)

If you suspect there’s a life insurance policy but can’t find any paperwork, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) may be of help. This could be a useful option if you’re trying to track down a policy for a relative who has passed away.

For more information, see: How to check if your loved one had life insurance

Tip: Keep your policy details safe

Once you’ve tracked down your policy number, make sure you keep a record of it somewhere secure.

You can store copies of your policy documents, both in physical and digital form, and let a trusted family member or executor know where they are. This can make things a little bit easier when it comes to managing your policy or making a claim in the future.

If you have any other questions about your life insurance policy, please get in touch with Cavendish Online. Our advisers can provide advice on updating your policy as well as reviewing how much cover you may need.