How to check third-party insurance in Uganda
Digital sticker, USSD and QR code
- Enter the vehicle's number plate when the menu asks.
- Digital sticker: scan its QR code. Sources: Uganda Insurers Association, IRA newsletter.
Not covered or expiring soon?Compare quotes
On this page · 6 sections
The digital sticker
IRA, the insurers and the Traffic Police made the digital sticker official on 1 October 2025 after a three-month pilot (IRA newsletter). You pay by mobile money, get a reference number, and the sticker is generated from it. The same newsletter cites the Ministry of Works and Transport: about 2.19 million motorists, of whom only about 600,000 had third-party cover.
| Network | USSD code |
|---|---|
| MTN | *165*4*5*5# |
| Airtel | *185*7*6*1# |
According to the Uganda Insurers Association, you verify a sticker by dialling the same code and entering the plate number; police check on their express penalty system machines. Sticker types are private, commercial, motorbike and transit.
Reading the result: valid, expiring or not insured
When you enter the number plate on the MTN or Airtel menu, the UIA explains that the system answers in one of three ways:
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A running policy, with the insurer and the start and end dates | The vehicle is insured; the end date is the expiry date | Nothing — note the expiry date |
| "This vehicle has already paid for Motor third Party" | Paid, but the digital sticker has not been generated yet | Take the SMS reference number to an insurer or licensed MTP agent |
| An option to pay the premium | No cover, or one month or less left | Pay or renew now — the policy runs 12 months from issue |
Scanning the QR code on the digital sticker gives the same check without a phone menu. If you are buying a used car or hiring a taxi, run the check before you pay or get in. The premium itself is fixed by regulation — UGX 21,910 for a private car — and paying step by step is explained in how to pay third party on Airtel.
What the law requires
Under the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act:
- Third-party cover is compulsory; government vehicles are exempt (s.2).
- Driving uninsured: fine up to UGX 100,000 and/or 2 years, plus 12 months' disqualification (s.2(3)–(4)).
- Produce your certificate to police within 7 days if asked (s.8).
- After an accident with injury or death, notify the insurer in writing immediately (s.9).
After an accident: IRA's checklist
- Collect names of drivers, passengers and witnesses, and the registration, make and model of each vehicle.
- Report to the police, within 24 hours if possible.
- Notify your insurer quickly, then in writing, with the police abstract, your driving licence and your statement.
Source: IRA. The insurer must then follow IRA's claim deadlines:
| Step | Deadline for the insurer |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge your claim | 3 working days |
| Appoint an assessor | 3 working days (5 for complex claims) |
| Offer or refuse, with reasons | 5 working days after the final report or documents |
| Pay a claim up to UGX 10 million | 10 working days after you sign the discharge voucher |
| Pay UGX 10–50 million | 15 working days |
| Pay over UGX 50 million | 20 working days |
For a third-party claim, the regulations add a 60-day limit from notification (SI 214-1, reg. 3). If a claim is refused, write to ira@ira.go.ug or call the toll-free line 0800 124 124 (IRA).
Already insured?
Next step
Frequently asked questions
How do I check third-party insurance in Uganda?
Dial MTN *165*4*5*5# or Airtel *185*7*6*1# and enter the number plate, or scan the QR code on the digital sticker.
Do I still need a printed sticker in Uganda?
No. Since 1 October 2025 the digital sticker is official and printing it is no longer mandatory; police verify it in real time.
How do I check the expiry date of my third party insurance?
Dial MTN *165*4*5*5# or Airtel *185*7*6*1# and enter the plate: a running policy shows the insurer and its start and end dates. A policy runs 12 months from issue, and the payment option reappears in the last month (UIA).
How do I check third party insurance validity via MTN?
Dial *165*4*5*5# on MTN (or *165#, then 4 Payments, 5 Fees and Taxes, 5 Motor 3rd Party) and enter the number plate; the same menu lets you pay if the vehicle is not covered.
How much is third party insurance in Uganda?
UGX 21,910 a year for a private car, UGX 3,915 for a motorcycle of 51–150 cc, set by the third-party regulations (S.I. 214-1). Every class is in our price list.
How long does an insurer have to pay a claim in Uganda?
Under IRA's 2025 claims guide, 10 working days after the signed discharge for claims up to UGX 10 million, 15 for UGX 10–50 million and 20 above.
Sources
- IRA Uganda — newsletter October–December 2025 (digital stickers)
- IRA Uganda — how the motor third-party mobile payment platform works
- Uganda Insurers Association — motor third party FAQ
- Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act — ULII
- IRA Uganda — what to do if involved in a motor accident
- IRA Uganda — Guide to Insurance Claims (2025)
- Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Regulations (SI 214-1) — IRA Uganda
- IRA Uganda — what if the insurer declines to pay my claim?