Photo: Globaltoursandtravel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0How to pay third-party car insurance on Airtel in Uganda
Airtel Money, USSD and steps
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Paying third party on Airtel Money, step by step
Motor third-party (MTP) premiums are paid on a mobile platform run on MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda. The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) gives the Airtel menu in its guide to the mobile payment platform:
| Step | On your Airtel line |
|---|---|
| Dial | *185# |
| Option 7 | Financial Services |
| Option 6 | Insurance |
| Option 1 | Motor 3rd Party |
| Shortcut | *185*7*6*1# skips the menus |
- Have money on Airtel Money and the vehicle's registration number in front of you.
- **Dial *185*7*6*1#** and follow the prompts.
- Enter the number plate. The amount to pay is displayed automatically: it is the premium for that vehicle, so you do not type an amount yourself.
- Check the plate and the amount, then enter your Airtel Money PIN to confirm.
- Keep the SMS with the sticker reference number: it is your proof of payment and you need it to get the sticker.
The Uganda Insurers Association gives the same code and the same sequence: dial, enter the registration number, receive a reference number by SMS.
After payment: from the reference number to the digital sticker
Paying is not the last step. Since 1 October 2025 the motor third-party sticker is digital: after payment a reference number is issued and used to generate the sticker. You may still print it, but printing is no longer mandatory; IRA expects the digital system to cut fake stickers and make verification faster and more reliable (IRA newsletter).
- Go to an insurer or a licensed MTP agent of your choice — IRA's guide says any insurance company or agent can do it once it has verified your number plate and reference number. Licensed insurers are on IRA's list.
- Give the reference number and the phone number you paid from (UIA).
- Receive the digital sticker by email or WhatsApp. It carries a unique QR code used for verification (UIA).
UIA lists four kinds of sticker — private, commercial (buses, taxis, trucks and any vehicle used commercially), motor bike and transit (new vehicles from the border to the bond). The sticker shows, among other details, the premium charged, the policy number, the start and end dates, the registration number and the issuing company.
Check the status before and after paying
The same Airtel code is also the check: dial *185*7*6*1# and enter the registration number. UIA explains the three answers you can get:
| Status of the vehicle | What the system shows |
|---|---|
| No third-party cover, or a sticker with one month or less left | An option to pay the premium |
| Paid, but the sticker not yet printed or generated | "This vehicle has already paid for Motor third Party" |
| Paid and the sticker generated | A running policy, with the insurer and the dates of cover |
If you paid and still see "already paid", your sticker has not been generated yet: take your reference number to an insurer or agent. Police can also check on their express penalty system machines. More ways to check, including the QR code and MTN, in our guide to checking third-party insurance in Uganda.
Other ways to pay: MTN, Pay Way and banks
Airtel Money is one channel among several listed by UIA:
| Channel | How |
|---|---|
| Airtel Money | *185*7*6*1# |
| MTN Mobile Money | *165*4*5*5# (or *165#, then 4 Payments, 5 Fees and Taxes, 5 Motor 3rd Party, per IRA) |
| Pay Way | Pay Way terminals nationwide |
| Banks | Centenary Bank and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) branches |
Renewal, the law and what this cover pays
- Valid 12 months. UIA says an MTP policy runs for 12 months from issue; the payment option opens when one month or less is left, so you can renew before it expires.
- Compulsory. Under section 2 of the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act, using an uninsured vehicle on a road is an offence: a fine of up to UGX 100,000, up to two years' imprisonment, or both, plus disqualification from holding a driving permit for 12 months unless the court finds special reasons. Government vehicles are exempt.
- Show proof. Section 8 requires the certificate to be displayed on the vehicle; if police ask for it, you have seven days to produce it, or other evidence that a policy is in force, at the nearest police station.
- Comprehensive cover too. If you hold a comprehensive policy, UIA advises reminding your insurer to upload its sticker into the MTP system, which sometimes lags.
Third party pays only for death or injury to other people, within UGX 1 million per person and UGX 10 million per accident (UIA) — not for damage to your own car. See what third-party cover leaves out and how comprehensive cover compares. To receive offers from licensed insurers for a car, ask for quotes.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Airtel code for third party insurance in Uganda?
Dial *185*7*6*1#, or dial *185# and choose 7 (Financial Services), 6 (Insurance) and 1 (Motor 3rd Party). Enter the number plate, check the amount shown and confirm with your Airtel Money PIN.
I paid third party on Airtel Money but have no sticker. What do I do?
Take the reference number from the SMS and the phone number you paid from to an insurer or licensed MTP agent. It generates the digital sticker and sends it to you by email or WhatsApp. Until then, the USSD check shows that the vehicle has already paid.
Can I pay third party insurance in cash in Uganda?
No. IRA says paying physical cash for motor third party has not been allowed since 1 July 2020. Pay by Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, Pay Way or at Centenary Bank or DTB branches.
Do I still need to print the third party sticker?
No. Since 1 October 2025 the sticker is digital and printing it is no longer mandatory, according to IRA. You may still print it if you prefer.
How long is third party insurance valid in Uganda?
12 months from the date of issue, according to the Uganda Insurers Association. The payment option reappears when one month or less is left, so you can renew before expiry.
Sources
- IRA Uganda — Understanding how the new motor third party mobile payment platform works (MTN and Airtel steps, seen October 2026)
- IRA Uganda — newsletter October–December 2025: "Change gears: embrace the new digital motor insurance sticker"
- Uganda Insurers Association — frequently asked questions on motor third party (MTP) insurance (seen October 2026)
- Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act — ULII