A policy limits search depends on the information behind it. Include the exact date of loss, the insured’s full name, the carrier if known, and supporting documents such as the police report. Use this checklist before you submit to reduce intake questions and help the research team match the right person and policy period.
Key takeaways
- Use a Policy Limit Search when the carrier is known; use Discovery or Existence when the carrier is unknown.
- Confirm the date of loss, distinguish the driver from the owner, and attach the records already in your file.
- Check current pricing and turnaround before ordering. No Hit, No Pay does not apply to every search type.
- When results arrive, check the match, scope and remaining gaps with the responsible attorney.
Contents
- Choose the right search
- The intake checklist
- Common intake delays
- Before you submit
- After results arrive
- Frequently asked questions
- Start your search
Every FCA Policy Limit Search includes complimentary umbrella and excess policy verification. FCA advertises No Hit, No Pay for Policy Limit Searches when no limits are located. Discovery and Existence Searches have different fee terms.
Step 1 Choose the right search
Do you already know the insurance carrier? Choose the search type first, then assemble the matching intake details.
| Search detail | Policy Limit Search | Discovery / Existence Search |
|---|---|---|
| Use it when | The carrier is known and you need the limits | The carrier is unknown and you need to find potential coverage |
| Search types | Personal Auto, Commercial Auto and Commercial Standalone Umbrella | Personal Insurance Discovery and Commercial Insurance Discovery |
| Standard turnaround | 3–5, 5–10, or 7–10 business days, depending on type | Up to 30 business days |
| Expedite options | 6 business hours, 12 business hours, or 2 days (additional charge) | 7 business days (additional charge) |
| If nothing is found | No Hit, No Pay | Non-refundable search fee; detailed No-Hit Report |
| What you receive | Located policy limits, plus umbrella and excess verification | Carrier information, if located |
For current prices and service terms, see FCA’s policy limits service page and confirm the final charge before submitting. Turnaround depends on the search type and available information.
Tip: If a Discovery Search locates the carrier, you can then order a Policy Limit Search on that carrier to get the limits.
The intake checklist
Step 2 Core case details for every search
These fields anchor the search to the right policy period and the right person. A wrong date of loss can lead to missed matches, follow-up questions or delays.
- Exact date of loss (month, day, year)
- Location of the incident (street or intersection, city, county, state)
- Type of incident (auto collision, premises incident, dog bite, commercial vehicle, and so on)
- Claimant name (your client)
- Your firm name, requesting contact, phone, and email
- Your internal file or case reference number
- Turnaround needed: standard or expedited
Step 3 Insured or defendant details
The more identifiers you provide, the more confidently a policy can be matched to the right person or business.
- Full legal name of the at-fault party, spelled as it appears on the police report
- Address at the time of loss
- Driver name and registered owner name, if they are different people
- Vehicle year, make, model, and license plate (auto searches)
- Any other identifiers already in your case file, such as those listed on the collision report
Step 4 Carrier and claim information
If you are ordering a Policy Limit Search, the carrier is the starting point. Include everything you have on the claim.
- Insurance carrier name
- Claim number
- Policy number, if known
- Adjuster name and contact details
- Any carrier correspondence, such as acknowledgment or coverage letters
Step 5 Extra details by search type
Commercial Auto and Commercial Insurance Discovery
- Business legal name and any DBA
- Business address
- Name of the driver and whether they were working at the time of loss
- Company markings, unit number, or any identifiers noted on the vehicle
Homeowner’s / Renter’s and Policy Existence
- Full property address where the incident happened
- Whether the at-fault party owns or rents the property
- Property owner or landlord name, if different from the occupant
Personal Insurance Discovery (carrier unknown)
- As many identifiers for the at-fault party as your file allows
- Vehicle details from the scene or report
- Notes on any carrier the party mentioned at the scene, even if unconfirmed
Step 6 Supporting documents to attach
Documents help confirm names, vehicles, and dates before research begins.
- Police or traffic collision report
- Driver information exchange or photos of insurance cards
- Claim acknowledgment letters or carrier correspondence
- Declarations page, if available
- Any other insurance documents in your file
Step 7 Add-on coverage for auto searches
Personal Auto and Commercial Auto searches can include additional coverage searches for an extra fee. Select what your case strategy needs.
- UM/UIM
- PIP
- Property Damage
- Additional Insurers
Umbrella and excess verification is already included with every Policy Limit Search. If umbrella limits are located, additional retrieval fees may apply.
Common intake delays
These intake gaps can delay research. Check them before you submit.
| Common issue | Why it matters | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Date of loss is approximate or wrong | Coverage is tied to the policy active on that exact date | Confirm the date against the police report |
| Name spelled differently across documents | The policy may be listed under a different spelling | Use the spelling from the report and note any variations |
| Driver and owner treated as one person | The policy may be held by the owner, not the driver | List both names when they differ |
| Wrong search type ordered | A Policy Limit Search needs a known carrier | Use Step 1 to choose before submitting |
| No documents attached | Research starts slower without confirmation of the details | Attach the report and any carrier letters |
Before you submit
Print this or keep it beside your intake screen.
- I chose the right search: carrier known (Policy Limit Search) or unknown (Discovery / Existence)
- Exact date of loss is confirmed
- At-fault party’s full name and address at time of loss are included
- Driver and owner are both listed, if different
- Carrier, claim number, and adjuster are included (Policy Limit Search)
- Police report and insurance documents are attached
- Add-on coverage is selected, if needed (UM/UIM, PIP, Property Damage, Additional Insurers)
- Turnaround is selected: standard or expedited
After results arrive
Before using the report to guide the case, check these questions with the responsible attorney:
- Do the insured, carrier, policy period and date of loss match this file?
- Which limits or carrier details were actually located, and which information remains unconfirmed?
- Does umbrella or excess verification establish only a policy’s existence, or were its limits also obtained? Are further retrieval fees or research needed?
- What coverage questions, exclusions, claim-specific issues or missing documents still need carrier confirmation or attorney review?
- Who owns the next step, and where will the report and any follow-up be recorded in the case file?
A no-hit result means the search did not confirm the requested information. It is not proof that no insurance exists. Record the search scope and date before deciding whether further investigation is appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need for a policy limits search? At minimum, provide the date of loss, the insured’s name, the claimant’s name, and the carrier if known. A claim number, police report, and insurance documents help the search move faster.
What if I don’t know the at-fault party’s insurance carrier? Order a Discovery or Policy Existence Search instead. FCA searches for potential coverage active on the date of loss and provides carrier information if located.
Do I pay if no policy limits are found? FCA advertises No Hit, No Pay for Policy Limit Searches. Discovery and Existence Searches carry a non-refundable search fee, and a detailed No-Hit Report is provided if no policy is confirmed. Check current pricing and the applicable search terms before ordering.
Is umbrella coverage checked automatically? Yes. Every Policy Limit Search includes complimentary umbrella and excess policy verification. If umbrella limits are located, additional retrieval fees may apply.
How fast can I get results? Standard turnaround ranges from 3–5 business days for personal auto to up to 30 business days for discovery searches. Expedited options of 6 or 12 business hours, or 2 days, are available on Policy Limit Searches for an additional charge.
Can I submit with incomplete information? Yes, but missing details can slow the search or reduce the chance of a match. Send what you have, and note any gaps so the FCA team can follow up.
Start your search
Submit your request with the details above, and FCA will handle the research. Questions about which search fits your case? Call (855) 870-2274.
Start a Policy Limit Search | View current pricing and terms
Disclaimer
Pricing and turnaround times are subject to change. Additional fees may apply for certain carriers, rush service and expanded umbrella limits; contact FCA to confirm final pricing before submission. Search results reflect information located at the time of the search and do not, by themselves, establish that a claim is covered. Fund Capital America is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.