How the SINCO File works: Your Insurance Passport

In the Spanish insurance sector, there is a "silent notary" that knows almost everything about your driving history. It is called SINCO (Insurance Companies Information System), and it is essentially the database that allows your good-driver discount to stay with you even if you decide to switch companies.

1. What exactly is the SINCO File? It is a common database managed by Tirea. Most insurers operating in Spain participate in it. Its function is to record your claims history for the last 5 years associated with your ID and policy. Before its creation in 2002, you had to request a paper "claims certificate" from your old company; today, the process is automatic and digital.

2. How does the inquiry process work? When you use a comparison tool or call a new insurer, the system asks for the last 5 digits of your current policy and your ID. At that moment:

The new company queries the SINCO file.

The system reports how many years you have been insured and how many at-fault claims you have had in the last 5 years.

The company automatically applies the Bonus-Malus level (discount) that corresponds to you.

3. What information appears (and what doesn't)? What appears: Liability claims (when you hit someone), years with the current company, and policy expiration date.

What DOES NOT usually appear: Glass breakage, roadside assistance, or theft.

Non-fault claims: If you had an accident but the other driver was at fault, it does not count against you in SINCO.

4. The "Double-Edged Sword" The Advantage: If you are a good driver with a 60% discount at Company A, you can move to Company B and keep that discount.

The Downside: If you have filed three at-fault claims this year, you cannot hide it. The new insurer will see them and offer a much higher price.