Glossary

Claims history

The record of insurance claims you have filed or that were paid because of your driving, which insurers check when pricing and accepting a policy.

Also called: loss history, claims record, prior claims

Your claims history is the list of insurance claims tied to you, your household and your vehicles: what happened, when, which coverage paid and how much. It includes claims you filed under your own policy and liability claims paid to others because of your driving. Insurers check it through databases such as the LexisNexis CLUE report when you apply for coverage and often at renewal.

Insurers treat past claims as a predictor of future ones. An at-fault accident usually brings the biggest increase, but several not-at-fault or comprehensive claims, such as windshield or theft claims, can also affect underwriting and pricing at some insurers, within the limits of state rules. Lookback periods vary, often three to five years for rating.

Claims history is different from your driving record, the motor vehicle report kept by the state, which lists tickets, convictions and license actions rather than insurance payments. A claim can show up in your history even if no ticket was issued. Before filing a small claim, weigh the payout against a possible rate increase; the Should I file a claim? calculator can help. You can request your CLUE report free once a year and dispute errors.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

CLUE report A LexisNexis database report of past auto or home insurance claims, which insurers pull to price and accept policies. Motor vehicle report (MVR) Your official state driving record, listing tickets, convictions, suspensions and license status, which insurers check to set your rate. At-fault accident A crash in which you are found mainly responsible, which your liability coverage pays for and which usually raises your premium at renewal. Surcharge An extra charge added to your premium after an at-fault accident, traffic violation or claim, usually lasting three to five years. Rating factors The characteristics insurers use to price a policy, such as driving record, location, vehicle, mileage and, where allowed, age and credit. Underwriting The process an insurer uses to decide whether to accept an applicant, on what terms, and in which pricing tier or company.

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