Your CLUE report and motor vehicle record explained

When you apply for car insurance, and often at renewal, insurers check two records: your claims history, most often through the LexisNexis C.L.U.E. Auto report, and your motor vehicle record (MVR) from the state. The CLUE report lists auto claims filed under your name for up to seven years; the MVR lists traffic convictions, suspensions and, in some states, accidents. You are entitled to a free copy of your CLUE report every 12 months and can dispute anything that is wrong.

What a CLUE Auto report is

C.L.U.E. stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, a database run by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Insurers send it details of the claims they handle, and other insurers read those details when deciding whether to insure you and at what price. According to LexisNexis, as of October 2026, C.L.U.E. Auto contains up to seven years of personal auto claims information, and 99.6% of the auto insurance industry contributes claims activity.

A CLUE report entry typically shows the date of the loss, the type of claim (such as collision, comprehensive or liability), the amount paid, the insurer and policy, and the vehicle and drivers involved. Because it is a record of claims, not of fault findings by a court, it can include claims where you were not at fault and claims your insurer paid to someone else.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's list of consumer reporting companies includes LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and notes that you can get a free report and place a freeze. Other companies also compile insurance claims data, and the CFPB list is the place to find them.

What your motor vehicle record shows

Your motor vehicle report comes from your state DMV. It typically includes traffic convictions, license suspensions and revocations, and, in many states, reported accidents and point totals. Each state decides what it records and how long it discloses it. California, for example, discloses accidents and most violations for three years, two-point violations for seven years and DUI convictions for 10 years, under Vehicle Code 1808.

CLUE vs MVR at a glance

Insurers may also use a credit-based insurance score where state law permits. That comes from a different source, your credit report, and is covered in credit-based insurance scores and car insurance.

How to get your reports

CLUE. The Fair Credit Reporting Act treats companies that compile insurance claims files nationwide as "nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies" (15 U.S.C. 1681a), and those agencies must give you a free copy of your file once every 12 months on request (15 U.S.C. 1681j). LexisNexis takes requests through its consumer portal online, by phone at 866-897-8126, or by mail to LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center, P.O. Box 105108, Atlanta, GA 30348-5108.

MVR. Order it from your state DMV, usually online. Some states offer a free or low-cost personal copy; others charge a fee.

Check both before you shop, especially if you have had a claim or ticket in the past few years. Knowing what is on them helps you judge whether a quote is right, and lets you fix errors before they cost you.

How to dispute an error

Common errors include a claim attributed to the wrong driver, a not-at-fault accident recorded as at fault, a duplicate claim, or a claim on a car you never owned.

1. Get the report and note each item you dispute and why.
2. Gather proof: a police report, a letter from the insurer stating fault, repair records or a bill of sale.
3. File the dispute with LexisNexis for CLUE errors. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a consumer reporting agency generally must reinvestigate a disputed item free of charge, usually within 30 days, and correct or delete information it cannot verify.
4. Contact the insurer that reported the claim, too, since it is the source of the data.
5. Add a consumer statement if the item is accurate but needs context and the dispute does not resolve it.
6. For MVR errors, contact the DMV or the court that reported the conviction; consumer reporting rules do not fix state records.

When an insurer uses these reports against you

If an insurer charges you more or turns you down because of information in a consumer report such as CLUE, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires it to give you an adverse action notice naming the company that supplied the report and telling you how to get a free copy. If you get such a notice, request the report and check it. For what to do with a high-risk label, see high-risk car insurance: options when insurers say no.

Claims you didn't pursue

Insurers report claims when they open and handle them, so even a small loss you reported can appear on your history. That is one reason to think before reporting a minor loss you plan to pay yourself; see should you file a claim or pay out of pocket?. Still, never skip reporting an accident your policy requires you to report, especially one involving injuries or another driver, because failing to notify your insurer can jeopardize coverage if the other party claims later.

Key takeaways

• Insurers check your claims history (usually LexisNexis C.L.U.E. Auto) and your state motor vehicle record before pricing a policy.
• C.L.U.E. Auto holds up to seven years of auto claims; MVR retention is set by each state.
• You can get a free CLUE report every 12 months from LexisNexis online, by phone or by mail.
• Dispute errors with LexisNexis and the reporting insurer; fix MVR errors through the DMV or court.
• If an insurer raises your price or declines you based on a consumer report, it must tell you and say where to get a free copy.