Do Car Insurance Companies Share Claim Information?

Last Updated on December 27, 2025

You were in an accident and filed a claim with your insurer. Now you’re worried your rates are going to increase—and you’re wondering if switching companies will help.

Here’s the reality: car insurance companies can (and often do) see your prior claims history. Even if you change insurers, you generally can’t “erase” a claim—especially if it was reported, investigated, paid, or is still open.

This article explains how claim information is shared, what shows up on your record, how far back insurers look, and how to check your own reports for mistakes.

Key Takeaways

• Yes—insurers commonly share and access claims history through databases like CLUE and other loss-history/fraud tools when you apply for coverage.
• Claims history can include paid claims and sometimes reports that were opened and closed with $0 paid, depending on what was reported.
• You can’t usually “avoid” a claim by switching companies, but you can still save money by shopping—especially if your quotes are based on accurate records.
• Request your claims history reports, dispute any errors, and be honest on applications—undisclosed claims can lead to re-rating or cancellation later.

Do Car Insurance Companies Share Claim Information?

Yes. Insurers commonly report and access claim history through industry databases and consumer reporting agencies. When you apply for a new policy, the insurer may pull reports to verify what you disclosed and price your coverage accordingly.

Switching companies can still save money, but you typically won’t be able to escape a claim just by changing insurers.

What Claim Details Do Insurers Usually See?

What appears in a loss history report depends on the database and what your prior insurer reported, but it often includes:

• Policyholder and vehicle identifiers (to match the record to you)
• Date of loss and claim type (collision, comprehensive, liability, etc.)
• Claim status and outcome (open/closed, paid/denied)
• Payment amounts (sometimes shown as paid amounts and/or reserves)
• Notes that it was reported, even if nothing was paid (varies by insurer and database)

Insurers may also flag claims for review because they often investigate claims for coverage, liability, and fraud indicators.

Meet the CLUE Report

The best-known claims-history report is the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), which is maintained by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Many insurers use CLUE when underwriting new policies and at renewal because it summarizes reported losses tied to a driver and/or vehicle (and, separately, property claims for homeowners).

CLUE Auto commonly contains up to seven years of personal auto claims history. That can include paid claims and, in some situations, claims that were opened and later closed with $0 paid.

You can learn how to access it here: how to see your CLUE report online.

Tip: You can also request your LexisNexis consumer disclosure report through LexisNexis’ request portal: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request. If you spot an error, follow the dispute instructions included with your report.

Other Databases Insurers Use Besides CLUE

CLUE isn’t the only system. Depending on the insurer and the state, companies may also use other loss-history and fraud-detection databases (for example, Verisk solutions used across property & casualty insurance). The goal is the same: verify your history and price the policy accurately.

Do “Inquiries” or Cancelled Claims Show Up?

Sometimes. A common surprise for drivers is that reporting an incident can create a record even if you never receive a payout. It’s one reason people ask whether an insurance inquiry goes on your record.

Also, don’t assume a claim disappears because it was withdrawn or denied. A canceled claim may still be visible as a reported loss in some systems. Likewise, a denied claim can still appear—here’s how and why insurers deny claims.

Can a New Insurer Raise Your Rate Later If They Find a Claim?

Yes. Many insurers verify reports at the time of quote, again at binding, and sometimes after the policy starts. If a report later shows a claim you didn’t disclose, the insurer may re-rate the policy, change your price, or (in serious cases) cancel or non-renew.

If you’re not sure what qualifies as a claim, start with what a car insurance claim is and be transparent when asked about prior losses.

How to Check Your Own Claims History

If you’re shopping for insurance, it’s smart to review what insurers may see first. Use this guide on how to check your car insurance claims history, then request your CLUE/consumer disclosure report and look for:

• Claims you don’t recognize
• Wrong dates, vehicles, or addresses
• Incorrect claim types or outcomes
• Duplicate entries

If you find an error, dispute it right away through the reporting company’s process. You may also be able to include a brief consumer statement in certain reporting systems to clarify a claim (for example, that a vandalism report was not at-fault). If you’re curious about coverage in that scenario, here’s whether car insurance covers vandalism.

Claims Aren’t the Only Thing That Determines Your Rate

Even though claims history matters, insurers look at a lot more than CLUE. Two big factors are:

• Driving record: Your record often impacts your premium more than claims history. Learn how your driving history affects your insurance rates, and consider pulling a copy of your driving record so you can fix any mistakes before you apply. If your record is rough, here are options for drivers with bad driving records.
• Credit-based insurance factors: In many states, insurers use credit-based insurance scores (where allowed). Here’s whether credit score affects car insurance rates. You can check your credit reports for free through the official site AnnualCreditReport.com (weekly online reports are available). If you’re trying to avoid credit-based pricing, you can also look into no credit check auto insurance quotes.

FAQs on Whether Insurers Share Claim Information

Bottom Line

Yes—car insurance companies can share and access claim information, and most insurers review claims history when you apply. That doesn’t mean you can’t save money by switching; it just means your best strategy is to know what’s on your record, fix errors, disclose claims honestly, and compare quotes based on accurate information.

If you want context on what typically shows up most often, here are the most common car insurance claims.