How to Check Your Auto Insurance Claims History in 2024 (3 Simple Steps)
You can check your auto insurance claims history by contacting your auto insurance company and asking for your claims history. You can also go through the consumer reporting agency LexisNexis and get a CLUE report. Records of your insurance profile, including claims, typically go back up to 7 years.
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Heidi Mertlich
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Heidi works with top-rated insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the need ...
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UPDATED: Oct 26, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 26, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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You can check your auto insurance claims history by asking your insurer for a letter of experience. If you don’t want to contact your insurance company, you can get your claims history by ordering your CLUE report.
When getting auto insurance quotes, you might need to provide information about your claims history so companies can determine if you need high-risk auto insurance.
Read on to learn how to get your claims history and why companies look at your claims history. Want to shop for cheap auto insurance after making a claim? Enter your ZIP in our free quote tool.
- Step #1: Contact Your Company or LexisNexis. – Ask your company for a report first
- Step #2: Give Relevant Information – Provide info needed to pull a report
- Step #3: Receive Report or Letter of Experience– Receive claims history report
3 Steps to Check Your Auto Insurance Claims History
Checking your auto insurance claims history involves just 3 simple steps. The first step is to contact your auto insurance company or LexisNexis, a consumer reporting agency that can provide you with a CLUE report.
The second step is to provide some relevant information, such as your name, age, address, and possibly your policy number. Your insurance company will usually give you a letter of experience, while LexisNexis offers an official claims history report. Both options offer all the necessary information about your past insurance claims.
Step #1: Contact Your Company or CLUE
If you haven’t done it before, you might be wondering how to check your insurance history or how to get your insurance claim history report. To get your claims history, contact your auto insurance company. If you filed claims with an old company, you can also reach out to them.
If you don’t want to contact your insurance company or the company has shut down, you can order your Claims Loss Underwriting Exchange report directly through the consumer reporting agency LexisNexis.
You are allowed one free insurance history check a year from its car insurance claims database, and it can be helpful when applying for a job and when you have to disclose accidents so you can get a new insurance policy.
Learn More: Can I cancel an auto insurance claim after filing it?
You can order your CLUE report by visiting the company’s website or calling the toll-free number to order it by phone.
Obviously, the easiest way to check your claims history is through your insurance company, but if you can’t, this is the next best thing. If you find that anything is incorrect on your CLUE report, you can dispute it through LexisNexis.
Step #2: Give Relevant Information
When contacting your auto insurance company or LexisNexis to get your auto insurance record that contains insurance claims history, you will have to provide relevant information, such as your name, age, and address. With your auto insurance company, you will likely also need to know your auto insurance policy number.
Step #3: Receive Report or Letter of Experience
If you requested your report from LexisNexis, you’ll have 30-day access to your report online, but you’ll be able to download and save it to your computer if you want.
Read More: Best Auto Insurance Companies That Use LexisNexis
If you request your report from your insurance company, you will receive a letter of experience from your auto insurance company. A letter of experience is a document that shows detailed information about your policy with a company and the claims they’ve investigated and settled. So, what exactly does a letter of experience contain?
A letter of experience contains the following information:
- Customer and Policy Information: You will see the name of the insured on the policy and policy number, as well as the policy’s current status, start, and termination date.
- Accident Information: The letter will include fault determination, the driver who was operating the vehicle, and injuries claimed.
- Claim Information: You will see the date of the claim, the type of claim being filed, and the total payout for each coverage.
The letter of experience has to be printed on company letterhead and signed by an authorized representative. It contains all the information that the carrier needs to assess your rates.
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How Auto Insurance Claims Affect Auto Insurance Rates
You probably already know that insurance companies check driving records when assessing your insurance rates. Your driving record also includes your claims history.
Since insurance companies can’t reasonably follow drivers around to see if they’re driving responsibly, the solution is to base risk and rates on the driver’s past driving and claims history.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record & Provider
| Insurance Company | Clean Record | One Ticket | One Accident | One DUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $318 | $374 | $416 | $522 |
 | $224 | $252 | $310 | $361 |
 | $288 | $340 | $377 | $393 |
 | $179 | $220 | $266 | $406 |
 | $398 | $475 | $517 | $634 |
 | $229 | $259 | $283 | $379 |
 | $283 | $334 | $398 | $331 |
 | $235 | $266 | $283 | $303 |
 | $287 | $355 | $357 | $478 |
 | $161 | $183 | $210 | $292 |
By looking at your claims history, your insurance company can put you in the right risk group.
Having access to past claims records means you’ll know whether your auto insurance payments will be on the higher side or the lower side, giving you a better idea of how much you’ll need to budget for car insurance every month.
It can also help you see if there are errors or omissions in your profile that are holding your rates high. These might include accidents you were originally deemed at fault for but which were later determined to be not your fault.
How do past claims affect your future insurance rates? If you’ve never been in an accident or been in a situation where you had to file an auto insurance claim, you have nothing to worry about as far as your claims history.
If you’ve had at-fault claims or you’ve been convicted of infractions, you won’t qualify for the lowest-priced risk class. If your claims are all old, you might qualify as a low-risk driver.Kalyn Johnson Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Your risk affects your rates, but so do the surcharges applied for each claim and each ticket. An auto insurance surcharge is a fee added to your insurance premium, typically because of a ticket or at-fault accident. Late payments or coverage lapses could also mean an added surcharge.
Benefits of Checking Your Auto Insurance Claims History
You can check your auto insurance claims history report through your insurance company or LexisNexis. Knowing your claims history ahead of time can give you peace of mind when shopping for new insurance. You can rest assured you’ll get the best possible rates when comparing multiple auto insurance quotes because insurance companies don’t see you as a high risk.
If you have a short claims history or no claims history at all, you’ll be classified as low risk, and you’ll get the best rates on your auto insurance.
Once you know your claims history records, you can confidently begin searching for a new auto insurance company that’s right for you. Enter your ZIP in our free quote tool to find the best auto insurance company for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check my auto insurance claims history?
Here are two ways to check your auto insurance claims history:
- Contact your insurance company
- Request a claims history report
You may also be able to access your claims history online, depending on your auto insurance company.
What information do I need to provide when checking my auto insurance claims history?
When checking your auto insurance claims history, you will typically need to provide the following information:
- Policyholder’s full name
- Policy number
- Vehicle information (make, model, year)
- Date of birth of the policyholder
- Date range for the claims history you want to access (if applicable)
Make sure to have these details ready when contacting your insurance company for your car insurance claim record or accessing your online account.
Why is it important to check my auto insurance claims history?
Checking your auto insurance claims history is important because it provides you with a record of your past insurance claims. This information is valuable for several reasons, such as determining your auto insurance premium, assessing your risk profile, and ensuring the accuracy of your claims history.
Can I check my auto insurance claims history from previous insurers?
Yes, you can usually check your auto insurance claims history from previous insurers. If you maintained a policy with the insurer, they should have a record of your claims. Contact your previous insurance company and follow the same steps mentioned earlier to request your claims history.
How often should I check my auto insurance claims history?
It is recommended to check your auto insurance claims history periodically, especially when renewing your policy or considering a new insurance provider.
Reviewing your claims history ensures its accuracy and helps you understand how it may impact your insurance rates. Checking an auto insurance history report once a year or when any major changes occur is a good practice.
How long do claims stay on your record?
Claims will remain on your auto insurance history for seven years, but accident claims will usually only affect your rates for 36 months (Learn More: How long does an accident stay on your record?). After that period is over, any surcharge applied will automatically fall off.
Can insurance companies find out about previous claims?
Yes, insurance companies run checks on all drivers to check driving records, and car insurance history reports will come back with any previous claims you’ve filed.
Can other insurance companies see your claims?
Yes, other insurance companies can see your car insurance claim history. However, insurance companies will only look at your claims history when you are applying for new insurance. To find a new auto insurance company today, use our free tool to find the best coverage deal.
How do I find out who I was insured with in the past?
Check your paperwork, emails, or Motor Insurance Database to find old car insurance policies. We recommend keeping your old insurance statements for this very reason (Read More: How long do you keep auto insurance statements?).
Can I cancel my car insurance with an open claim?
Yes, you can cancel your auto insurance policy even with an open claim.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Heidi Mertlich
Licensed Insurance Agent
Heidi works with top-rated insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the need ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.