The CLUE Report: How a Home's Past Insurance Claims Can Follow It
What You’ll Learn
- What a CLUE report is and who maintains it
- What a claims history entry usually shows and how far back it often goes
- The difference between a property's claims history and your personal claims history
- How to request your free copy and dispute errors under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- How claims and inquiries may affect premiums and eligibility, and what sellers and buyers can do
When you buy a car, a vehicle history report can tell you about past accidents. Homes have something similar on the insurance side. It's called a CLUE report, and it can show past homeowners insurance claims tied to a property or to you.
Many homeowners never hear about it until a quote comes back higher than expected or an application raises questions. This guide explains what a CLUE report is, what it usually shows, how to get your free copy, how to dispute errors, and why sellers and buyers may want to look at one. Rules vary by state and by insurance company, so treat this as a starting point for a conversation with a licensed insurance agent.
What Is a CLUE Report?
CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. It's a database of property and auto insurance claims that many insurance companies report to and check. The homeowners side of the database is the part this guide covers.
The database is maintained by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a consumer reporting agency. Because it's a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you certain rights over the information it keeps about you, including the right to see it and to dispute errors.
When you apply for a homeowners policy, an insurer may check the claims history connected to you and to the address you want to insure. What it does with that information depends on the company's underwriting guidelines and your state's rules.
What a CLUE Report Usually Shows
A homeowners claims report generally lists claims that insurers have reported to the database. An entry often includes:
- The date of the loss
- The type of loss, such as water damage, wind, hail, fire or theft
- The amount the insurer paid, if anything
- The insurance company and policy information
- The property address and the name of the policyholder
The report shows claims history. It is not a credit report, and it isn't a home inspection. It doesn't tell you whether damage was repaired, how well it was repaired, or what the home's condition is today. A claim may show up even if the repair was done well years ago.
How far back does it go?
CLUE reports often cover up to seven years of claims history. That window can vary, and an individual insurer may weigh recent claims differently from older ones. Ask a licensed insurance agent how far back the companies they work with look.
Property Reports vs. Personal Reports
There are two ways claims history can follow a homeowner, and it helps to keep them separate.
- The property's history. Claims tied to the address, no matter who owned the home at the time. If a previous owner filed several water claims, those can stay connected to the address after the home changes hands.
- Your personal history. Claims you filed as a policyholder, at this home or a previous one. Your claims can follow you to your next home and your next policy.
That's why a buyer with no claims of their own can still see a quote affected by the home they're buying, and why a homeowner who moves can still have their own claims considered at the new address. How much each part matters is up to the insurer and state rules.
Claims history can follow a property and a person. Knowing both sides helps you ask better questions before you shop for coverage.
Claims vs. Inquiries: Does Calling Your Insurer Count?
One of the most common worries is whether simply calling an insurer about damage can show up on a report, even if no claim is paid.
The answer depends on your state and the company. Some insurers have reported inquiries or claims that closed without payment. A number of states have rules that limit whether insurers can report, or use, an inquiry that didn't turn into a claim. Other states have fewer limits.
If you aren't sure whether a call would be recorded as a claim, it can help to ask a licensed insurance agent how your carrier handles questions about coverage, or to check with your state's department of insurance. For what to expect once you decide to file, see how filing a homeowners insurance claim works.
How Claims History Can Affect Premiums and Eligibility
Claims history is one of many factors an insurer may consider. Others can include the home's age, roof condition, location, construction type, coverage amounts and deductible, along with factors your state allows. Claims history alone doesn't decide what you pay.
Depending on the insurer and state rules, claims history may affect:
- Premiums. Some insurers may price a policy higher when there are recent claims on the property or in your history.
- Eligibility. Some insurers may decline to write a new policy, or may offer only limited options, based on certain claims patterns.
- Renewals. Claims history can be one factor in a renewal decision, within the limits of state law. If you've received a notice, see what to do after a homeowners policy non-renewal.
The type of claim can matter too. Some insurers may look closely at water-related claims because they can point to ongoing issues. How each claim is treated varies by carrier. If your renewal premium went up and you're trying to understand why, why your insurance renewal premium jumped walks through other common reasons.
If an insurer takes an adverse action, such as declining coverage or charging more, based in whole or in part on information in a consumer report, the FCRA generally requires it to tell you and to name the consumer reporting agency it used. That notice is a good prompt to request your report.
How to Get Your Free Copy
Under the FCRA, you can generally request a free copy of your own CLUE report once every 12 months. You may also be entitled to a free copy if an insurer took adverse action based on the report, as long as you request it within the time frame the law allows.
To request a report, you'll usually go directly to the consumer reporting agency that maintains it, online, by phone or by mail. Expect to verify your identity. Be cautious with third-party websites that charge a fee for a report you may be able to get for free.
Who can request a property's report?
Access to a property's claims history is generally limited. In many cases, the current owner can request the report for their own property, and an insurer can see it as part of an application. A buyer typically can't pull a seller's report on their own. That's why, in a sale, the report usually comes from the seller if it's shared at all.
How to Dispute an Error
Mistakes happen. A claim may be listed under the wrong address, a paid amount may be off, or a claim you never filed may appear. Because CLUE is maintained by a consumer reporting agency, the FCRA gives you the right to dispute information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Read each entry closely and note exactly what you believe is wrong.
- Gather records that support your position, such as claim letters, policy documents or correspondence with the insurer.
- File a dispute with the consumer reporting agency. It's generally required to investigate within 30 days, though that period can be extended in some cases.
- Contact the insurance company that reported the claim, too. It may be able to correct the information it sent.
- If the information can't be corrected and you disagree with it, you may be able to add a short statement to your file.
If a dispute isn't resolved, your state's department of insurance or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may be able to help.
For Sellers: Sharing a Report With Buyers
Sellers sometimes request their property's claims report and share it with buyers. There's no universal requirement to do so, but it can help answer questions early, especially if there were past claims that were repaired.
If you do share it, a few things can help:
- Pair the report with repair invoices, permits and contractor information for any past claims
- Make sure what you share lines up with your state's seller disclosure requirements
- Let the report speak for itself rather than describing it as a sign of the home's current condition
Your state's disclosure rules still apply whether or not you share a report. If you're not sure what you need to disclose about past damage or claims, a real estate attorney can help.
For Buyers: Questions to Ask
Buyers can't usually pull a seller's report, but they can ask for information. It may help to:
- Ask whether the seller is willing to share the property's claims report
- Read the seller's disclosure closely for past water, roof or storm damage. How to read a seller's disclosure covers what to look for
- Get insurance quotes early in the process, not right before closing
- Share any known past claims with a licensed insurance agent so quotes reflect the full picture
Lenders generally require proof of homeowners insurance before closing, so knowing about claims history early can give you time to compare options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a CLUE report the same as a credit report?
No. A CLUE report shows insurance claims history. Some insurers, where state law allows, also use a credit-based insurance score, but that is a separate thing.
Will one claim keep me from getting insurance?
Not necessarily. Claims history is one of many factors, and how insurers weigh it varies by carrier and state. A licensed insurance agent can tell you how a specific claim may be viewed.
Does a previous owner's claim affect my policy?
It may. Claims tied to the property can stay connected to the address after a sale. How an insurer considers them varies.
Should I avoid filing small claims?
That's a personal decision that depends on your policy, your deductible and your situation. A licensed insurance agent can explain how a claim may affect your coverage before you decide.
How often can I get a free copy?
Under the FCRA, you can generally request a free copy of your own report once every 12 months, and you may get another free copy after an adverse action.
The Bottom Line
A CLUE report is a record of past homeowners insurance claims, and it can follow both a property and a person. Request your free copy, check it for errors, and dispute anything that's wrong. If you're selling, consider sharing the property's report along with repair records. If you're buying, ask about claims history and get quotes early. A licensed insurance agent can explain how claims history may affect coverage where you live.
This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. How claims history is reported and used varies by state, insurance company and policy. Talk with a licensed insurance agent or your state's department of insurance about your situation. Advice4Homeownership is a publisher, not an insurance company or agency.
