What Is a C.L.U.E Report and Its Impact on Your Insurance

Whether you are getting car insurance or property insurance, the rates you get from insurance companies may not be the same as other policyholders.

Similar to your credit score, your C.L.U.E. report is a little-known file compiled on you by the insurance industry that tracks you as a customer even when you change insurers.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what information is contained in your C.L.U.E. report. we’ll explain how you can see your file for free, and we’ll tell you how to challenge any errors on your report.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Your C.L.U.E. Report

What is a C.L.U.E report? We’re all familiar with the idea of a credit report, but did you know there’s a similar report specific to insurance claims you’ve filed?

Table of Contents

• What Is a C.L.U.E. Report?
• What Information Is Contained on Your C.L.U.E. Report?
• How Can I See My C.L.U.E. Report?
• What Can You Do if There’s Incorrect Info on Your C.L.U.E. Report?
• How Can a C.L.U.E. Report Benefit You as a Home Seller?

What Is a C.L.U.E. Report?

Insurers compile information about you to create what’s known as a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report. It contains seven years’ worth of information about you and any insurance claims you’ve made during that time frame. In short, it contains crucial claims data.

The research firm LexisNexis owns and operates the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange.

(Note: The C.L.U.E. report doesn’t apply to health insurance and flood insurance.)

What Information Is Contained on Your C.L.U.E. Report?

There are actually two types of C.L.U.E. reports. There’s one for a homeowners insurance claim and another for your auto insurance.

Insurance companies supply the information that goes into your C.L.U.E. report. Here’s a list of what you’ll find on your report if you’ve made any claims within the last seven years:

• Date of loss
• Loss type
• Amount the company paid
• Policy number
• Claim number
• Insurance company name

If you’ve never made an insurance claim, you would most likely have a clear report.

How Can I See My C.L.U.E. Report?

LexisNexis Consumer Center lets you request a copy of your consumer file once every 12 months. To get started, go here.

You’ll be asked to provide the following personal information:

• Full name
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Daytime phone number
• Home phone number
• Current address
• Insurance claims history for the property or vehicle you insured

You’ll also have to answer several questions to verify your identity. These questions may include:

• Who acted as the LENDER in the original transaction for the property in question?
• Which of the following STREETS have you PREVIOUSLY or CURRENTLY used as your address?
• Which of the following CITIES have you PREVIOUSLY OR CURRENTLY used as your address?
• What was the SALE PRICE when you purchased the property?

You can order your reports by mail, phone or online. Depending on which method you use, you’ll get your reports back in the mail, or you’ll get a letter telling you how to access your information online.

You must be the owner of the home or vehicle on which you’re requesting a report — or the renter of a property where a loss was reported. You cannot ask for a report on a car or property you’re thinking about buying.

What Can You Do if There’s Incorrect Information on Your C.L.U.E. Report?

LexisNexis has a dispute resolution process in place if you find incorrect information on your C.L.U.E. report.

To file a dispute, either call LexisNexis at 888-497-0011 or write to the company at LexisNexis Consumer Center, P.O. Box 105108, Atlanta, GA, 30348.

Once LexisNexis hears from you, it has 30 days to open an inquiry into the information you’re disputing and contact the insurance company. If LexisNexis doesn’t agree to change the information, it should explain why it believes the disputed information is correct.

You can read more about disputing your C.L.U.E. report here.

How Can a C.L.U.E. Report Benefit You as a Home Seller?

If you’re putting your house on the market, money expert Clark Howard says that pulling the C.L.U.E. report on the house is a good idea.

“If you’re trying to sell your home, why not request the free personal property report on your residence and make it available for prospective buyers to see?” Clark suggests. “That way they know there’s no hidden damage that you made an insurance claim about but didn’t otherwise disclose. It’s peace of mind for a buyer.”

Of course, the potential buyer will get the property inspected as a condition of purchase — as Clark recommends in step #7 of his How To Buy a House in 9 Steps guide. But having the C.L.U.E. report handy is just another way to ensure they’re not buying a property with a history of problems. The C.L.U.E. report would then give the potential buyer an idea of the rates they would get from their insurance quote if they want to insure the house.

Also, be sure to check our guide to the best and worst auto insurance companies and its companion piece, our guide to the best and worst home insurance companies.