An auto insurance claim generally stays on your record for three to five years for the purpose of setting your premium, and up to seven years on the industry claims database that other insurers can pull when you shop for a new policy. So the answer to how long does an auto insurance claim stay on your record depends on which “record” you mean: your current insurer’s rating window closes first, and the shared database entry lingers longer.
How Long a Claim Raises Your Premium
Most insurers factor a claim into your premium for three to five years after the incident. The clock usually starts on the date of loss, not the date you filed or the date the claim settled. During that window, an at-fault accident can add a meaningful surcharge to your rate, with the size depending on severity, your prior history, and the carrier’s own rating formula.
The influence fades as the claim ages. Some carriers begin trimming the surcharge after about three clean years; others hold the full surcharge for the entire five-year window. Once the claim exits the rating period and you’ve stayed incident-free, accident-free or good-driver discounts that were off the table before may open up.
The Seven-Year CLUE Report
Even after your own insurer stops using a claim to price your policy, it remains visible on a shared industry database called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE, run by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. CLUE retains up to seven years of auto insurance claims and makes them available to any insurer considering you for a policy.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and Telematics OnDemand The seven-year window lines up with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act’s limits on how long most adverse information can appear on a consumer report.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681c – Requirements Relating to Information Contained in Consumer Reports
Each CLUE entry lists the date of loss, the type of claim, and the amount the insurer paid.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and Telematics OnDemand Because nearly every U.S. insurer contributes to and pulls from CLUE, switching carriers doesn’t wipe the slate. A new insurer will see the same history your current one sees.
Which Claims Actually Count
Not just at-fault accidents show up. All reported claims can appear on your CLUE report, including ones where another driver was at fault. Insurers treat frequent claims as a risk signal regardless of who caused them, and a cluster of not-at-fault claims in a short span can still lead to higher premiums or fewer coverage options with some carriers.
The type of claim matters, too. Collision claims, especially at-fault ones, tend to carry the biggest rate impact. Comprehensive claims covering theft, vandalism, hail, or animal strikes generally weigh less because they don’t reflect how you drive. A string of them in a short period can still draw attention.
Inquiries Versus Filed Claims
A costly mistake is filing a claim when you only meant to ask a question. Filed claims can appear on your CLUE report even if they’re denied or pay out nothing. If you call your insurer to report an event and the company opens a claim file, that record can follow you for up to seven years whether or not money changes hands.
An inquiry is different: it’s a conversation with your agent or insurer about what your policy would cover, without formally reporting a loss. When you contact your insurer after an incident, be explicit about which you’re doing. If you haven’t decided to file, say clearly that you’re only making an inquiry.
When Paying Out of Pocket Makes Sense
If repairs will cost close to or less than your deductible, filing gets you little and puts an entry on your record. Paying for minor damage yourself keeps the incident off your insurance history entirely, because no claim is opened and nothing is reported to CLUE. This works best for small fender-benders or cosmetic damage.
Get a repair estimate first, then weigh it against both your deductible and the rate increase you’d likely absorb over the next three to five years. A repair bill of a few hundred dollars often costs less than years of higher premiums.
How to Check Your CLUE Report and Fix Errors
You’re entitled to one free copy of your CLUE report every twelve months.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and Telematics OnDemand Request it at consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com or by calling 866-897-8126. LexisNexis must send the report within fifteen days of your request.
If something is wrong, such as a claim you never filed, an incorrect payout amount, or a loss attributed to the wrong driver, you can dispute it. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the reporting agency must investigate at no cost to you, typically within 30 days.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681i – Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy Information that can’t be verified must be corrected or removed. You can also add a brief personal statement to your file explaining an item you consider misleading, and that statement will appear on future reports.
State Limits on Look-Back Periods
CLUE’s seven-year retention runs on federal rules, but state insurance regulations often restrict how far back an insurer can reach when setting your premium. Some states cap surcharge consideration at three years. Others bar rate increases for minor claims below a specified dollar threshold. Because these limits vary, the same claim might drive a five-year surcharge in one state and a three-year one in another. Your state’s department of insurance can confirm what applies where you live.
Your Driving Record Is a Separate Timeline
Your insurance claim history and your state driving record are two different systems. A claim is a financial transaction between you and your insurer, tracked on CLUE. A driving record is a legal document kept by your state’s motor vehicle agency, tracking traffic violations, points, and license status.
The timelines don’t line up. An at-fault accident may leave your insurer’s rating window after three to five years, but the underlying citation for speeding, reckless driving, or running a red light can stay on your state driving record for five to ten years, depending on the violation and the state. Insurers periodically pull your motor vehicle report and price those violations separately, so your rate can stay elevated even after the claim itself no longer counts.
SR-22 Filings Run on Their Own Clock
Certain major violations, such as a DUI, driving without insurance, or multiple serious offenses, can trigger an SR-22 requirement. That’s a certificate your insurer sends to the state confirming you carry at least the minimum required liability coverage. Most states that require it set the term at three years. If your policy lapses or is canceled during that window, your insurer notifies the state, which can suspend your license and may restart the SR-22 clock.
The SR-22 itself doesn’t raise your premium, but the violation behind it almost certainly does. Because a DUI or similar offense typically stays on both your driving record and your CLUE report for years, drivers with an SR-22 often face elevated costs beyond the standard three-to-five-year surcharge window. Once the SR-22 period ends and enough time has passed since the violation, shopping around can turn up more competitive rates.