Insurance claims stay on your record for seven years on the industry-wide databases that other insurers check, whether the claim was paid, denied, or closed with no payout. The premium impact runs on a shorter clock: most surcharges from a single claim fade within three to five years if you stay claim-free after that. So the question of how long insurance claims stay on your record has two answers, and it helps to keep them separate.
The Seven-Year Clock on CLUE and A-PLUS
Two databases track your claims history and share it across insurance companies. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) is run by LexisNexis. The Automated Property Loss Underwriting System (A-PLUS) is run by Verisk. Both cover auto and homeowners claims, and both keep records for up to seven years from the date of loss.
Every claim your insurer reports lands in one or both of these systems. That includes claims that were denied, claims you withdrew, and claims that closed with zero payout. Each record shows your identifying information, the date of the loss, the type of claim, any amounts paid, and the claim’s final status.
When you apply for a new auto or homeowners policy, the prospective insurer pulls your CLUE or A-PLUS report and sees the full seven-year picture. A pattern of frequent claims, even small ones, can flag you as higher risk before the underwriter looks at anything else. Once a claim ages past seven years, it drops off automatically.
Your own insurer’s internal files are a separate matter. Carriers often keep their own records indefinitely. The seven-year cycle governs what other companies can see about you.
Your Motor Vehicle Record Runs on a Different Timeline
For auto insurance, insurers also pull your state motor vehicle record (MVR). The MVR tracks accidents, traffic violations, license suspensions, and DUI convictions, and it operates on its own clock. Most states keep standard accidents and moving violations on the MVR for three to five years. Serious offenses like DUI can stay for ten years or longer depending on the state.
The practical result is that a single at-fault accident can appear in two places at once: the claims database for up to seven years, and your driving record for three to five years in most states. Insurers look at both. A claim that has rolled off your MVR may still be visible on your CLUE report for the remainder of the seven-year window.
How Long Claims Actually Affect Your Premium
Auto Insurance
A single at-fault accident raises auto insurance premiums by roughly 43% on average for full coverage, based on November 2025 rate data. The actual increase depends on your insurer, the severity of the accident, your prior driving history, and your state. Drivers with an otherwise clean record generally see smaller increases than drivers who already had violations on file.
That surcharge typically lasts three to five years, decreasing over time if you avoid additional claims or violations. After the surcharge period ends, your rate should move back toward what a driver with a clean record pays, even though the claim itself remains on your CLUE report for the balance of the seven years.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners claims carry a lighter per-claim impact than auto accidents. Recent rate analyses show a single homeowners claim increases premiums by about 5% to 6% on average, varying by claim type. Wind and liability claims sit at the lower end. Theft and fire claims edge higher.
Frequency is where the real damage happens. Two or three claims within a few years compound the increases and can trigger a non-renewal notice. Some carriers have strict internal limits on how many claims they will tolerate within a rolling five-year period before declining to renew.
The Claim-Free Discount
Filing a claim usually costs you a claim-free discount on top of the surcharge itself. You lose the discount immediately when the claim is filed, and you typically need three to five consecutive claim-free years to earn it back. That is why a single claim can feel like it hits your wallet twice.
Not-at-Fault Claims and Coverage Questions
Claims where someone else was at fault can still appear on your CLUE report. Your insurer reports the claim regardless of fault because the database tracks loss history, not blame. Whether a not-at-fault claim actually raises your premium varies by state and insurer. Some states prohibit surcharges for not-at-fault claims. Others leave it to the insurer. Multiple not-at-fault claims in a short span may still read as elevated risk to some carriers.
A plain coverage question is treated differently. LexisNexis advises insurance companies not to report interactions where you simply asked about coverage or a deductible without filing a claim. Calling your agent to ask whether a repair would be covered should not generate a CLUE entry. Your insurer may still log the call internally, and once an inspection happens or a claim number is opened, the inquiry has effectively become a claim. Ask your agent explicitly whether the conversation will create a record before describing the loss in detail.
What Accident Forgiveness Does and Doesn’t Do
Many auto insurers offer accident forgiveness, either as an earned loyalty benefit or as a paid endorsement. If you qualify, your first at-fault accident won’t trigger a surcharge with that insurer.
Forgiveness stops with your current company. The claim is still reported to CLUE and still sits on your record for seven years. If you switch carriers, the new insurer sees the claim and can price accordingly. There is no obligation to honor another company’s forgiveness.
How to Check Your Claims Record
Federal law entitles you to one free copy of your CLUE and A-PLUS reports every twelve months, and the reporting companies must deliver the report within fifteen days of your request.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and Telematics OnDemand Pulling these reports before shopping for a new policy lets you see exactly what the next insurer will see.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A-PLUS Property (by Verisk)
Errors happen. A claim can be attributed to the wrong policyholder, a payout amount can be wrong, or a claim you never filed can appear. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in your claims report free of charge, and the agency must investigate.3GovInfo. Fair Credit Reporting Act 15 USC 1681 et seq Submit the dispute in writing with supporting documents like your settlement letter or correspondence with the insurer. If the agency verifies the disputed information and you still believe it’s wrong, you can escalate by filing a complaint with your state’s department of insurance.4National Association of Insurance Commissioners. How to File a Complaint and Research Complaints Against Insurance Carriers
When Filing Might Not Be Worth It
Because a claim sits on your record for seven years and can raise your premiums for three to five, the math on smaller losses changes. If damage is only slightly above your deductible, the long-term premium increase can outweigh the payout. That is especially true for homeowners insurance, where two or three small claims in a short period can push your insurer toward non-renewal and leave you shopping for coverage with a claims-heavy record.
Before filing, ask your agent what the likely premium impact would be. Some insurers have internal tools that estimate the surcharge. Compare that projected increase over three to five years against the claim payout after your deductible. For auto claims where another driver is clearly at fault and their insurer is paying, filing through the other driver’s liability coverage can keep the claim off your own policy entirely.