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How to Get Homeowners Insurance After a Claim: CLUE Reports, Claims History and Options

How to get homeowners insurance after a claim: check your CLUE report, fix errors, address the cause of the loss and know your options if insurers say no.

By Policy Compass Editorial Team · Published · 8 min read

How to get homeowners insurance after a claim: start by pulling your claims history reports so you know what insurers will see. Correct any errors, then fix and document whatever caused the loss. Shop with more than one insurer, and with an independent agent. A past claim doesn't automatically disqualify you, because underwriting rules differ from company to company, though it may mean a higher price or more shopping. If the private market says no, many states have a FAIR Plan as a last resort.

This guide explains how claims history affects homeowners insurance, what's in a CLUE report, how to check and correct yours and what your options are. State laws on how insurers can use claims differ, so check with your state insurance department for the rules where you live.

How claims history affects homeowners insurance

Insurers price and select risks partly on past losses. The NAIC's consumer guide lists two separate claims factors that can affect your premium:

  • The claims history of the home (and of homes in your area)
  • Your history of filing claims for water damage, fire, theft or liability on homes you've owned

The NAIC also says "how often you file a claim and the types of claims you file often affect your premium and whether your insurer will renew your policy." In other words, frequency and type both matter, not just the dollar amount.

What's on your CLUE report

Most insurers report homeowners claims to private databases, the NAIC says, and the best known is the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), run by LexisNexis. The CFPB also lists A-PLUS Property, from Verisk, which collects home, auto and personal property claims history.

According to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, a CLUE report includes:

  • Policy information such as your name, date of birth and policy number
  • Claim details such as the date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid
  • A description of the property, including the address for homeowners coverage

It doesn't include credit reports, criminal records or court judgments. Wisconsin also notes that CLUE reports are used "almost exclusively to underwrite and rate new policies." That's why a claim may matter most when you're shopping for a new policy.

How long do homeowners claims stay on your record?

The CFPB says CLUE reports up to seven years of home insurance and personal property claims. How much weight an insurer gives an older claim is up to the insurer, within state law.

Claims you didn't get paid for can still appear

Wisconsin explains that claims information includes "any losses you have requested the insurance company to cover, whether or not the insurance company paid for it."

Claims vs. inquiries

This is a common trap. The Utah Insurance Department warns that calling your insurer or agent to discuss an actual loss "might be considered reporting a claim," even if no payment is made. Utah says CLUE has instructed insurers not to report simple coverage inquiries, but you should be explicit about which one you're making.

Claims on a house you're buying

You can't order a CLUE report on a home you don't own. Under federal law, Wisconsin says, only the owner, insurer or lender can access it, but you can ask the seller to order one. Wisconsin adds that an insurer may use a prior owner's losses if it can show a link to future risk.

How to get homeowners insurance after a claim: 5 steps

Step 1: Check your home insurance claims history

You're entitled to one free CLUE report every 12 months under the federal FACT Act, according to Wisconsin's insurance office. The CFPB says Verisk's A-PLUS also provides one free report every 12 months on request, and that requesting your own reports doesn't hurt your credit scores. Contact details are on the CFPB pages linked above.

Check each entry: dates, loss types, amounts and the property address. Note anything you don't recognize.

Step 2: Correct errors and add context

If something is wrong, dispute it. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the CFPB says, companies must investigate disputes free of charge. Wisconsin explains that LexisNexis will contact the insurer and notify you of the results within 30 days.

If an entry is accurate but needs context, you can add a personal statement to future CLUE reports. Insurers can't add notes, but consumers can. Wisconsin's example: after a dog-bite claim, a homeowner who no longer has the dog can say so.

Step 3: Fix the cause of the loss, and document it

Insurers worry less about a past loss when the cause is gone. Keep invoices, permits, photos and inspection reports showing what you repaired, replaced or upgraded. Examples include a new water heater after a leak, updated wiring after a fire or a new roof after storm damage.

Documentation can carry legal weight in some states. Oregon's ORS 746.686 says an insurer can't use a prior owner's claim against a new buyer if the buyer shows the risk was mitigated. That means the damage was fully restored and the underlying cause repaired or eliminated.

Step 4: Shop more widely

Underwriting rules differ from company to company, so one decline isn't the final word. The Triple-I suggests:

  • Talking to the agent or company that insures your car or previously insured your home about which improvements would make the home more insurable
  • Asking for agents who know the specific risks in your area
  • Calling your state insurance department, which can generally provide a list of insurers that write in your area

Step 5: If private insurers say no

FAIR Plans. Many states run FAIR Plans, which are insurers of last resort. The Triple-I says you usually need proof of denial from at least two private insurers. It lists a history of multiple claims among the factors that can make FAIR Plan coverage more expensive. Coverage is often limited to the dwelling.

Surplus lines insurers. In some states, the Triple-I says, you may be able to buy from an excess and surplus lines insurer through a specially licensed broker. These policies can cost significantly more and aren't backed by state guaranty funds.

If you have a mortgage, don't go uninsured. Your servicer may buy force-placed insurance and charge you. The CFPB says it often protects only the lender and usually costs more than a policy you buy yourself.

State and federal rules that limit how claims are used

Federal adverse action notices. The FTC says that if an insurer denies coverage, raises your rate or ends your policy based even partly on a consumer report, it must notify you. The notice must name the reporting company and tell you about your right to a free report within 60 days and to dispute errors.

State limits (Oregon example). Oregon's ORS 746.686 is one of the more detailed state laws. For homeowner policies, insurers generally can't:

  • Use claims with a date of loss more than five years before your application or renewal to decide coverage or pricing (except to give you a discount)
  • Use your first claim within the past five years to decide whether to issue or renew
  • Use a pure inquiry about coverage or the claims process, when you're not making a claim

Other states have their own rules, and many have none on these specific points. Your state insurance department can tell you what applies.

How to compare home insurance quotes with a claims history

Have this ready:

  • Copies of your CLUE and A-PLUS reports
  • A short written summary of each claim: what happened, what was paid and what you fixed
  • Repair invoices, permits and inspection reports

Ask each insurer or agent:

  • "How do you treat claims of this type and age?"
  • "Is my claims history affecting my eligibility, my price or both?"
  • "If you decline or surcharge me, which report did you use?"

Compare like for like. The NAIC stresses asking every insurer for the same coverages and limits and getting quotes in writing. A cheaper quote with a much higher deductible or narrower coverage isn't a better deal by default. If you're unsure what a standard policy includes, see what homeowners insurance covers.

Before your next claim

Your claims history is something you can manage. The NAIC suggests that if repairs cost not much more than your deductible, you might pay for them yourself. Before you file, ask your insurer how a claim would affect your renewal. When you do need to claim, our guide to the homeowners insurance claim process walks through each step.

The bottom line

A past claim makes homeowners insurance harder to get, not impossible. Know what's on your reports and correct mistakes. Show what you fixed, and shop broadly. If your home has other risk factors, such as an older roof or aging wiring and plumbing, address those at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

How long do claims stay on your homeowners insurance record?

The CFPB says LexisNexis C.L.U.E. reports up to seven years of home insurance and personal property claims. How much weight an insurer gives older claims varies, and some states set limits. Oregon, for example, bars insurers from using homeowner claims more than five years old to decide whether to issue a policy or how to price it.

How can I check my home insurance claims history?

Request your reports from LexisNexis C.L.U.E. and Verisk's A-PLUS Property, two claims-history companies listed by the CFPB. Each provides a free report every 12 months on request, according to the CFPB and Wisconsin's insurance office. Reviewing them before you shop lets you spot errors early.

Will my homeowners insurance go up after a claim?

It might. The NAIC says how often you file and the types of claims you file often affect your premium and whether your insurer will renew. Ask your insurer how a claim would affect your renewal before you decide on smaller losses.

Can homeowners insurance drop you after a claim?

An insurer may decide not to renew based on claims history, within the limits of state law. State rules on notice and permitted reasons vary. Oregon, for example, doesn't allow insurers to use your first claim in the past five years to decide whether to renew. Contact your state insurance department if you think a non-renewal broke your state's rules.

Does calling my insurer about damage count as a claim?

It can. The Utah Insurance Department warns that contacting your insurer or agent to discuss an actual loss might be considered reporting a claim, even if nothing is paid. Be clear about whether you're filing a claim or asking a coverage question. Some states, such as Oregon, bar insurers from using pure inquiries in underwriting.

Sources

  1. A Consumer's Guide to Home Insurance (National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2022)
  2. Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E. (updated May 19, 2026) (Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance)
  3. Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E. (Utah Insurance Department)
  4. LexisNexis C.L.U.E. & Telematics OnDemand (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
  5. A-PLUS Property (by Verisk) (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
  6. ORS 746.686: Use of prior claim or inquiry in determination to issue or renew homeowner insurance policy (Oregon Revised Statutes (via Oregon Laws / public.law))
  7. Consumer Reports: What Insurers Need to Know (Federal Trade Commission)
  8. What if I can't get coverage? (Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I))
  9. What are FAIR Plans and how might they provide insurance coverage? (Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I))
  10. What can I do if my mortgage lender or servicer is charging me for force-placed homeowner's insurance? (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Sources were accessed on October 6, 2026. Linked pages may have changed since then.

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