How Claims Affect Your Home Insurance Premium
| Claim Type | Typical Premium Increase | Duration of Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Weather-related (wind, hail) | 5–8% | 3–5 years |
| Water damage (burst pipe) | 8–15% | 3–5 years |
| Theft or vandalism | 5–10% | 3–5 years |
| Fire damage | 15–25% | 5–7 years |
| Liability claim | 10–20% | 3–7 years |
| Multiple claims (2+ in 3 years) | Non-renewal risk | Up to 7 years |
What Is a CLUE Report?
The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) is a database maintained by LexisNexis that tracks home insurance claims for the past 7 years. When you apply for home insurance, insurers pull your CLUE report to assess risk. You are entitled to a free copy at personalreports.lexisnexis.com.
When to File a Claim — and When NOT To
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — insurers can non-renew policies for excessive claims frequency, even if each individual claim was legitimate. Two or more claims within 3 years significantly increases non-renewal risk with most carriers.
It depends — some insurers report all claims including denied ones; others only report paid claims. Even a claim you withdrew after reporting may appear, which is one more reason to think carefully before reporting minor damage.
Most claims affect your premium for 3–5 years, with the largest impact in the first 1–2 years. After the claim ages off your CLUE report's 7-year window, your rate should return to normal — assuming no further claims.