What's a car insurance claim?
If a car owner contacts an insurance provider for compensation following an accident, this is known as a car insurance claim. The claim is usually for damage to the car or injury to a passenger – or both. Claims range from minor mishaps, such as breaking a wing mirror, to more serious incidents, including written-off vehicles or even fatalities.
How to check your car insurance claim history in the UK
There are a couple of ways to check your claim history.
Contact your insurance provider
Your insurance provider should hold a record of your claim history, including any claims made under your current policy as well as any previous claims declared when you took out your policy. They can give you details of dates, type of claims, how much was paid out and any injuries.
Check the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE)
The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) is a database that holds records of every incident reported to insurance providers – even those that don’t lead to a claim – as a way of preventing fraud.
Claims data stays on CUE for six years from the time the claim is closed.
To check your claim history on CUE, visit the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) website and complete a subject access request form. Note that it may take up to a month to receive the information from CUE.
If you think any information they have is wrong, contact the insurance provider who you think sent the incorrect data.
What different types of claims are there?
There are two main types of car insurance claims: ‘at-fault’ and ‘non-fault’.
At-fault claims
An at-fault claim doesn’t necessarily mean you’re to blame for the accident – it simply means your insurance provider has had to pay out. Say a driver hits your parked car and doesn’t leave their details, it could be classed as an at-fault claim, even though you didn’t cause it. And unfortunately, this could mean you lose out on some or all of your no-claims bonus, even if you’ve done nothing wrong.
If an accident was your fault, you can expect a claim to be made against you.
Non-fault claims
If the other driver is responsible for the accident and their insurance provider pays out, this is known as a non-fault claim. However, even if you have a non-fault claim, your premiums might increase.
Find out more about the car insurance claims process.
How does a car insurance claim affect my insurance premium?
When you buy a new policy, you’ll have to provide details of any previous claims. Any claim is likely to increase your car insurance premium, even if you weren’t at fault.
That’s because providers see a link between you being involved in an accident and the increased likelihood of you being involved in another in the near future.
If the claim also caused you to lose your no-claims discount, that could have a substantial effect on the price of your premiums.
Will an insurance provider find out about my claims history?
Yes. Most car, home and travel insurance providers send information on incidents and claims to CUE.
Insurance providers get your claims history from CUE and use this to calculate the cost of your premium. So when you’re buying car insurance, always be honest about past claims.
If you’re not truthful or you forget to disclose something, your insurance provider might well find out from CUE. And if they do, they could refuse to pay out on a related claim or cancel your policy.
Remember, although you don’t have to claim on your car insurance if you have an accident, you must let your insurance provider know about it. If you don’t, you could invalidate your policy.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a claim history and a car’s history?
A car’s history shouldn’t be confused with a claim history:
A car’s history is related to the vehicle, its servicing, repair and mileage history.
Claim history is linked to a driver and their insurance record, so whether they’ve made a claim on their insurance policy for an accident or damage to their vehicle.
I’m buying a used car. Should I check its history?
If you’re considering buying a second-hand car, always check its history so you know exactly what condition it’s in.
A reputable seller will give you a full history, showing servicing and repairs, which should also include details of any accidents.
How can I check a car’s history?
If you have the car’s registration number, you can find information on its history through the DVLA. Among other details, you’ll be able to check its MOT history and the log book to find out if it’s been stolen.
The RAC also offers a handy vehicle-history check. Its basic check will let you know if a vehicle has been stolen or written-off, or has any outstanding finance. Its more comprehensive checks include details like mileage discrepancies, tax info and running costs. How much you’ll pay will depend on how thorough a check you want.
You should also ask the seller for the car’s service history.
How long do car insurance claims stay on my record?
Any claim you make is automatically recorded with the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE). This data stays on your file for six years.
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News, about car and home insurance, as well as our Meerkat rewards scheme.
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