What is a CLUE report?

A CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report is a LexisNexis database record of up to seven years of home and personal property insurance claims, which insurers use to price and underwrite policies. For a house, it covers claims tied to the property, including those filed by previous owners. A buyer cannot order it; the current owner can request it and share it. CFPB.

Key takeaways

  • Only the property owner can order the home CLUE report, so ask the seller for it early in your inspection or option period.
  • Owners can get it once every 12 months at no charge from LexisNexis (866-897-8126) under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
  • Look for water, roof and repeat claims, then check that the repairs were made.
  • Get your own homeowners insurance quote before your contingency ends; insurers can price or decline based on claims history.
7 yearsHome and personal property claims held in CLUECFPB
1 per yearReport the owner can get at no charge every 12 monthsCFPB
15 daysTime the company has to provide a requested reportCFPB
~80%Higher nonrenewal rates in the highest climate-risk ZIP codesUS Treasury, Jan 2025

Why claims history matters more now

Insurers use the claims history of a property to decide whether to offer coverage and at what price. The US Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office analysed more than 246 million homeowners policies from 2018–2022 and found that households in the highest climate-risk ZIP codes paid 82% more on average than those in the lowest, with nonrenewal rates about 80% higher. Treasury, January 16, 2025.

US Treasury data

Average homeowners premium by ZIP-code climate risk, 2018–2022

Lowest climate-risk ZIP codes
≈ $1,275
Highest climate-risk ZIP codes
$2,321
Highest-risk figure and the 82% difference as published by the US Treasury Federal Insurance Office (January 16, 2025); the lowest-risk figure is derived from them (2,321 ÷ 1.82). Premiums are averages, not quotes. Source.

How to get a CLUE report for a house you are buying

  1. Ask the seller or listing agent in writing

    Ask the owner to order the home C.L.U.E. report from LexisNexis at consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com or 866-897-8126 and share it. Washington’s insurance commissioner puts it plainly: “If you need a CLUE report on a property you’d like to buy, the owner must request it.” WA OIC.

    Keep: Date requested and the seller’s reply.

  2. Ask for the A-PLUS report too

    Verisk runs a second claims database, A-PLUS. Owners can request it once every 12 months at fcra.verisk.com. CFPB.

    Keep: Both reports, if the seller agrees.

  3. Read each claim against the disclosure and inspection

    For each claim note the date, cause and amount paid. Water damage, roof and repeat claims deserve a question: was the damage repaired, by whom and with a permit?

    Keep: A list of claims with repair evidence or open questions.

  4. Get an insurance quote with the claims in view

    Share accurate information with an insurer or agent before your contingency ends and ask whether the history affects price or eligibility.

    Keep: Written quotes for homeowners and, if needed, flood cover.

What sellers must tell you about claims

There is no nationwide rule requiring a seller to hand over a CLUE report. Some states ask about claims on the disclosure form: Florida’s flood disclosure (s. 689.302, effective October 1, 2024) asks whether the seller filed a flood-damage claim, including with the NFIP, and received federal flood assistance (Florida Statutes); Texas and New York forms include flood-claim questions. See seller disclosure by state.

If the seller declines, you cannot compel the report. Weigh that alongside the inspection, the disclosure and your insurance quote, and ask your agent how to protect yourself in the contract.

Questions people ask

Can a buyer get a CLUE report on a house?

Not directly. The owner orders the report and can share it with you. Insurers can also see claims history when they quote.

How much does a CLUE report cost?

The owner can get one at no charge every 12 months under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, so asking a seller for it should not cost them anything.

How far back does a CLUE report go?

Up to seven years of home and personal property claims.

Does an inquiry show up on CLUE?

Insurers report claims they open, deny or pay. Washington’s insurance regulator says a question about coverage alone should not be reported; practices can vary, so ask your insurer.

What if the CLUE report is wrong?

The owner can dispute errors with LexisNexis, which must investigate at no charge under the FCRA, and can complain to the CFPB.

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Sources & method

We start with the agency or statute that governs each rule and link to it directly. Figures carry their source and date. Rules and forms change; confirm the current version with the responsible office or a qualified professional.

  1. CFPB: LexisNexis C.L.U.E.
  2. CFPB: A-PLUS Property (Verisk)
  3. Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: CLUE
  4. US Treasury: Federal Insurance Office homeowners insurance analysis (Jan 16, 2025)
  5. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: 2026 hurricane season release
  6. Florida Statutes s. 689.302: flood disclosure

Reviewed September 25, 2026 by the PropertyDataCheck editorial team. Corrections: info@propertydatacheck.com. How we research and update guides.