CLUE Reports, Crime Reports, Credit Reports, and MVRs: The Four Reports Your Insurance Agent Is Judging You With

Hi Folks, Kyle Goeman here. Let’s be honest — when you think of insurance, you probably envision long forms, confusing acronyms, and trying to sound confident while saying “comprehensive coverage.” But behind the scenes, your insurance company is collecting intel on you like it’s prepping for a spy mission.

Enter: The Four Horsemen of Insurance Underwriting — the CLUE Report, Crime Report, Credit Report, and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR). These reports are how insurers figure out whether you’re a responsible adult or a liability wrapped in a cardigan.

Let’s break these down, shall we?

1. CLUE Report: Insurance’s Gossip Queen

CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, and it’s basically a tattletale network for insurance companies. Any time you file a claim on your home or auto policy, it ends up here — like a diary entry no one asked for.

Why your insurer loves it: It shows your history of claims — auto and property — for the past 5-7 years. They use it to decide your premiums and even if they want to insure you at all.

Translation: That roof leak from 2019? Yeah, it’s on there. And if you’ve made five “oopsies” in the last two years, your new insurer might start charging you like you live in a tornado-prone haunted house.

2. Crime Report: What Did You Do, Dave?

You might be surprised to learn that some insurers do look at criminal records — especially for homeowners or life insurance. If you’ve got a rap sheet longer than a CVS receipt, that could raise red flags.

Why your insurer cares: Insurance is all about risk. If your history includes felonies, arson, or anything that sounds like a Netflix documentary, that might increase your premiums — or get you denied coverage altogether.

Hot tip: Parking tickets? No big deal. Grand theft auto? Slightly bigger deal.

3. Credit Report: Your Financial Vibe Check

Yes, it’s true — your credit report affects your insurance. In fact, many insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is like your regular credit score, but with more judgment and fewer reward points.

Why your insurer’s obsessed with it: Statistically, people with good credit are less likely to file claims. So if you’re financially responsible, you could get lower premiums. If you’re not… well, let’s just say your rates might go bloop.

Translation: Forget diamonds — good credit is actually your best friend in the insurance world.

4. MVR: Motor Vehicle Record — AKA Your Driving Rap Sheet

If you’ve ever gone 90 in a 55 “because everyone else was doing it,” congratulations — your MVR knows. This little gem tracks your tickets, accidents, DUIs, license suspensions — all the hits.

Why insurers check it: Your driving history is everything for auto insurance. One speeding ticket? Not the end of the world. Three in a year and a fender bender? Prepare to be charged like you’re driving a monster truck blindfolded.

Bonus: Even jobs that require you to drive (like delivery or rideshare) will check this. So if your MVR looks like a Mario Kart scoreboard, you may want to slow down.

So, What Do These Reports Mean for Insurance?

Your insurance premiums aren’t pulled from a magical hat. They’re based on real data — and these reports are where insurers get the dirt. The cleaner your history, the better your rates.

Here’s how to stay on insurance’s good side:

• Check your CLUE report before switching insurers. It’s free and helps you see what they see.

• Keep your credit in shape. Pay bills on time, don’t max out cards, and maybe skip that 8th subscription service.

• Drive like your mom is in the passenger seat. Because if you don’t, your MVR will rat you out.

• Avoid crimes. It seems obvious, but apparently not for everyone.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Clean, Folks

Insurance isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being predictable. These reports help insurers decide how risky you are to cover. The good news? You can access most of them yourself, fix errors, and even take steps to improve.

Because in the end, insurance companies don’t expect you to be a saint — they just want to make sure you’re not a frequent flyer on the “Oops, I did it again” express.