Michigan has the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. After a recent increase in my auto insurance of 33%, besides rate shopping I decided it was time to educate myself further. In doing so, I ran across the C.L.U.E. Report that insurers rely on in part to set your rates. LexisNexis is the compiler of the data. You can get a free copy of your report from them. I did and I learned some interesting things.
https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/fact_act_claims_bundle/landing.jsp
It's just me and the wife. Kids are grown and long gone. We've always had two cars and in 20 years of marriage have had zero accidents. None at all ever, actually. So, our report should be squeaky clean I thought. It's not. Data falls off the report after seven years.
In the past four years we've had four stone chips in windshields on various cars. We live in an area with few paved roads and rocks are frequently thrown from tires. Until recently we had full glass coverage and our insurer was tickled pink to pay the $35 for the stone chip repairs because as they said, it saves us both money because chances are, if not repaired it could develop into a crack that would necessitate replacing the windshield. An ounce of prevention and all that. They're happy and I'm happy. But those three chip repairs showed up on my CLUE Report. Well, they did pay and it was a claim of sorts so I can justify that it's warranted.
Things got different on the last stone chip. Whenever possible, we will drive the car directly to the windshield guy to get them fixed because the chances of a successful repair diminish the longer you wait. I got one on my two week old new car and drove directly to get it taken care of. I had switched insurers and although I was pretty much positive I did not have glass coverage the policy was at home so I called them to make sure. I found that no I did not and in fact could not have glass coverage because they don't offer it. It would fall under my comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible. I had to pay out of pocket the $35. No biggie. That's fine.
It's on my CLUE Report as a claim and will be for the next seven years. That's right, my call to verify that I did not have coverage for a stone chip resulted in a "claim" in which nothing was paid out.
Now here is another thing that I found very interesting. My wife also ordered her CLUE Report. All the cars since we have been married have been in my name, but despite that, her CLUE Report is identical to mine. She also has four claims. I get it, we were both insured on both cars but still...
It's free guys and gals. Get yours and check it out. You can get your history not only on the cars but on your home too. Make sure there are no errors that are affecting your rates.
https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/fact_act_claims_bundle/landing.jsp
It's just me and the wife. Kids are grown and long gone. We've always had two cars and in 20 years of marriage have had zero accidents. None at all ever, actually. So, our report should be squeaky clean I thought. It's not. Data falls off the report after seven years.
In the past four years we've had four stone chips in windshields on various cars. We live in an area with few paved roads and rocks are frequently thrown from tires. Until recently we had full glass coverage and our insurer was tickled pink to pay the $35 for the stone chip repairs because as they said, it saves us both money because chances are, if not repaired it could develop into a crack that would necessitate replacing the windshield. An ounce of prevention and all that. They're happy and I'm happy. But those three chip repairs showed up on my CLUE Report. Well, they did pay and it was a claim of sorts so I can justify that it's warranted.
Things got different on the last stone chip. Whenever possible, we will drive the car directly to the windshield guy to get them fixed because the chances of a successful repair diminish the longer you wait. I got one on my two week old new car and drove directly to get it taken care of. I had switched insurers and although I was pretty much positive I did not have glass coverage the policy was at home so I called them to make sure. I found that no I did not and in fact could not have glass coverage because they don't offer it. It would fall under my comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible. I had to pay out of pocket the $35. No biggie. That's fine.
It's on my CLUE Report as a claim and will be for the next seven years. That's right, my call to verify that I did not have coverage for a stone chip resulted in a "claim" in which nothing was paid out.
Now here is another thing that I found very interesting. My wife also ordered her CLUE Report. All the cars since we have been married have been in my name, but despite that, her CLUE Report is identical to mine. She also has four claims. I get it, we were both insured on both cars but still...
It's free guys and gals. Get yours and check it out. You can get your history not only on the cars but on your home too. Make sure there are no errors that are affecting your rates.