What a collision link is and why insurers use it

A collision link is a connection an insurance company creates between two or more vehicle accidents in your claims history. When you file a collision claim, the insurer's system flags it and links it to any previous accidents you've reported — even if they happened years apart, involved different vehicles, or occurred under different policies. The insurer uses this link to build a pattern of your driving behavior over time.

Insurers maintain these links because they believe accident history predicts future claims. A driver with one accident in ten years looks different from a driver with three accidents in five years, and the link lets the company see that difference at a glance. The link stays in your file whether the accident was your fault, the other driver's fault, or a weather-related event where nobody was clearly at fault.

Understanding how collision links work matters because they directly affect your renewal rate, your ability to switch insurers, and sometimes whether a company will renew your policy at all. The link is not a judgment — it is a data point — but it is one that costs money.

Key Takeaways

  • Collision links connect all accidents in your claims history, regardless of fault, and stay visible to your current insurer and any new company you approach.
  • An insurer uses your collision link to calculate risk: more accidents in the link usually mean higher premiums at renewal or a decision not to renew.
  • The link includes accidents you reported even if you did not file a claim, and includes accidents that were not your fault.
  • You cannot remove a collision link from your record, but the impact weakens over time as older accidents age out of the underwriting window.
  • When shopping for a new insurer, disclose all accidents in your link upfront, because the new company will see them anyway through the claims database.

How insurers see and use your collision link

When you file a collision claim or even report an accident without filing a claim, that event enters the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) database. CLUE is a shared system that most major insurers subscribe to, and it records every accident you report along with the date, the type of loss, and whether you filed a claim. Your collision link is built from your CLUE history.

Your current insurer can see your full CLUE record whenever they review your policy — at renewal time, when you call to report an accident, or when you request a quote for additional coverage. Any insurer you approach for a new policy will also pull your CLUE report before offering you a rate. This means the collision link follows you from company to company; you cannot hide it by switching insurers.

The insurer uses the link to assign you a loss history rating. This is separate from your driving record (which comes from the DMV and shows tickets and violations). A driver with a clean DMV record but three accidents in five years will pay more than a driver with one speeding ticket and no accidents, because the collision link shows a pattern of claims.

What counts as a collision and what does not

A collision is any accident where your vehicle strikes another vehicle or object — a parked car, a fence, a utility pole, a guardrail. It includes accidents that were clearly not your fault: if another driver runs a red light and hits you, that accident still enters your collision link. It also includes accidents where you were partially at fault and accidents where fault was never determined.

Accidents that do not involve a collision — comprehensive claims — are tracked separately. A tree falling on your car, theft, vandalism, or hitting a pothole are comprehensive claims, not collision claims. They still appear in your CLUE history, but they are not part of your collision link and typically have less impact on your rate.

Importantly, reporting an accident to your insurer puts it in your CLUE record even if you do not file a claim. Many drivers think that if they pay out of pocket, the accident will not show up. That is not how it works. Once you report it, it is in the system. The only way to keep an accident out of your CLUE record is to not report it to your insurer at all — but that creates a different problem if the other driver files a claim against you.

How long a collision stays in your link

A collision does not disappear from your CLUE record, but its impact on your rate decreases over time. Most insurers weight recent accidents more heavily than older ones. An accident from three years ago will affect your renewal rate, but not as much as an accident from last year. An accident from seven or eight years ago may barely move your rate at all, even though it is still visible in your record.

The exact timeline varies by insurer and by state. Some companies use a three-year underwriting window, meaning accidents older than three years have minimal impact. Others look back five years or longer. When you shop for a new policy, ask the insurer directly how far back they look and how much weight they give to older accidents. A company that uses a shorter window might offer you a better rate than your current insurer, even though your collision link is the same.

You cannot request that an accident be removed from CLUE, even if it was not your fault and even if years have passed. The database is maintained by LexisNexis, a third-party company, and it keeps the record as a historical fact. What you can do is wait for the accident to age out of the underwriting window that your insurer uses.

What happens at renewal when you have a collision link

When your policy comes up for renewal, your insurer pulls your current CLUE report. If your collision link shows new accidents since your last renewal, your rate will likely increase. The size of the increase depends on how many accidents are in your link, how recent they are, and how your insurer's rating algorithm weighs them. A single accident from two years ago might add 10 to 15 percent to your premium; three accidents in three years might add 30 to 50 percent or more.

In some cases, an insurer will decide not to renew your policy at all if your collision link shows too many recent accidents. This is called non-renewal, and it is legal in most states. The insurer must give you written notice (usually 30 to 60 days), but they do not have to offer you a renewal rate. If this happens, you will need to find coverage elsewhere, and other insurers will see the same collision link.

Before your renewal date, request a copy of your CLUE report from LexisNexis. You can order it free at www.lexisnexis.com/clue or by calling 1-866-312-8076. Review it for accuracy. If an accident is listed incorrectly — wrong date, wrong type of loss, or an accident that was not yours — you can dispute it with LexisNexis and ask them to correct it. Correcting errors before renewal can lower your rate.

Shopping for insurance when you have a collision link

If your current insurer raises your rate significantly or does not renew, you will need to shop for a new policy. When you get quotes from other companies, be upfront about every accident in your collision link. Do not wait for the insurer to discover them through CLUE; tell them yourself. This accomplishes two things: it shows good faith, and it prevents the insurer from later claiming you withheld information.

Different insurers weight collision links differently. Some companies specialize in drivers with accident history and price accordingly. Others are stricter and may decline to quote you if your link is too recent or too full. Getting quotes from three to five companies is worth the time, because the difference in rates can be hundreds of dollars per year.

Some insurers offer accident forgiveness programs, which means your first accident (or sometimes your first accident in a set number of years) will not raise your rate at renewal. If you are shopping for a new policy and your collision link shows only one recent accident, ask whether the new insurer offers accident forgiveness. If they do, and if you have not used it yet, that accident might not affect your rate.

Disputing errors in your collision link

Your CLUE report can contain errors. An accident might be listed under your name when it was actually your spouse's vehicle. A claim might be marked as filed when you only reported it. A loss type might be wrong. These errors happen, and they can cost you money in higher premiums.

To dispute an error, request your CLUE report, identify the mistake, and contact LexisNexis in writing with documentation. If the accident was not yours, provide proof (a copy of the police report showing a different driver, or a letter from your insurer confirming the claim was filed under someone else's policy). LexisNexis will investigate and correct the report if the error is confirmed. This can take 30 to 60 days.

You can also contact your current insurer and ask them to correct their records if they reported the accident incorrectly to CLUE. Your insurer can submit a correction request on your behalf, which sometimes moves faster than disputing directly with LexisNexis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a collision link include accidents that were not my fault?

Yes. CLUE records all accidents you report, regardless of fault information. An accident where the other driver was clearly at fault still appears in your collision link and can affect your renewal rate, though some insurers may weight it less heavily than an accident where you were at fault.

Can I remove an accident from my collision link?

No. Once an accident is in the CLUE database, it stays there. You cannot request removal, and disputing it only works if the information is factually incorrect. What you can do is wait for the accident to age out of your insurer's underwriting window, which typically happens after three to seven years depending on the company.

Will a new insurer see my collision link?

Yes. Any insurer you approach will pull your CLUE report before quoting you. The collision link is visible to all insurers, so switching companies will not hide your accident history. Disclose accidents upfront when getting quotes.

How much will my rate increase if I have an accident in my collision link?

The increase varies widely by insurer, state, and how many accidents are in your link. A single accident might raise your rate 10 to 20 percent; multiple accidents can raise it 30 to 50 percent or more. Ask your insurer for a specific rate quote before and after adding an accident to see the exact impact.

What is the difference between a collision link and a driving record?

Your driving record comes from the DMV and shows tickets, violations, and suspensions. Your collision link comes from CLUE and shows insurance claims and reported accidents. Both affect your rate, but they are separate systems. You can have a clean driving record with a full collision link, or vice versa.