Every time you file an insurance claim, a record of it usually goes somewhere you never see. For most property and casualty claims in the U.S., that place is ISO ClaimSearch.
Insurers use it to check whether a claim matches earlier ones, spot fraud, and understand a claimant’s history. That’s useful for the industry, but it also means a past claim, or a mistake in your record, can follow you to your next claim.
This guide explains what ISO ClaimSearch is, what it collects, how it can affect you, what reports you can actually request, and four practical ways to protect yourself.
Quick answer: ISO ClaimSearch is a claims database run by Verisk. Participating insurers, self-insured companies, and third-party administrators submit claims to it and search it to detect duplicate or fraudulent claims. It isn’t open to the public. Consumers can request free loss history reports from Verisk, such as its A-PLUS auto and property reports, through Verisk’s consumer disclosure page, and can dispute errors through its Consumer Inquiry Center at 1-800-709-8842.
What Is ISO ClaimSearch?
ISO ClaimSearch is an insurance claims database created by ISO (Insurance Services Office), which is now part of Verisk, a data analytics company headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.
When a participating company receives a claim, it submits the details to the system. ClaimSearch then compares it with past claims and sends back any matches, such as earlier injuries, prior losses at the same property, or claims involving the same vehicle.
According to Verisk, ClaimSearch holds more than 1.5 billion claim records, as reported by Property and Casualty in 2021. Earlier versions of this article cited both 1 billion and 1.5 billion; the 1.5 billion figure is the one Verisk published.
Who can access it
Only participating organizations can log in to the ISO ClaimSearch platform. That typically includes:
- property and casualty insurance companies,
- self-insured businesses and public entities,
- third-party claims administrators, and
- special investigation units (SIUs) that look into suspected fraud.
You can’t search the database yourself, and neither can the general public.
Why Insurance Companies Use It
Insurers rely on ClaimSearch for a few main reasons:
- Fraud detection. It flags claims that look like repeats of earlier ones, such as the same injury claimed twice or the same damage photo used again.
- Faster claim handling. Adjusters can quickly check a claimant’s history instead of researching it manually.
- Better investigations. Matches help investigators connect related claims across different insurers.
- Industry-wide view. One insurer can see claims filed with other participating insurers.
Insurance fraud is a real cost for everyone. The FBI estimates that non-health insurance fraud costs more than $40 billion a year, which can add hundreds of dollars a year to the average family’s premiums.
What Information Does ISO ClaimSearch Collect?
The exact fields vary by claim type, but records commonly include:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Personal details | Name, address, date of birth, and sometimes partial identifiers |
| Claim details | Date of loss, type of claim, insurer, claim number, and status |
| Auto claims | Vehicle identification number (VIN), damage, and parties involved |
| Property claims | Property address, type of loss (fire, water, theft, storm), and claim images |
| Injury claims | Injury type and treatment details |
| Lines of insurance | Auto, property, general liability, and workers’ compensation |
The Fraud-Detection Tools Inside ClaimSearch
ClaimSearch has added newer tools over time. One example: in January 2021, Verisk introduced prior loss image matching, which compares photos submitted with property claims against earlier claim images. Verisk said one photo had been submitted 170 times, with more than $1 million in claims impact. The feature is free for participating companies.
(Older versions of this article described that photo as hail damage. The original report doesn’t say what the photo showed.)
Is ISO ClaimSearch Legal and Secure?
Yes, sharing claims data for fraud prevention is legal in the U.S., and insurers have long done it.
How consumer protection laws apply depends on how the data is used:
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you rights over “consumer reports” used for decisions like insurance underwriting. If an insurer uses a consumer report to deny you coverage or raise your rate, it generally has to tell you and name the reporting company. Learn more from the CFPB’s list of consumer reporting companies.
- State insurance laws also regulate how insurers investigate and handle claims, including anti-fraud reporting requirements.
On security, older versions of this article described Verisk’s protection as “bank-grade encryption,” but we couldn’t find Verisk using that claim. Like any large data holder, a claims database is a target for attackers, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your own records.
Can You See Your Own ISO ClaimSearch Report?
Not directly through ClaimSearch. Verisk’s consumer disclosure page lists the reports consumers can request, and as of October 2026 it doesn’t list a ClaimSearch report by that name.
What you can request:
| Report | What it shows |
|---|---|
| A-PLUS Auto Claims History Report | Your past auto insurance claims as reported to Verisk’s A-PLUS loss history database |
| A-PLUS Property Claims History Report | Past property claims for you and, in some cases, your home |
| FACTA report | Your free consumer report under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act |
| Coverage Verifier Policy History Report | Your insurance policy history (for some vehicle owners) |
Verisk says you can get one free report in any 12-month period.
How to request a report
- Online: Use the forms on fcra.verisk.com.
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: Verisk Underwriting Solutions Consumer Inquiry Center, P.O. Box 5404, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
- Phone (FACTA report): 1-800-627-3487, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. Reports are sent by mail.
If you want to know specifically what ClaimSearch holds about a claim, call the Consumer Inquiry Center at 1-800-709-8842 and ask. Verisk also keeps a ClaimSearch service directory describing its claims services.
Don’t forget LexisNexis CLUE
Verisk isn’t the only claims history company. Many insurers also use the CLUE report from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and you can request your free LexisNexis consumer disclosure report, which includes insurance claims data, through the LexisNexis consumer portal. It’s worth checking both.
How ISO ClaimSearch Can Affect You
It can slow down or complicate a claim
If your new claim matches an earlier one, the adjuster may ask more questions, request documents, or refer the claim for investigation. A match isn’t proof of fraud, but it can mean extra scrutiny and a slower payout.
It can shape how your claim is handled
For injury claims, adjusters often check ClaimSearch for prior injuries to the same body part. If they find one, they may argue part of your injury existed before the accident.
Your claims history can affect prices and applications
Your overall claims history, from loss history reports like A-PLUS and CLUE, can affect your premiums and whether an insurer offers you a policy. If you’re shopping for coverage, our AAA Insurance guide explains how quotes and discounts work.
It doesn’t affect your credit score
Claims databases are separate from the major credit bureaus, so a claim in ClaimSearch doesn’t change your credit score.
Common Concerns: Privacy, Errors and Misuse
- Privacy. Your claim details are shared across participating companies, usually without notice to you.
- Errors. Records can contain mistakes, such as a claim listed under the wrong person, a duplicate entry, or an inquiry that looks like a claim.
- Misuse. An insurer might lean too heavily on a match, for example treating an old, unrelated injury as grounds to reduce a payout.
If you think an insurer is treating you unfairly, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department.
4 Ways to Protect Yourself
1. Keep records of every claim
Save claim numbers, dates, correspondence, photos, repair invoices, and medical records. If a past claim is questioned later, you’ll have proof of what really happened.
2. Request your reports once a year, and after any denial
Get your free Verisk and LexisNexis reports every year, and right away if a claim is denied or your premium jumps. If an insurer took adverse action based on a report, ask which company supplied it.
3. Dispute anything that’s wrong
If a report shows a claim you never made, the wrong amount, or a claim listed twice, dispute it with the reporting company and tell your insurer. Under the FCRA, consumer reporting companies generally must investigate disputes about information in consumer reports. Records that are accurate generally can’t be deleted just because you’d prefer they weren’t there.
4. Don’t let others file claims under your policy
Only file claims for real losses, be careful about who can file under your policy, and think twice before filing very small claims you could pay yourself. Each claim adds to your history.
FAQs About ISO ClaimSearch
What is ISO ClaimSearch?
It’s a claims database run by Verisk that insurers and claims administrators use to detect fraud and check claim histories.
Who runs ISO ClaimSearch?
Verisk, the data analytics company that owns ISO (Insurance Services Office).
Can I look up my own ISO ClaimSearch record?
Not directly. You can request free loss history reports, like A-PLUS, from Verisk’s consumer disclosure page, and contact its Consumer Inquiry Center at 1-800-709-8842 with questions.
Does ISO ClaimSearch affect my credit score?
No. It’s separate from the credit bureaus.
How long does a claim stay in ISO ClaimSearch?
Verisk doesn’t publish a simple retention period for ClaimSearch. Loss history reports used for underwriting, like A-PLUS and CLUE, typically show about the last five to seven years of claims.
Can I remove a claim from ISO ClaimSearch?
Accurate claims generally can’t be removed, but you can dispute incorrect information.
Is ISO ClaimSearch the same as CLUE?
No. CLUE is run by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. ClaimSearch and A-PLUS are run by Verisk. Insurers may use either or both.
Is ISO ClaimSearch legal?
Yes. Claims data sharing for fraud prevention is legal, and consumer reporting laws like the FCRA give you rights over reports used for insurance decisions.
Final Thoughts
ISO ClaimSearch is one of the main tools insurers use to fight fraud, and most people never know it exists until a claim gets questioned. You can’t search it yourself, but you can request your free loss history reports, keep good records, and dispute errors quickly.
A few minutes a year checking your reports can save you a lot of stress when you need to file a claim.
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This article is for general information and isn’t legal advice. Report names, contact details, and processes can change, so confirm details with Verisk and your insurer.
