Will a claim on a shared policy affect rates for my other policy?

I have two different cars insured by two different companies. My significant other got into an accident and filed a claim through our policy for car #1. Will my other individual policy for car #2 be affected?

Thank you for reaching out to The Zebra about this situation. Insurance can get quite confusing, especially with multiple cars and policies.

Anytime you file a claim, it is reported between insurance companies. This report is called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report or CLUE for short. When your policy renews, your insurance company can run a CLUE report to determine the price for your renewal. I have seen in some instances where an insurance company decided not to run a CLUE report, and they did not find out about an accident for a couple of years. This is rare, however, so be prepared for your insurer to find out about claims even when they're with other companies. Insurance companies can quickly pull any claims that you've had to adjust your insurance premium, but can only do so when the policy renews. 

It might also be worth talking with your significant other (and your insurance agent) about keeping separate policies. For unmarried couples, if one partner has negative rating factors it can also affect you if you're on the policy together. On the other hand, you may qualify for a multi-policy discount if you both combine your policies with the same company. It's really a personal decision but could be worth exploring in your situation.

The best option is to always shop around when your policy is up for renewal. You can call our agency to get a personalized quote for you at 888-444-8949 or you can get a quote online through www.TheZebra.com.