The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE)

The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) was set up in 1994. Owned and managed by the Motor Insurance Bureau, it’s a central, national database that stores details of incidents reported to insurers which may or may not give rise to claims for motor, home and travel insurance, as well as for personal injuries. 

The main benefit to having all this data in one place is to help fight fraud. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers detected 84,400 fraudulent claims in 2023, valued at £1.1 billion. ^{Footnote [1]} This can be a key factor in driving up the costs of premiums.

This data is held for 6 years from the date the claim was closed. This can help lower the number of fraudulent claims, which helps insurers determine accurate premium pricing. 

By storing details of reported incidents and claims, the exchange gives insurers a central database when you make a claim or report an incident with them. They’ll be able to see what you’ve reported in the past  and other insurance plans in your name. 

So, for example, it could show someone making a string of claims with different insurers. Or where a person makes a claim without disclosing previous claims through another insurer – which could mean their current policy isn’t valid. 

Some insurers use the information in the CUE to price a quote, as well as checking claims. This is alongside details such as your age, your car’s make and model, and where you live. 

If you haven't told an insurer about any claims that are on the CUE database then they may decide to increase your premium to reflect the higher risk.

For car insurance, the CUE has details on any reported incidents or claims you've made, such as an accident or collision, theft or fire damage to your car.

As a policyholder, you must report anything to your insurer even when you don’t intend to claim, no matter how minor you think it is. Also, when it involves another vehicle or property, you should let your insurer know in case someone decides to claim, even if no one does.  

If your insurer accesses your claims history in CUE and finds information you haven't declared, it could mean your claim is rejected. So always make sure you give the most accurate information, and report anything that could affect your insurance.

If you notice that any of your information isn’t right, get in touch with your insurer. They should report it to get it corrected.