The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) might not be familiar to most people, but insurers use it widely.
It holds records of motor, household and personal injury claims and incidents, and it helps insurers tackle insurance fraud.
Key takeaways
- The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) is a central database that insurers use to share claims history - it may help insurers detect fraud and price risk
- CUE records are normally held for 6 years from the date a claim or incident is closed, then cleared
- Insurers check CUE when you apply for or renew a policy - undisclosed claims or incidents can appear here even if you didn't make a formal claim
- You can request a copy of your own CUE record via a subject access request to the Motor Insurers' Bureau
- If your CUE record contains inaccurate information, you can dispute it - but it must be with the specific insurer that recorded the entry
What is the CUE database?
CUE (Claims and Underwriting Exchange) is a central database that insurers use to share details of reported claims and incidents.
CUE helps insurers check the information you give them and spot patterns that may suggest fraud. It holds details of claims and incidents, big and small, and records are normally held for 6 years after a claim or incident is closed and then cleared.
Having a record on CUE doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, and most records relate to genuine claims and incidents.
Why is the CUE insurance database needed?
One of the main purposes of CUE is to help tackle insurance fraud. For reference, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said in October 2026 that insurers detected £1.34 billion worth of fraudulent claims in 2025. That’s a 14% increase on the £1.18 billion detected the year before.
The cost of fraud can be passed on to customers in higher premiums. By helping insurers spot false information, CUE may help to keep those costs down for honest customers of car insurance.
How can I check the CUE database?
The good news is that you can in fact check the CUE database for any information held about you. You can do this by submitting a subject access request form on the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) website.
MIB provides access to CUE data, so this is the right place to send your request.
If you realise that some or any of the details held about you are inaccurate, you'll need to contact your insurer. Ask your insurer for written confirmation that your details have been changed, your record on CUE should reflect this.
How does the CUE affect your car insurance?
When you're looking to buy or renew a car insurance policy, you'll typically be asked several questions - including your driving history. You’ll usually be asked about claims and incidents over a set period, often the last 5 years, though this varies by insurer.
At this point, insurers may cross-reference the CUE database to check that the information you provide is honest and accurate. Any incidents that you've reported to your insurer, but haven't claimed for, may also be flagged.
Your driving history can affect what you pay for car insurance, but this isn't the only thing that contributes to how car insurance is calculated. Your age, where you live, the car you drive, your estimated annual mileage and your occupation all feed into your calculated premium.
Top tip: Use our car insurance calculator to find out how much you could pay.
CUE may help reduce insurance fraud, which may help keep costs down for everyone.
It’s important to give accurate and complete answers about your driving history. Inaccurate or incomplete answers could lead your insurer to change your price, cancel your policy or refuse a claim. They could also make it harder to get a policy in future, or lead insurers to charge you a higher premium.
What sort of information do they hold?
CUE stores information relating to any claims, thefts, personal injuries and minor incidents, normally for 6 years after they’re closed. As mentioned earlier, recorded incidents are logged - even if you didn't ultimately claim on your policy.
This information can help inform insurers of certain risks. For example, if there’s a spike in car theft in a particular area, insurers may take that into account when setting prices for drivers there.
Can I contact the CUE database to update information?
Not directly. Information on CUE is supplied by insurers, so contact the insurer that recorded the entry and ask them to correct it. You can then check with MIB that your record has been updated.
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