What exactly is a C.L.U.E. report and who keeps this report on me?

A company called LexisNexis maintains a database called C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange). "C.L.U.E. Auto" reports include a seven-year history of claims associated with drivers' auto insurance, including loss types, dates of loss, amounts paid, and past and present policy numbers, claim numbers and auto insurers.

LexisNexis says 99 percent of car insurance companies provide reports for the database. If you want to look at your report, you can request a free copy once a year through the company and dispute any inaccurate information you find, just like you can with a credit report.

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LexisNexis Risk Solutions also provides Attract Auto Insurance Scores to insurers. The scores are based on credit reports, and insurance companies use them to help decide whether to sell you a policy and to set your rate. For a fee, you can check your insurance score, how it compares to other consumers and your "risk category."

Insurance companies say there's a link between insurance risk scores, based on credit reports, and the likelihood that customers will file claims. However, critics say the use of insurance risk scores unfairly increases insurance costs for low-income families. Many states prohibit insurance companies from using scores as the only basis for setting rates or for refusing to issue or renew policies.

Yet another product sold by LexisNexis is something called "Attract with Claims." This report, available to auto insurers but not to consumers, combines credit information and previous claims history to project the level of future claims.

Other LexisNexis services available to insurers include motor vehicle reports and a "Current Carrier" database that lists your current insurers, your coverage and limits.

For more, see what your auto insurance company knows about you.