[Sean P]

Hi!I am with auto-insurance company X right now and due to few number of insurance claims that I had made, my insurance is going up. I am wondering if I try to switch to some company Y, will X share my claims information with Y?Thanks!

[Stupid Flanders]

Your driving record (including accidents, tickets and filed claims) is public knowledge and is kept on a database through your state. Most states use the same database so that your driving record is basically public knowledge.While Insurance company Y doesn't get information directly from Insurance company X, all they have to do is look up on the database to find all of your tickets, claims and accidents.Basically, you shouldn't lie on your application because you won't get away with it.

[Fred C]

Of course! One of the questions in the applicationt that must be answered truthfully is similar wording to"please list all accidents you have been involved in as a driver, whether at fault or not, in the last #x years". They also ask for the approximate amount of any claim associated with the accidents. Some companies want 3 years, some 5, and they do check. If they issue a policy immediately based on falsed information, you would receive a registered letter within days, possibly cancelling it, or increasing premiums substantially. In my office, sometimes I would fax an application and receive a phonce call back within half an hour asking why a certain accident hadn't been declared by the applicant.