Key points
- A loss run is an insurance company’s report of claims on your policies.
- Underwriters usually want five years, currently valued — generally dated within the last 90 days.
- Know your own loss runs before an underwriter asks about them.
What a loss run is
A loss run is a report from an insurance company listing the claims filed under your policies during each policy term. For commercial auto, it typically shows the date of loss, a brief description, the coverage involved (liability, physical damage, and so on), amounts paid, amounts reserved for future payments, and whether the claim is open or closed.
How to request them
Ask your current agent or insurance company for loss runs on your commercial auto policy. Request them from any prior insurance companies covering the last five years as well. A written request from the named insured is usually enough. Requests can take some time, so ask early.
“Currently valued” means the report reflects claim values as of a recent date. Many underwriters expect loss runs valued within the last 60 to 90 days. Old loss runs miss developments on open claims.
How underwriters read them
| Item | What it means | What underwriters notice |
|---|---|---|
| Paid | Amount already paid on the claim | Severity |
| Reserve / outstanding | Amount the insurance company expects to pay in the future | Open exposure that may still grow |
| Incurred | Paid plus reserve | Total expected cost of the claim |
| Open / closed | Whether the claim is still being handled | Open liability claims draw attention |
| No-loss periods | Terms with no claims reported | Should still be documented |
Underwriters look at frequency (number of claims relative to fleet size), severity (size of claims), and the trend across years.
Explaining a loss
If the loss runs show a significant claim, prepare a short explanation: what happened, who was at fault, how it was resolved, and what you changed afterward. A brief, factual explanation submitted with the account is better than leaving the underwriter to guess.
Common problems
- Missing years because a prior insurance company wasn’t contacted
- Old valuations that don’t reflect claims that have since closed for less
- Claims you didn’t know about, often small physical damage claims or claims reported by the other party
Review your own loss runs before anyone else does. If something looks wrong, ask your agent or insurance company about it before renewal.