Why Your Broker Asks for All This Paperwork
Each document in an insurance file is used to determine something specific: what you're rated on, or what your claims history shows. Texas law lets you get several of them yourself. If you've only ever gotten your claims history by asking an agent for a favor, it isn't one: an insurer has to produce it on written request.
Your Claims History Is Yours to Request
A Texas insurer has to give you your claims history on written request, within 30 days. A property and casualty insurer "shall provide the policyholder with a list of claims charged against the policy and payments made on each claim" under Insurance Code § 542.102, "not later than the 30th day after the date the insurer receives the request" under § 542.103. A workers' comp carrier must provide the claims, "payments made and reserves established on each claim," and "a statement explaining the effect of claims on premium rates," also within 30 days, under § 2051.151.
Sources: Tex. Ins. Code § 542.102 · Tex. Ins. Code § 542.103 · Tex. Ins. Code § 2051.151
A Second Right: The Details of Each Liability Claim
For a liability policy, you can also get the details of how each claim was resolved. On written request of a named insured, the insurer "shall provide to the insured information relating to the disposition of a claim filed under the policy," including "the name of each claimant," the amount paid, the settlement or judgment, and how it's to be paid, under Insurance Code § 542.101. It covers general liability, professional liability, commercial auto liability, and the liability portion of commercial multiperil insurance. The request has to reach the insurer "not later than six months after the date of disposition of the claim," and the insurer has 30 days to answer under § 542.103.
Sources: Tex. Ins. Code § 542.101 · Tex. Ins. Code § 542.103
Payroll and Classification Are What Comp Is Rated On
Workers' comp premium is a rate times your payroll, by classification. TDI says Texas employers "are assigned one or more classifications based on the type of business," each employee's payroll is assigned to a classification, and the payroll in each classification is multiplied by the company's rate "per $100 payroll." So what the business actually does is what the classification is checked against.
Why the Driver List
Texas law lets an insurer or its agent obtain driver's license records for rating or underwriting. Transportation Code § 730.007 permits personal information from a motor vehicle record to be disclosed for "use by an insurer, insurance support organization, or self-insured entity, or an authorized agent of an insurer, insurance support organization, or self-insured entity, in connection with claims processing or investigation activities, antifraud activities, rating, or underwriting," and § 730.003 defines a motor vehicle record to include "a record that pertains to a motor vehicle operator's or driver's license." A driver list is what identifies whose records those are.
Sources: Tex. Transp. Code § 730.007 · Tex. Transp. Code § 730.003
Questions People Ask
How do I get my loss runs in Texas?
Ask each insurer in writing. It has 30 days from receiving the request, under Insurance Code § 542.102 and § 542.103 for property and casualty policies and § 2051.151 for workers' comp.
Why does my insurance agent need my payroll?
Because Texas workers' comp premium is computed from it. Under TDI's workers' compensation rate guide, the payroll in each classification is multiplied by the insurer's rate per $100 of payroll.
Why does my insurance agent need my drivers' license numbers?
To identify whose driving records are requested. Texas Transportation Code § 730.007 permits driver's license records to be released to an insurer or its agent for rating or underwriting.