What a loss run actually is
A loss run is a claims history report issued directly by an insurance carrier — not a document you write yourself, and not the same thing as a certificate of insurance. It lists every claim filed under a specific policy: whether each one is open or closed, the current reserve or amount paid, and enough detail to show what actually happened.
If you've never requested one, that's not unusual, especially if you've stayed with the same carrier for years or your broker has always handled renewals without you seeing the paperwork behind them. It becomes visible the moment you shop your coverage, add a new line of insurance, or a contract requires you to produce one — and at that point, not knowing what it is or how to get one can genuinely slow a quote down.
Why carriers require it — claims can be reopened
The core reason a carrier wants a loss run, and wants a recent one, is that a claim's status isn't necessarily final just because it says "closed." A reserve can be revised, a lawsuit can be refiled, a subrogation recovery a carrier was counting on can fall through and reopen a claim that looked settled. An old loss run reflects the claims picture as of whenever it was pulled — not necessarily as of today.
That's why a stale loss run — even an accurate one when it was issued — doesn't fully answer the question an underwriter is actually asking, which is: what does this contractor's claims history look like right now.
How recent it needs to be
Most carriers want a loss run dated within roughly the last 30 to 90 days of your submission — the exact window varies by carrier, and some are stricter than others. The safest approach is to request an updated loss run around the same time you start requesting quotes, or even slightly before, rather than waiting until a carrier specifically asks for one and then scrambling.
If you're comparing multiple carriers at once, one current loss run per line of coverage generally covers the whole shopping process, as long as it's recent enough when the submission actually goes out.
Who it has to come from, and what it has to show
A loss run has to come directly from the carrier that issued the policy — on the carrier's own letterhead or system-generated format, with a dated cover page or run date showing when it was pulled. A broker's summary, your own notes, or an old declarations page aren't a substitute, because underwriters are relying on the carrier's own official record.
Carriers generally want 5 years of history — or your full time in business, if that's shorter than 5 years. And a loss run is line-specific: general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation and umbrella each carry their own separate claims history, so each one needs its own loss run rather than a single combined document covering everything you carry.
How claims end up on a loss run: two examples from our files
A loss run records what a carrier paid, not who was at fault. One plumber's run shows a claim the carrier settled for a leak the plumber didn't cause, paid simply because defending it would have cost more (case study 4). A general contractor's run shows a single burst-pipe claim in an occupied building — the entry that led to non-renewal and a premium roughly 90% higher with the next carrier (case study 5).
Getting loss runs when you've never requested one before
If this is your first time, start by identifying every carrier you've had coverage with, for each line, over roughly the last 5 years (or your full time in business). Contact each one directly — by phone or through your current broker's agency management system — and request a current loss run for each policy. Most carriers can produce one within a few business days, though it can take longer if a policy is old or was written through a carrier you no longer have a relationship with.
Doing this proactively, before a carrier or broker specifically asks, is what keeps a first-time request from becoming the thing that holds up an otherwise-ready submission. See our Underwriting Readiness Guide for the fuller picture of what a complete submission needs, and our Pre-Project Checklist for the broader list of what to have ready before your next quote.
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Frequently asked questions
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What is a loss run in insurance terms?
A loss run is a claims history report issued directly by an insurance carrier, showing every claim filed under a policy — open or closed, current reserve or paid amount, and details of what happened. It's different from a certificate of insurance, which only summarizes coverage currently in force.
Why do carriers need such a recent loss run if my claims are already closed?
Because a claim marked closed can be reopened — a reserve can change, a suit can be refiled, a subrogation recovery can fall through. An old loss run only reflects claims status as of when it was pulled, not as of today, which is why most carriers want one dated within roughly the last 30-90 days.
How far back do loss runs need to go?
Generally 5 years, or your full time in business if you've been operating for less than 5 years.
Can my broker just write a summary of my claims instead of getting a real loss run?
No — a loss run has to come directly from the carrier that issued the policy, with a dated cover page or run date. A broker's summary or your own notes aren't a substitute, since underwriters rely on the carrier's own official record.
Do I need one loss run or several?
Several — a loss run is specific to each line of insurance. General liability, commercial auto, workers compensation and umbrella each carry their own separate claims history, so each one needs its own loss run.
I've been in business for years and never pulled a loss run — is that unusual?
No — it's genuinely common, especially for contractors who've stayed with the same carrier for a long time or whose broker has always handled renewals without them seeing the underlying paperwork. It typically becomes visible the first time you shop your coverage or add a new line.
How long does it take to get a loss run from a carrier?
Most carriers can produce one within a few business days of a direct request, though it can take longer for an older policy or a carrier you no longer have an active relationship with — which is another reason to request it proactively rather than waiting.
When should I request my loss runs?
Around the same time you start requesting quotes — not before you have a real need for them, and not after a carrier specifically asks. Requesting them proactively keeps them from becoming the bottleneck on an otherwise-ready submission.