Does Connect Insurance Cover California? Closed Book or Auto-Only

Two different companies operate under the Connect name, and that is the first thing to sort out when you look up Connect Insurance in California. The larger and better-known one, Connect powered by American Family Insurance (the longtime Costco member program), has stopped writing new auto and home policies in California, though it still services existing customers.¹ The smaller, unrelated Connect Insurance at connectinsurance.com is still active in California and sells minimum-limits, non-standard auto coverage.² Which one applies to you depends entirely on which company issued (or would issue) your policy.

Connect Powered by American Family: Closed to New California Business

If you are shopping for a new auto or home policy, the American Family-affiliated Connect is not an option in California as of 2026. The standalone Connect website is no longer active, and prospective customers are redirected into the American Family Insurance ecosystem.¹³⁴ Being a Costco member does not change this.

If You Already Have a Policy

Existing California policies stay in force. The company continues to honor coverage and process claims through American Family’s infrastructure. Day-to-day policy management now runs through the MyAmFam app, which rates 4.7 stars on iOS and 3.1 on Android, with some users reporting login problems.¹

Auto coverage includes liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, and medical payments. Optional add-ons include roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and GAP coverage, though availability of some options varies by state. The company says adjusters reach out within one business day after a claim is filed, and California customers still have access to a good driver discount.¹

Financial Strength and Complaints

American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company holds an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best with a stable outlook, as of October 2024.⁵ Parent company American Family carries an A (Excellent) AM Best rating and above-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction scores.¹ The company also holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been BBB-accredited since July 2021.⁶

Complaint data is less flattering. The California Department of Insurance ranked American Family Connect 16th out of 50 large auto insurers in the state, with a justified complaint ratio of 2.8 per 100,000 earned exposures in 2024 (18 justified complaints across roughly 648,309 exposures). That ratio has climbed from 2.1 in 2023 and 2.4 in 2022.⁷ The NAIC complaint index nationally sits at 1.84 for private passenger auto, meaning the company receives more complaints than a company of similar size would be expected to get.¹ Common complaints involve claim delays, adjuster turnover on individual cases, unexpected premium increases, and friction around cancellations.

Connect Insurance at connectinsurance.com: Minimum-Limits Auto Only

The other Connect is a separate, independent company founded in 2011 that writes non-standard personal auto insurance. It actively sells in California alongside Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah.² This company does not sell home insurance.

Its California product is a liability-only policy built to meet the state’s minimum financial responsibility requirements. Liability coverage pays third parties for damages you cause in an accident; it does not pay to repair your own vehicle.² California’s minimums, raised for the first time since 1967 by the Protect California Drivers Act (Senate Bill 1107), are now $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, plus $15,000 for property damage, effective January 1, 2025.⁸

Rates are filed with and approved by the California Department of Insurance, so there is no “name your own price” option. A typical payment plan asks for a 17% down payment followed by five monthly installments, with the first installment due 20 days after the policy’s effective date.²

How to Reach This Connect

California policyholders can file claims online or by phone at 855-664-5050. The company estimates 10 to 15 minutes to file, says to have your policy number ready, and recommends gathering photos of damage, license plate numbers, contact details for other drivers, and any police report number. Adjusters work in English and Spanish.²

Claims: 855-664-5050 or claims@connectinsurance.com
Customer service: 888-664-7127 or service@connectinsurance.com
Roadside assistance through Auto Knight (if purchased): 866-366-9546
California policy portal: ca.connectinsurance.com

Where to Shop if You Need New Coverage

Because the American Family-affiliated Connect is not accepting new California business, shoppers wanting standard coverage will need to look elsewhere. Well-rated California auto insurers include GEICO, Travelers, Progressive, State Farm, Auto Club of Southern California, and Mercury. USAA consistently rates highest but is limited to active-duty military, veterans, and their families.⁹

Drivers who meet income-eligibility rules may also qualify for California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, a state-run liability option. Details are at mylowcostauto.com or 1-866-602-8861.⁸

For homeowners insurance, the California Department of Insurance publishes a list of licensed residential property insurers with contact information, with the caveat that not every company writes every property in every area and some are not accepting new business.¹⁰ If you want to bundle auto and home, Travelers, Progressive, Nationwide, Allstate, and Farmers all offer multi-policy discounts in California.¹¹

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Autoinsurance.com. Connect Insurance Review
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Connect Insurance. Connect Insurance Home
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Kiplinger. Should You Get Auto or Home Insurance Through Costco
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Costco American Family Insurance. Costco Auto and Home Insurance
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San Francisco Chronicle. American Family Connect California Home Insurance Data
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Better Business Bureau. Connect Powered by American Family Insurance BBB Profile
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California Department of Insurance. Automobile Complaint Composite Report
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California Department of Insurance. Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program
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NerdWallet. Best Car Insurance in California
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California Department of Insurance. Residential Property Insurance Company Contact List
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U.S. News & World Report. Best Home and Auto Insurance Bundles