---
title: "California Mutual Insurance Company Review [Updated 2026]"
description: "California Mutual Insurance Company is a policyholder-owned mutual insurer established in 1920, offering homeowners and commercial property insurance exclusively in California through independent agents."
canonical: "https://www.coveragecat.com/reviews/california-mutual-insurance"
last-updated: "2026-08-13"
---

# California Mutual Insurance Company Review [Updated 2026]

1. [Introduction to California Mutual Insurance](#introduction)
2. [What Kinds of Insurance Does California Mutual Offer?](#typesofinsurance)
3. [Does California Mutual Sell Homeowners Insurance?](#sellhomeowners)
4. [Does California Mutual Sell Auto Insurance?](#sellauto)
5. [How Does California Mutual Insurance Work?](#howdoesitwork)
6. [Pros and Cons of California Mutual Insurance](#proscons)
7. [Ratings and Customer Feedback](#ratings)
8. [Get Customer Support Or File A Claim](#customersupport)
9. [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq)

## <a id="introduction"></a>Introduction to California Mutual Insurance

California Mutual Insurance Company began operations in 1920, when a group of local businessmen came together to form the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of San Benito County [(California Mutual, "Company Data", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/company-data/). While it was originally incorporated to insure farm buildings and equipment for fire loss only, California Mutual also began insuring rural schools and residences in the 1930s [(California Mutual, "History", 2020)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/history/).

In 1989, the company changed its name to Mid-State Mutual Insurance Company, and finally became the California Mutual Insurance Company in 1996 [Ibid.](https://calmutual.com/our-company/history/). California Mutual has weathered significant catastrophes in its history, including a large earthquake that hit San Benito County in 1961 causing extensive property damage.

California Mutual Insurance Company operates under a mutual structure. Unlike a stock company, a mutual company is owned by the policyholders, who are members of the company with voting rights at annual meetings [(California Mutual, "Our Company", 2020)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/). California Mutual has operated in California since 1920, and is a founding member of The Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies (PADIC) [(Ibid., "Company Data", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/company-data/).

As of December 31, 2023, California Mutual served 2,364 policyholders statewide [(California Department of Insurance, "Report of Examination of the California Mutual Insurance Company", 2023)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0400-reports-examination/upload/California-Mutual-Insurance-Company-2023-Exam-Report.pdf). The company experienced substantial growth in 2023 with premium expansion of 45% and new business growth of 90%, while maintaining a strong retention rate of 94.1% [(California Mutual, "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf).

## <a id="typesofinsurance"></a>What Kinds of Insurance Does California Mutual Offer?

California Mutual Insurance Company focuses on property insurance for California residents and businesses, and offers a variety of commercial and personal insurance lines, including coverage for apartment buildings, motels, office buildings, and homeowners [(California Mutual, "Insurance You Can Trust", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/).

California Mutual sells [homeowners insurance](/insurance-types/homeowners-insurance) for primary residences, as well as commercial property coverage for various business types. California Mutual operates exclusively in California and does not offer coverage in other states.

| Coverage Type | Availability | Details |
|---------------|--------------|---------|
| Homeowners Insurance | Available | Full property protection for primary residences |
| Dwelling Fire Policies | Available | Often used for investment properties |
| Commercial Property | Available | Coverage for apartment buildings, motels, office buildings |
| Auto Insurance | Not Available | Must obtain from different carrier |
| Renters Insurance | Not Available | Company focuses exclusively on property insurance |
| Umbrella Insurance | Not Available | Limited product offerings |

## <a id="sellhomeowners"></a>Does California Mutual Sell Homeowners Insurance?

Yes, California Mutual sells [homeowners insurance](/insurance-types/homeowners-insurance) and Dwelling Fire policies, often used to cover investment properties, in California [(California Mutual, "Homeowners", 2024)](https://calmutual.com/personal-lines/homeowners/).

California Mutual's homeowners policies provide standard property protection, including coverage for:
- Dwelling coverage for the home structure
- Other structures coverage for detached buildings on the property [Ibid.](https://calmutual.com/personal-lines/homeowners/)
- Personal property protection
- Liability coverage for injuries to others
- Additional living expenses if the home becomes uninhabitable

Based on available information, California Mutual does not appear to offer condo insurance, renters insurance, or umbrella insurance policies.

## <a id="sellauto"></a>Does California Mutual Sell Auto Insurance?

No, California Mutual does not sell [auto insurance](/insurance-types/car-insurance). The company focuses exclusively on property insurance for homes and commercial buildings. Customers who need auto coverage must obtain it from a different carrier.

## <a id="howdoesitwork"></a>How Does California Mutual Insurance Work?

California Mutual sells policies through independent insurance agents rather than directly to consumers. Customers cannot purchase policies online or over the phone directly from the company.

To obtain a quote and purchase a policy, prospective customers must contact an independent insurance agent licensed to sell California Mutual policies. 

Once a policy is in force, California Mutual policyholders can access their policy information through an online portal that provides access to policy documents, policy accounting and a link to online payments [(California Mutual, "Pay or View Bills", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/policyholder-resources/). The company's web-based data processing system provides anywhere-anytime access to policy information, documents, billing and claims [(Ibid., "Our Company", 2020)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/).

California Mutual previously operated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Calvista Insurance Agency, Inc., which ceased operations as an independent insurance agency in July 2022. Calvista's assets were sold to an outside third party with final payment concluded in July 2024 [(California Department of Insurance, "Report of Examination of the California Mutual Insurance Company", 2023)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0400-reports-examination/upload/California-Mutual-Insurance-Company-2023-Exam-Report.pdf).

## <a id="proscons"></a>Pros and Cons of California Mutual Insurance

<div class="grid">
  <div class="column">
    <p><b>Pros</b></p>
    <ul>
      <li>California Mutual is rated "A- (Excellent)" by A.M. Best <a href="https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf">(California Mutual, "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)</a></li>
      <li>Over 100 years of experience in California insurance market</li>
      <li>Mutual company structure means policyholders are owners with voting rights</li>
      <li>Focus on California allows specialized knowledge of local risks</li>
      <li>California Mutual reinsures their business with carriers whose Policyholder Surplus exceeds $10 billion and are rated A-Excellent or better by A.M. Best <a href="https://calmutual.com/our-company/company-data/">(Ibid., "Company Data", 2026)</a></li>
      <li>Strong retention rate of 94.1% indicates customer satisfaction <a href="https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf">(Ibid., "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)</a></li>
    </ul>
  </div>
  <div class="column">
    <p><b>Cons</b></p>
    <ul>
      <li>Available only in California</li>
      <li>Must purchase through independent agents, no direct-to-consumer option</li>
      <li>Limited product offerings - no auto, renters, or umbrella insurance</li>
      <li>Very limited online customer reviews available</li>
      <li>No mobile app for policy management</li>
      <li>Small policyholder base of 2,364 members may limit resources compared to larger carriers</li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</div>

## <a id="ratings"></a>Ratings and Customer Feedback for California Mutual Insurance

### Financial Strength Ratings

| Source | Rating | Details |
|--------|--------|---------|
| **A.M. Best** | A- (Excellent) | AM Best affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of California Mutual Insurance Company in 2025. The rating reflects the company's solid financial performance, improved underwriting results since 2017, and increased surplus by nearly 15% from 2017 through 2021 [(Ibid., "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf) |
| **Demotech** | Rating Withdrawn | FSR withdrawn 8/1/2023 [(Demotech, "California Mutual Insurance Company", 2023)](https://www.demotech.com/company/27480/) |

### California Mutual Insurance Company Performance Metrics

| Metric | 2023 Result | Significance |
|--------|-------------|--------------|
| Premium Growth | 45% | Substantial expansion during challenging market conditions |
| New Business Growth | 90% | Strong market acceptance and underwriting success |
| Retention Rate | 94.1% | Indicates high customer satisfaction and policy renewals |
| Combined Ratio | 95% | Profitable underwriting with adequate pricing discipline |
| Total Policyholders | 2,364 | Focused, selective underwriting approach |

### NAIC Complaint Index

NAIC complaint index data is not publicly available for California Mutual Insurance Company on the NAIC consumer database. The NAIC complaint index measures the number of complaints a company receives relative to its market share, with a score of 1.0 being average. Scores above 1.0 indicate more complaints than expected for a company of that size.

### Customer Reviews

| Source | Rating/Volume | Representative Quote | Takeaway |
|--------|---------------|----------------------|----------|
| [**Yelp**](https://www.yelp.com/biz/california-mutual-insurance-company-hollister) | 1.0 ★ (1 review) | "They say that the State, fire department and the police saying do not come to the Napa valley was not strong enough language." - John R., 10/17/2017 | Very limited review data; single negative review related to business income claim dispute |

| **BBB** | Not Accredited | No profile found | No Better Business Bureau listing available for review |
| **Trustpilot** | No Reviews | No page found | Company does not have Trustpilot presence |
| **Google Maps** | No Reviews | No data available | Headquarters location at 650 San Benito St, Ste 250, Hollister, CA 95023 has no public reviews |
| **Trusted Choice** | Not Listed | No data available | Company not listed on Trusted Choice review platform |

The limited customer review data available makes it difficult to assess California Mutual's customer service quality comprehensively. The company appears to maintain a low public profile with minimal online presence compared to larger national carriers. However, the company's 94.1% retention rate in 2023 suggests existing policyholders choose to renew their coverage at high rates [(California Mutual, "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf).

### Real Customer Reviews

Due to the very limited number of public reviews available for California Mutual Insurance Company, we can only provide the following customer experiences dated from 2017 and 2018 at this time. We'll update as we find more. 

<div class="grid customer-review">
  <div class="column">
    <p>1 ★</p>
    <p><b>John R., Saint Helena, CA</b></p>
    <p><a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/california-mutual-insurance-company-hollister"><span class="text-muted">via Yelp, 10/17/2017</span></a></p>
  </div>
  <div class="column">
    <p>"After the horrible disaster in the Napa valley fires this insurance company will not pay. Wow 30 years of paying premiums and no claims. We finally ask for loss of income pay and they found a way to fight us. They say that the State, fire department and the police saying do not come to the Napa valley was not strong enough language."</p>
  </div>
</div>

Clearsurance suggests more mixed but also dated experiences: 

<div class="grid customer-review">
  <div class="column">
    <img src="">
    <p><b>ceece</b></p>
    <p><a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/california-mutual-insurance-company-hollister"><span class="text-muted">via Clearsurance, 06/2018</span></a></p>
  </div>
  <div class="column">
    <p>"We had insured our rental house in Davis, California with them for more than ten years without making any claims and paying always on time. The perfect customers. In January 2016 we received a letter from the insurance stating that they will not renew our policy because our property shared a common wall with an adjacent house. They either did not pay attention for ten years during the annual inspection of the house that here was a common wall (How could they miss that?) or they were not being honest about the reason for the cancelation (again, no claims ever!). In any case, they are either incompetent or untrustworthy, two very important reasons to suspect that they will not fulfill their responsibilities when you need them."</p>
  </div>
</div>

And a few reviews with straightforward praise for the company like this: 

## <a id="customersupport"></a>Get Customer Support Or File A Claim

California Mutual Insurance Company provides several ways for policyholders to access support and file claims:

**Contact Information:**
- **Phone:** 1-800-310-5824 (Toll-free) or 831-637-5824
- **Physical Address:** 650 San Benito St, Ste 250, Hollister, CA 95023
- **Mailing Address:** P.O. Box 1326, Hollister, CA 95024
- **Website:** [www.calmutual.com](https://calmutual.com)

**Claims Contact:**
- **Claims Phone:** 1-800-310-5824 (Toll-free) | 831-637-5824, for after hours claims call 1-800-310-5824 and select extension 141
- **Claims Fax:** 831-636-3792
- **Claims Email:** jvillanueva@calmutual.com or claims@calmutual.com for after hours claims

[(California Mutual, "File a Claim", 2023)](https://calmutual.com/policyholder-resources/file-a-claim/)

During normal business hours, policyholders can speak directly with a claims representative. Policyholders may also contact their local agent to file a claim on their behalf. After a claim report is submitted, a claims representative will contact the policyholder by phone to discuss the next steps [Ibid.](https://calmutual.com/policyholder-resources/file-a-claim/).

## <a id="faq"></a>Frequently Asked Questions

### Is California Mutual Insurance a Real Insurance Company?

Yes, California Mutual Insurance Company is a legitimate, licensed insurance company. California Mutual has operated as a California domestic insurance company since 1920 [(Ibid., "Company Data", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/our-company/company-data/). The company is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best, indicating excellent financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations [(Ibid., "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf).

### Does California Mutual Sell Insurance Outside of California?

No, California Mutual Insurance Company operates exclusively in California. The company does not offer coverage in any other states [(California Department of Insurance, "Report of Examination of the California Mutual Insurance Company", 2023)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0400-reports-examination/upload/California-Mutual-Insurance-Company-2023-Exam-Report.pdf). California residents who move out of state will need to obtain coverage from a different insurance carrier.

### How Does California Mutual Make Money?

As an insurance company, California Mutual generates revenue by collecting premiums from policyholders and investing those premiums. As a mutual company owned by policyholders rather than shareholders, any profits can be returned to policyholders through dividends or used to strengthen the company's financial position and keep premiums competitive. In 2023, the company achieved a 95% combined ratio, indicating profitable underwriting operations [(California Mutual, "Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of Members", 2026)](https://calmutual.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Notice-of-Meeting-and-Financials-5.19.25.pdf).

### What is the Claims Process Like at California Mutual?

To file a claim with California Mutual, policyholders should contact the claims department at 1-800-310-5824. California Mutual reserves the right to request additional information as needed to complete the investigation, and questions for the Claims Department can be directed to Phone: 1-800-310-5824 or Email: jvillanueva@calmutual.com [(Ibid., "File a Claim", 2023)](https://calmutual.com/policyholder-resources/file-a-claim/).

California law requires insurance companies to acknowledge claims within 15 days, investigate within 40 days, and make payment within 30 days for a total of 85 days maximum, though many claims resolve faster.

### Should I Buy California Mutual Insurance?

California Mutual may be a good option for California homeowners and commercial property owners who:
- Prefer to work with independent insurance agents
- Value the mutual company ownership structure
- Want coverage from a California-focused insurer with over 100 years of local experience
- Are looking for competitive pricing from an A- AM Best rated carrier

However, California Mutual may not be the best fit for those who:
- Need [auto insurance](/insurance-types/car-insurance), [renters insurance](/insurance-types/renters-insurance), or [umbrella insurance](/insurance-types/umbrella-insurance)
- Prefer to purchase insurance directly online without an agent
- Want extensive digital tools and mobile apps
- Need coverage outside of California

For a comprehensive comparison of California insurance options, consider consulting with an independent agent who can provide quotes from multiple carriers, including California Mutual.