--- title: "CSAA Insurance Review [Updated 2026]" description: "CSAA Insurance Group provides auto, homeowners, and personal lines coverage to AAA members across the United States with an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best." canonical: "https://www.coveragecat.com/reviews/csaa-insurance-review" last-updated: "2026-08-13" --- # CSAA Insurance Review [Updated 2026] CSAA Insurance Group has served AAA members for more than a century, offering a range of personal insurance products across 23 states and the District of Columbia. The company operates as a reciprocal insurer, which means it has no shareholders and exists to serve its member policyholders [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). Founded in 1914, CSAA has maintained an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best for more than 90 years [Ibid.](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). The insurer has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly in California where wildfire losses have strained the entire insurance market. In July 2024, AM Best revised CSAA's outlook to negative because of reduced capital levels that resulted from higher-than-anticipated claims costs and material reserve increases [(Captive Insurance Times, "AM Best revises outlook to 'negative'", 2024)](https://www.captiveinsurancetimes.com/captiveinsurancenews/ratingsarticle.php?article_id=9209). However, the company took steps to restore its financial position through capital-raising initiatives [Ibid.](https://www.captiveinsurancetimes.com/captiveinsurancenews/ratingsarticle.php?article_id=9209). By February 2025, CSAA issued $500 million in surplus notes to strengthen its balance sheet [(Business Wire, "AM Best Assigns Issue Credit Rating", 2025)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250211881323/en/AM-Best-Assigns-Issue-Credit-Rating-to-CSAA-Insurance-Exchange%E2%80%99s-New-Surplus-Notes), and by July 2025, AM Best revised the company's outlook back to stable [(Business Wire, "AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Ratings Outlook to Stable", 2025)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250723166181/en/AM-Best-Revises-Issuer-Credit-Ratings-Outlook-to-Stable-for-Members-of-CSAA-Insurance-Group). ## What Kinds of Insurance Does CSAA Offer? CSAA sells personal lines insurance exclusively to AAA members. The company provides several insurance products: - [Auto insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/car-insurance) - [Homeowners insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/homeowners-insurance) - [Renters insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/renters-insurance) - [Condo insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/homeowners-insurance) - Motorcycle insurance - Boat insurance - RV insurance - [Umbrella insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/umbrella-insurance) - Life insurance through AAA Life Insurance Company The company operates in 23 states plus the District of Columbia, primarily concentrated in Western states including California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). ## Does CSAA Sell Homeowners Insurance? CSAA offers [homeowners insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/homeowners-insurance) as one of its primary products. The company has made significant commitments to expand coverage in California's high-wildfire-risk areas as part of the state's Sustainable Insurance Strategy [(California Department of Insurance, "expanding coverage for Californians", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release055-2025.cfm). In January 2026, CSAA received approval to raise homeowners insurance rates by an average of 6.9% starting March 15, 2026, affecting nearly 481,800 policyholders [(KFI AM 640, "California Home Insurers to Raise Rates", 2026)](https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2026-01-13-california-home-insurers-to-raise-rates-by-69-in-2026/). The rate increase came with new commitments from CSAA to offer discounts for home hardening measures and guaranteed renewals for homeowners who earn certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety [Ibid.](https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2026-01-13-california-home-insurers-to-raise-rates-by-69-in-2026/). CSAA introduced a "My Home Hardening" program that provides discounts up to 12.5% for wildfire mitigation efforts [(Insurance Business Magazine, "CSAA proposes rate hike", 2025)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). The company also committed to offer quotes to AAA members in Northern California who currently hold FAIR Plan policies, California's insurer of last resort [Ibid.](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). According to the San Francisco Chronicle, CSAA Insurance Exchange experienced a 70.4% increase in surplus lines premium in 2024, the largest among leading carriers in California [Ibid.](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). ## Does CSAA Sell Auto Insurance? CSAA provides [auto insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/car-insurance) to AAA members across its service territory. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, CSAA ranked highest in the Southwest region with a score of 683 out of 1,000 [(J.D. Power, "2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study", 2024)](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study). The company ranks as one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). ## Does CSAA Sell Umbrella Insurance? CSAA offers [umbrella insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/umbrella-insurance) policies to AAA members. These policies provide additional liability coverage beyond the limits of standard auto and homeowners policies. However, detailed coverage specifics and pricing information were not publicly available in the sources reviewed. ## How Does CSAA Insurance Work? CSAA operates exclusively as an insurance provider for AAA members. Customers must first have an AAA membership before they can purchase insurance policies from CSAA [Ibid.](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). The company operates as a reciprocal insurer, which means policyholders are members rather than customers of a shareholder-owned corporation. To obtain coverage, AAA members can contact their local AAA club or visit the CSAA website. The company processes quotes and applications through AAA's distribution network. According to the company, it has served AAA members for more than 40 years through recovery and rebuilding after disasters [(CSAA Insurance Group, "Help is here", 2021)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/helpishere). CSAA's legal team works closely with claims, analytics, and product teams to address problems early in the process [(Insurance Business Magazine, "2026 marks 'turning point'", 2026)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/2026-marks-turning-point-in-war-against-litigation-financing-csaa-legal-chief-564860.aspx). The company has invested in data-driven defense analytics and early-resolution protocols [Ibid.](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/2026-marks-turning-point-in-war-against-litigation-financing-csaa-legal-chief-564860.aspx). ## Pros and Cons
### Pros **Strong financial ratings**: CSAA maintains an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best, which the company has held for more than 90 years (CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025). **Long operational history**: The company has operated continuously since 1914, providing over a century of insurance experience (Ibid., "About Us", 2025). **Commitment to wildfire coverage**: CSAA has issued 18,300 more policies in high-fire-hazard areas than California requires (Insurance Journal, "Even Low-Risk Homes Are Caught Up", 2026). **Wildfire mitigation discounts**: The company offers up to 12.5% discounts through its My Home Hardening program (Insurance Business Magazine, "CSAA proposes rate hike", 2025). **Member-owned structure**: As a reciprocal insurer, CSAA does not answer to shareholders and operates for the benefit of member policyholders (CSAA Insurance Group, "Help is here", 2021).
### Cons **AAA membership required**: Customers must purchase and maintain AAA membership to obtain CSAA insurance products (Ibid., "About Us", 2025). **Limited geographic availability**: CSAA operates in only 23 states plus the District of Columbia, which restricts access for many U.S. consumers (Ibid., "About Us", 2025). **Not BBB accredited**: The Better Business Bureau notes CSAA is not accredited and has failed to respond to 5 complaints (Better Business Bureau, "CSAA Business Profile", 2026). **Recent financial challenges**: The company faced capital pressure in 2024 because of higher-than-anticipated claims costs (Captive Insurance Times, "AM Best revises outlook to 'negative'", 2024). **Rate increases in 2026**: California homeowners face an average 6.9% rate increase effective March 2026 (KFI AM 640, "California Home Insurers to Raise Rates", 2026).
## Ratings and Customer Feedback CSAA has received ratings from multiple independent sources. The following table summarizes available ratings data: | Rating Source | Rating | Notes | |--------------|--------|-------| | AM Best | A (Excellent) | Financial Strength Rating with stable outlook as of July 2025 [(Business Wire, "AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Ratings Outlook to Stable", 2025)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250723166181/en/AM-Best-Revises-Issuer-Credit-Ratings-Outlook-to-Stable-for-Members-of-CSAA-Insurance-Group) | | Comparably NPS | -34 | Net Promoter Score (22% Promoters, 56% Detractors) [(Comparably, "CSAA Insurance Group Brand Page", 2026)](https://www.comparably.com/brands/csaa-insurance-group-a-aaa-insurer) | | BBB | Not Accredited | Failure to respond to 5 complaints noted [(Better Business Bureau, "CSAA Business Profile", 2026)](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/walnut-creek/profile/auto-insurance/csaa-1116-17874) | ## Real Customer Reviews ## Get Customer Support or File a Claim CSAA provides customer support through local AAA clubs and its website. Members can file claims online or by phone. According to the company's website, CSAA has helped AAA members recover and rebuild for more than 40 years [(CSAA Insurance Group, "Help is here", 2021)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/helpishere). The company offers detailed wildfire claims guidance resources on its website [Ibid.](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/helpishere). CSAA's investment in data-driven defense analytics and early-resolution protocols suggests the company has modernized its claims approach [(Insurance Business Magazine, "2026 marks 'turning point'", 2026)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/2026-marks-turning-point-in-war-against-litigation-financing-csaa-legal-chief-564860.aspx). Specific customer service hours and response times were not publicly available in the sources reviewed. The Better Business Bureau noted that CSAA failed to respond to 5 complaints, which may indicate some customer service challenges [(Better Business Bureau, "CSAA Business Profile", 2026)](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/walnut-creek/profile/auto-insurance/csaa-1116-17874). ## Frequently Asked Questions **Do I need AAA membership to get CSAA insurance?** Yes. CSAA exclusively serves AAA members and you must have an active AAA membership to purchase or maintain CSAA insurance policies [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **What states does CSAA operate in?** CSAA provides insurance in 23 states plus the District of Columbia, with primary concentration in Western states including California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah [Ibid.](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **What is CSAA's financial strength rating?** AM Best rates CSAA at A (Excellent) with a stable outlook as of July 2025 [(Business Wire, "AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Ratings Outlook to Stable", 2025)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250723166181/en/AM-Best-Revises-Issuer-Credit-Ratings-Outlook-to-Stable-for-Members-of-CSAA-Insurance-Group). The company has held an A or better rating from AM Best for more than 90 years [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **Does CSAA offer wildfire coverage in California?** Yes. CSAA has committed to expand coverage in California's high-fire-hazard areas and has issued 18,300 more policies in these areas than state requirements mandate [(Insurance Journal, "Even Low-Risk Homes Are Caught Up", 2026)](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2026/03/16/862079.htm). The company offers discounts up to 12.5% through its My Home Hardening program for wildfire mitigation efforts [(Insurance Business Magazine, "CSAA proposes rate hike", 2025)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). **Are CSAA insurance rates going up in 2026?** CSAA received approval to raise California homeowners insurance rates by an average of 6.9% starting March 15, 2026, affecting nearly 481,800 policyholders [(KFI AM 640, "California Home Insurers to Raise Rates", 2026)](https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2026-01-13-california-home-insurers-to-raise-rates-by-69-in-2026/). The increase was approved under California's Sustainable Insurance Strategy [Ibid.](https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2026-01-13-california-home-insurers-to-raise-rates-by-69-in-2026/). **Is CSAA the same as AAA?** CSAA is affiliated with AAA but is a separate insurance entity. CSAA Insurance Group provides insurance to AAA members through AAA clubs, but operates as an independent reciprocal insurer [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **How long has CSAA been in business?** CSAA was founded in 1914 and has operated continuously for more than 110 years [Ibid.](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **Does CSAA offer insurance for FAIR Plan policyholders?** Yes. CSAA committed to offer quotes to AAA members in Northern California who currently hold California FAIR Plan policies [(Insurance Business Magazine, "CSAA proposes rate hike", 2025)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). This is part of California's effort to move policies from the state's insurer of last resort back to the private market. **What is CSAA's market position in California?** CSAA ranks as the fifth-largest insurer in California [(Insurance Journal, "Even Low-Risk Homes Are Caught Up", 2026)](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2026/03/16/862079.htm). Nationally, the company is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners [(CSAA Insurance Group, "About Us", 2025)](https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/primary-nav/about-us.html). **Does CSAA offer discounts for home safety improvements?** Yes. CSAA's My Home Hardening program provides discounts up to 12.5% for wildfire mitigation measures [(Insurance Business Magazine, "CSAA proposes rate hike", 2025)](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/csaa-proposes-rate-hike-targets-fair-plan-depopulation-with-new-discounts-547873.aspx). The company also offers guaranteed renewals for homeowners who earn certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety [(KFI AM 640, "California Home Insurers to Raise Rates", 2026)](https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2026-01-13-california-home-insurers-to-raise-rates-by-69-in-2026/).