Our take

Customers give CSAA higher-than-average marks for customer satisfaction, and it does have a very good track record for having a low number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). However, that service, combined with operating in one of the more expensive auto claims markets, means it has some of the highest premiums.

In fact, among companies ranked in our Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 study, its premiums were the priciest overall. It might be the right choice if you care more about good service, but you may get a better deal elsewhere.

States where CSAA offers coverage

Available in 23 states.

What does CSAA auto insurance cover?

CSAA offers a full range of car insurance policies to meet most drivers' needs. These include all of the basics plus additional add-ons and the benefits of being a member of AAA, with its roadside assistance coverage.

All primary car insurance coverage options are available:

• Liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (MedPay)
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Additional coverage offerings:

• Rental reimbursement
• Roadside assistance

How does CSAA insurance rank?

CSAA was ranked No. 14 of the top 15 carriers we compared. This was primarily due to its rates, which were the most expensive on offer.

It does have a good track record for customer satisfaction and strong financial footing, and drivers will get the wider benefits of having an AAA membership, but that comes at the expense of foregoing a much cheaper rate.

Here's a look at how it compared to a selection of its biggest competitors in key categories:

*The lower a company’s score, the fewer the number of complaints filed with the NAIC. A score higher than 1.0 means it had a higher-than-average number of complaints.

How much is CSAA auto insurance?

Average rates with CSAA are higher than the competitors we ranked. The average full coverage rate for a 40-year-old driver with CSAA is $2,600 per year or $217 per month.

Here is a comparison of CSAA rates with several competitors offering policies in all of the states CSAA serves. Premiums are based on full coverage insurance at 100/300/100, with a $500 collision/comprehensive deductible for a 40-year-old driver with a good driving record.

CSAA car insurance rates by state

What you pay for insurance can vary based on factors such as your age, gender, credit rating, and the type of car you drive. One of the biggest factors, however, is where you live. 

Car insurance rates vary by state. Some states have considerably higher insurance rates due to frequent hail events, flooding, and higher litigation costs among other factors.

The densely populated San Francisco Bay area, where CSAA has long had its home base, also has one of the busiest and most congested highway networks.

Here’s a sample of average annual rates with CSAA for two western states for a 40-year-old driver.

CSAA insurance rates for teens

Teenage drivers pay some of the most expensive rates for car insurance and CSAA is no exception. As younger drivers age, rates will steadily decline, but the early years can be costly.

The average cost of a teen car insurance policy with CSAA is $9,399 a year.

Here’s a comparison of what a teenage driver can expect to pay with CSAA at other ages and with other companies.

CSAA insurance rates for adults

As young drivers gain more experience and maturity, they generally exhibit better driving behavior. The good news is that this results in a steady decline in insurance premiums—as long as you don’t develop a poor driving track record. That trend will continue until you reach about age 65 when it begins to reverse.

The average cost of car insurance at age 40 with CSAA is $2,600.

Here’s what adults can expect to pay for full coverage car insurance with CSAA at various ages. Rates are lowest around age 60.

CSAA insurance rates for seniors

Car insurance companies base their rates on risk profiles, and unfortunately, there is evidence that driving becomes riskier as we age. This may be related to slower reflexes, weaker eyesight, or other factors and will vary from driver to driver.

For that reason, your rates will likely begin to increase as you reach 65, but it will not be nearly as steep as the rates you saw in your teens.

At CSAA, the average cost of car insurance at age 65 is $2,510 for a male and $2,526 for a female.

Here’s what a senior driver can expect to pay with CSAA at various ages:

CSAA insurance rates by driver profile

Your driving record is a good indicator of your risk profile, as is your credit rating, which is statistically correlated with a higher risk of filing claims.

If you have a poor credit score, CSAA may not be right for you, as rates rise dramatically.

Here’s a look at what drivers with common profiles can expect to pay for full coverage insurance with CSAA, based on a 40-year-old driver.

CSAA insurance discounts

CSAA car insurance policies are among the most expensive, but discounts can make a dent in those rates.

There are a lot of different possible discounts, such as for bundling insurance policies, installing safety devices in your vehicle, using driver monitoring (or telematics) programs and belonging to various professional, trade or alumni associations.

The discounts can range from 5 to 30% and sometimes you can qualify for multiple discounts.

CSAA offers a good assortment of auto insurance discounts including the following:

• Discount for drivers who are AAA members
• Multi-car discount
• Multi-policy discount
• Loyalty 
• Good driver
• Mature driver course
• Defensive driving course.
• Teens who complete TeenSMART program 
• Good student 
• Distant student (attending school at least 100 miles from home)
• New car discount 
• Safety devices
• Anti-theft 

Sources & Methodology

Methodology

Insurance.com editors in 2024 collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male and female driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX for state minimum coverage, liability only with 50/100/50 limits and a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductible. Rates were gathered for multiple driving records and different credit levels. The rates presented are the average of rates for males and females. We analyzed 53,409,632 quotes, 34,588 ZIP codes and 170 insurance companies nationwide.

Source

CSAA website. Products and services, accessed August 2024.

Helpful auto insurance tools and calculators

• Car insurance rates by vehicle
• Compare car insurance companies
• Auto insurance coverage calculator
• Speeding ticket calculator
• Traffic ticket calculator
• Used car insurance calculator
• Rideshare earning calculator