Is Ameriprise Good for Auto Insurance?

Last Updated on October 7, 2026

By James Shaffer · Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 4, 2026 · How we fact-check

“Ameriprise auto insurance” is still a common search — but the product most people mean today isn’t sold under the Ameriprise name anymore.

Ameriprise sold its Auto & Home insurance business to American Family on October 1, 2019 for $1.135 billion. It was then rebranded as American Family CONNECT, and the CONNECT name has since been dropped too. As of October 4, 2026, neither Costco’s insurance page nor the program’s own site uses the word CONNECT anywhere; both just say American Family Insurance. So if you’re buying “Ameriprise” car insurance today, you’re getting an American Family-backed policy, usually through the Costco member program.

So, is Ameriprise good for auto insurance? Generally, yes — especially if you’re a Costco member who can qualify for member pricing and Executive perks. But it’s not available everywhere, and it won’t always beat every competitor on price, so it still pays to compare quotes.

What Happened to Ameriprise Auto Insurance?

Ameriprise Financial still exists as a financial services company, but its auto and home insurance business was sold to American Family Insurance. The deal closed on October 1, 2019. Ameriprise’s own announcement puts the business in De Pere, Wisconsin and the price at $1.135 billion gross. Ameriprise Financial no longer offers auto or home insurance at all: its insurance and annuities page now lists only annuities, life, long-term care and disability income. The old “Ameriprise Auto & Home” brand, including the long-running Costco association, is part of American Family now.

If you’ve had an Ameriprise-branded policy for years, you may see a different company name on your renewal documents and online account. Coverage terms don’t automatically change just because the brand name on your paperwork changes — but it’s still smart to review your declarations page every renewal so you know exactly what’s included.

Is Ameriprise the Same as Costco Car Insurance?

In practice, yes — most people who say “Costco car insurance” are talking about the same insurance program that used to be closely associated with Ameriprise Auto & Home and later branded as CONNECT.

Costco itself doesn’t underwrite your policy or pay claims. The program connects members to policies written by American Family affiliates, and the program site names them: American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company, American Family Connect Insurance Company, Midvale Indemnity Company, Homesite Indemnity Company and related Homesite entities, plus Ranchers & Farmers Mutual Insurance Company for Texas property only. Your price, your discounts and which of those companies issues the policy can all vary by state, driver profile and coverage choices.

Key takeaway: If you like the Costco member perks, you’re shopping an American Family-backed product — even if you started your search with “Ameriprise.”

Is Ameriprise Good for Auto Insurance?

Most drivers consider the former Ameriprise/Costco program a strong “value” option: competitive rates (often, but not always), a respectable list of coverages, and extra perks that can be genuinely useful. Whether it’s “good” for you depends on three big things:

• Availability: the member discount applies in most states, but not to home insurance in Florida or Tennessee, and not to car insurance for non-Executive Members in Massachusetts. Lifetime renewability is out in California, Maryland and Michigan.
• Pricing for your profile: some insurers price better for certain age groups, driving records, vehicles, or ZIP codes
• Which perks you’ll actually use: most of the published Executive Member benefits sit on the home policy, so the value depends on whether you bundle

Financial Strength and Company Ratings

When you buy a policy tied to the old Ameriprise/Costco program, what matters most is the financial backing behind it. On September 24, 2025, A.M. Best affirmed American Family Mutual Insurance Company’s financial strength rating of A (Excellent) with a stable outlook, and that affirmation covers American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company, which is the old Ameriprise entity. That was still the most recent A.M. Best action on the group as of October 4, 2026. American Family itself goes back to October 3, 1927, when Herman Wittwer started it in Madison, Wisconsin as Farmers Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

If you want a quick refresher on what insurer financial strength ratings mean (and how to interpret them), see our guide to A.M. Best ratings.

The Better Business Bureau is a separate thing from financial strength, and it is worth a look for a different reason: it shows how a company handles complaints. The BBB still files this business under the old name, “CONNECT, Powered by American Family Insurance.” Its BBB profile, read on October 4, 2026, showed an A+ rating, BBB accreditation since July 29, 2021, and 165 complaints in the last three years with 32 of them closed in the last 12 months. Judge that number against the size of the book, not on its own.

Customer Experience and Claims Support

For most drivers, the real test of any insurer is how it handles claims: responsiveness, clarity, and whether you feel supported during a stressful situation.

American Family says it takes claims around the clock at 1-800-692-6326, and you can file online, as a guest without logging in, in its app, or by phone. If you use one of its Dreams Restored Program shops, the repairs carry a lifetime workmanship guarantee backed by the company. Even so, claim timelines vary with repair delays, adjuster workload, accident complexity and whether anyone was hurt. If you’re dealing with delays, this explainer on why claims can take so long breaks down the most common reasons.

Ameriprise Coverage Options and Standout Features

The former Ameriprise/Costco program offers the core coverages you’d expect from a major carrier. Be careful with the extras, though. The program publishes a short list of member benefits, and it is narrower than most write-ups suggest: a member discount for everyone, and for Costco Executive Members, roadside assistance and lifetime renewability on the car policy plus glass and lockout benefits on the home policy. Everything else below is an ordinary auto endorsement you should ask about by name rather than assume.

Standard Auto Insurance Coverages

Most policies include (or offer): liability coverage, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, plus medical coverage options (like MedPay or PIP) depending on your state.

You can also typically add umbrella coverage, which can increase your liability protection above your auto policy limits (especially useful if you have significant assets to protect or simply want extra peace of mind).

What the Costco Program Actually Publishes

Roadside Assistance (Executive Members): up to $75 per occurrence, and more in a few states — $100 in Massachusetts, Montana and South Carolina, $80 in Texas, and no limit in North Carolina. Battery and fluid replacement are excluded, and the benefit varies by underwriting company. The program’s roadside number is 1-888-742-4572.

Lifetime renewability (Executive Members): on the car policy, which means the company won’t drop you at renewal just because you aged into a worse rating class. It doesn’t apply in California, Maryland or Michigan, and major violations or policy non-compliance void it.

Glass repair reimbursement (Executive Members): up to $1,000 toward repair or replacement, two claims per 12 months, excluding New York, Vermont and Washington. Read that one carefully: it is a home insurance benefit in this program, not an auto one. If you want glass help on the car, it comes from your comprehensive coverage and your deductible. Here’s what to know about free windshield replacement and when it does (and doesn’t) apply.

Home lockout assistance (Executive Members): up to $100 per occurrence, two claims per 12 months, excluding New York and Vermont. Also a home benefit. The program publishes no stolen-key or lock-replacement benefit on the auto side, so if that matters to you, see when auto insurance will pay for lost keys and ask before you buy.

Identity Fraud Expense Protection: up to $15,000 on the home policy, with service line and equipment breakdown coverage available on request.

What to Ask About by Name

New Car Replacement: the Costco program doesn’t list this anywhere, so don’t count on it. If you’re buying or leasing a newer vehicle, ask whether the underwriting company in your state offers it. New car replacement insurance pays toward a new vehicle after a total loss instead of the depreciated value, and eligibility rules are usually tight.

Rental Reimbursement: not named on the program’s benefits page either, but it is a standard endorsement most carriers sell. If your vehicle is in the shop after a covered claim, rental reimbursement coverage helps pay for a temporary replacement vehicle. Ask for the daily limit and the number of days.

Towing beyond the member benefit: the Executive Member roadside benefit above is capped per occurrence, and American Family tows based on your policy limits without publishing a mileage figure. If you want more, you’re buying a towing endorsement or a separate auto club. See our guide to emergency roadside assistance coverage and how towing coverage usually works under an auto policy.

Gap Coverage: the Costco program’s benefits page doesn’t mention it, but American Family’s own car insurance page lists loan/lease gap coverage as an optional add-on, so ask for it by that name. If you’re financing or leasing, you want it in the first few years when depreciation is steep. Here are some reputable places to shop for it: the top companies to buy gap insurance from.

Deductible Strategy: If you’re trying to lower premiums, raising your deductible can help — but you should only do it if you could comfortably pay that deductible after a loss. This guide on how to avoid paying your car insurance deductible explains the scenarios where you might not have to pay (and why it’s not guaranteed).

Ameriprise Discounts and Ways to Save

If you’re shopping through the Costco channel, the member discount is the headline: the program says Costco members get a discount on car and home insurance in most states. Beyond that, the program publishes its car discount list, and it’s worth going through it by name.

To maximize savings, it helps to know which discounts stack and which ones don’t. Here’s a full breakdown of the best auto insurance discounts and how they typically apply.

Common Discounts You May Qualify For

Safe driving discounts: the program names three — Premier Safety, Defensive Driver and Vehicle Safety Features — plus a Good Driver discount that only exists in California. See our safe driving tips to keep your risk, and often your premium, lower over time.

Garaging discounts: If your vehicle is stored in a secure garage at night, you may be eligible for lower rates. Details here: is car insurance cheaper when you park in a garage?

Multi-vehicle discounts: Insuring more than one car on the same policy can reduce your overall premium. Learn how multi-car discounts work and when they’re worth it.

Accident forgiveness is not a discount here. It isn’t on the Costco program’s discount list, and it isn’t on American Family’s either. American Family sells it as a coverage you buy or earn through safe driving, it applies to your first at-fault accident, and eligibility varies by state. Worth asking for, but ask for it as coverage. Here’s what it does and doesn’t do: what is accident forgiveness?

Student discounts: Teen and young adult drivers are expensive to insure, but good grades and the right policy setup can help. Start with cheap car insurance for high school students and our guide to the cheapest auto insurance companies for college students.

Student away at school: If a student is living away from home and not driving regularly, you may be able to reduce cost while keeping coverage in place. See: the best way to get car insurance if you have a car at college.

Bundling discounts: the program calls this Multi-product, and in this case bundling does more than save money — the glass and lockout benefits only exist on the home policy. Here’s how to do it the smart way: bundle auto and homeowners insurance and how a renters + car bundle discount typically works.

Pricing: Is Ameriprise Cheap?

Sometimes — but not always. Many Costco members do find competitive rates, especially when stacking member pricing with other discounts. But no insurer is consistently the cheapest for every driver in every ZIP code, and rates can change significantly at renewal based on local claim trends, repair costs, and your personal rating factors.

If your main goal is to pay the least possible, compare quotes against other carriers on our list of the cheapest auto insurance companies. If you want a balance of coverage, price, and service, start with our roundup of the best auto insurance companies in America.

Pros and Cons of Ameriprise Auto Insurance

Pros

• Often competitive pricing for Costco members (especially when stacking discounts)
• Executive Member benefits with real numbers attached: roadside up to $75 per occurrence, lifetime renewability on the car policy, and up to $1,000 of glass reimbursement and $100 of lockout help on the home policy
• A.M. Best affirmed American Family’s A (Excellent) financial strength rating with a stable outlook on September 24, 2025, and that covers the old Ameriprise underwriting company

Cons

• Not available in every state (and benefits/discounts vary by state)
• Most of the published Executive Member benefits sit on the home policy, so an auto-only shopper gets the discount and roadside and not much else
• Like most insurers, rates can still rise at renewal — even with a clean record

The program’s own materials name no new car replacement and no stolen-key benefit, so plan around their absence. Gap coverage isn’t on the program’s benefits page either, though American Family lists loan/lease gap coverage as an auto add-on you can ask for.

What If Ameriprise Won’t Renew My Policy?

Nonrenewals happen across the industry for reasons that can include underwriting changes, claim history, moving to a new state, or other eligibility issues. If you’re worried about a nonrenewal (or you’ve already received one), read this guide on whether car insurance can deny coverage or renewal and what your options usually are.

How to Get a Quote and Buy a Policy

If you want the former Ameriprise/Costco program pricing, have your Costco membership number ready and compare quotes carefully (same limits, same deductibles, same driver/vehicle info) so you’re comparing apples to apples.

• Step 1: Gather your driver info, VINs, current policy declarations page, and desired coverage limits.
• Step 2: Request a quote through Costco’s auto & home insurance page or the program site itself, or call 1-888-404-5365 if you’d rather be walked through it.
• Step 3: Confirm which discounts are applied, by name: Costco member, Multi-product, Premier Safety, Defensive Driver, Vehicle Safety Features, Garaging, Good Student, Student Away and Multi-vehicle.
• Step 4: If you switch, set your effective date correctly so you don’t create a coverage gap.

One important note: always be truthful on your application. Incorrect answers about your driving record, garaging address, mileage, or household drivers can lead to higher premiums later — or worse, policy problems when you need to file a claim. Here’s what can happen if you lie about your driving history.

FAQs on Ameriprise Auto Insurance (Costco & American Family)

Final Word on Ameriprise’s Car Insurance

Yes — for many drivers, “Ameriprise” (now typically an American Family-backed policy, often via the Costco program) is a good auto insurance option. It’s especially attractive for Costco members who value a balance of price, coverage flexibility, and useful add-ons.

That said, availability and pricing vary by state and driver profile. If you want the best deal, compare it to at least two or three other insurers before you switch — and make sure you’re matching the same limits and deductibles. My advice is to price the Executive membership upgrade against what the benefits are actually worth to you, because almost everything beyond the plain member discount is gated behind Executive, and the glass and lockout benefits only pay out if you put your home policy here too.

Need to contact the insurer? American Family’s customer care and claims line is 1-800-692-6326, and it says claims are taken around the clock. For the Costco program specifically, the quote line is 1-888-404-5365 and roadside is 1-888-742-4572. Mail goes to 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783.

Sources

Checked October 4, 2026

• American Family Costco program — Program Site
• American Family Costco program — Benefits and Discounts
• American Family — File Your Claim
• American Family — Car Insurance Coverages
• American Family — Accident Forgiveness
• American Family — Car Insurance Discounts
• American Family — Our History
• American Family — Customer Support
• Ameriprise Financial — Sale Completion Release, October 1, 2019
• Ameriprise Financial — Insurance and Annuities Page
• Costco — Auto & Home Insurance Services
• AM Best — American Family Rating Affirmation, September 24, 2025
• AM Best — Affiliate List for That Action
• AM Best — Acquisition News Item, October 1, 2019
• Better Business Bureau — CONNECT, Powered by American Family Insurance Profile