CONNECT by American Family Auto Insurance Review

Last Updated on January 6, 2026

CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance is best known as the auto and home insurance program offered through Costco. In recent years, the program began transitioning to the American Family Insurance name—so you may still see “CONNECT” on older documents and marketing, while new quotes and online experiences may show American Family Insurance instead.

Either way, you’re still getting a policy backed by the American Family Insurance group (learn more in our American Family Insurance review). Below, we’ll break down how CONNECT/American Family insurance through Costco works, what coverages and discounts you can expect, and how to quote, file a claim, or cancel.

What Is CONNECT by American Family Insurance?

CONNECT started as a rebrand of the insurer formerly associated with Ameriprise’s auto and home program (see our Ameriprise auto insurance review). It later became widely recognized through the Costco member insurance program.

Today, many consumers still refer to it as “CONNECT,” but the Costco program now markets under the American Family Insurance name. Policies are typically underwritten by American Family companies, including American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company and American Family Connect Insurance Company (availability varies by state and policy type).

Important note: Costco doesn’t underwrite the policies. You’re shopping through a licensed agency relationship, and your coverage, claims handling, and billing ultimately come from the insurer(s) on your policy documents—not Costco itself.

Who This Insurance Is Best For

• Costco members who want to compare a member-discounted option (see: Is auto insurance cheaper through Costco?).
• Drivers who like online self-service (ID cards, documents, payments, basic changes) and don’t need an in-person agent for every request.
• Households that can bundle auto + home/renters/umbrella for additional discount opportunities.
• Not ideal for: drivers who want a highly customized policy with lots of niche add-ons, or people who strongly prefer face-to-face service for claims and billing questions.

CONNECT by American Family Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Coverage availability varies by state, but CONNECT/American Family auto policies typically offer the same core protections you’ll see with most major insurers:

• Liability Coverage: Includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage for injuries and damage you cause to others.
• Collision Coverage: Collision coverage can help pay to repair your vehicle after a crash with another car or object (subject to your deductible).
• Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage helps cover non-collision damage like theft, vandalism, falling objects, and weather events (subject to your deductible).
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may help if you’re hit by a driver with little or no insurance (and it’s required in some states).
• Medical Coverage: Depending on your state, this may include personal injury protection (PIP) (a form of no-fault coverage) and/or medical payments coverage.
• Gap Insurance: If eligible, gap insurance can help cover the difference between your vehicle’s value and what you still owe after a total loss.
• New Car Replacement: In some cases, new car replacement insurance can help you replace a newer vehicle after a covered total loss (rules vary by state and vehicle age).
• Roadside Assistance & Towing: You may be able to add roadside assistance and towing coverage. Depending on your policy and membership perks, you may also see certain towing-related benefits (learn more about free towing and what “free” usually means in real-world terms).
• Rental Reimbursement: Often available to help pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.

CONNECT/American Family may also offer coverage for additional vehicle types (like motorcycles, RVs, boats, and other specialty vehicles), depending on your state.

Notable Features and Built-In Benefits

Beyond standard coverages, CONNECT/American Family through Costco is known for a few practical perks that can matter in day-to-day ownership:

• Online Policy Management: Most customers can handle essentials online (payments, ID cards, declarations pages, and many policy document requests) instead of contacting customer service for every small change.
• Windshield Repair Deductible Waiver: Many policies include a glass repair deductible waiver if the glass can be repaired instead of replaced. (This is often similar to what people mean when they talk about full glass coverage, but details can vary by state and policy form.)
• Road Trip Accident Accommodation Coverage: If you’re in a covered accident more than 100 miles from home and your vehicle is disabled, some policies include a benefit that can help pay certain travel and lodging costs (here’s a broader explainer on when auto insurance may cover emergency travel expenses).
• Stolen Key / Lock Replacement Perk: CONNECT has historically been known for including stolen key/lock replacement benefits with comprehensive coverage in many cases. Always confirm the exact limits and rules in your state before relying on it.

Discounts Available Through CONNECT / American Family (Costco Program)

Discounts vary by state, driver profile, and policy type, but CONNECT/American Family generally offers a strong mix of standard and membership-related savings. For a broader overview of what American Family commonly offers, see our guide to American Family car insurance discounts.

Common discount categories include:

• Safe Driver & Clean Record Discounts: Better pricing for drivers with fewer violations/accidents and a stable claims history.
• Defensive Driving Discounts: In some states, completing an approved course can reduce premiums (more details: defensive driving course discounts).
• Good Student Discounts: Many insurers offer savings for qualifying students (see: good student discount).
• Student Away Discounts: Some policies discount students who are away at school and don’t regularly drive the insured vehicle (see: distant student discount).
• Multi-Car and Multi-Policy Savings: Bundling multiple vehicles and/or combining auto with home/renters/umbrella can reduce overall premiums.
• Vehicle Safety & Anti-Theft Discounts: Savings for airbags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, and newer safety tech (where applicable).

How Much Does CONNECT Auto Insurance Cost?

Your exact rate depends on your state, driving history, claims record, vehicle, credit-based insurance score (where allowed), annual mileage, and selected coverages/deductibles.

To put pricing into context, recent nationwide estimates have put full coverage averages in the mid-$2,000s per year, with minimum coverage typically far lower. Insurance pricing has been volatile in the last few years, so the most reliable approach is to compare apples-to-apples quotes across multiple insurers using the same coverage limits and deductibles.

Money-saving tip: If you’re only price-shopping, don’t forget to compare the total picture: liability limits, deductibles, rental reimbursement, roadside add-ons, and any membership perks that are included (or not included) in the premium.

What Do Customer Reviews and Ratings Suggest?

CONNECT/American Family through Costco tends to have a “mixed” online reputation, which is common for large insurers that handle high claim volume. Many complaints across the industry revolve around claim timelines, repair negotiations, total loss valuations, premium increases at renewal, and underwriting-related cancellations.

When evaluating any insurer, it’s smart to look at:

• Financial strength (ability to pay claims).
• Complaint patterns (billing, cancellations, claim handling, communication).
• Consistency across sources (BBB, NAIC-related data referenced by third parties, and major review sites).

Best practice: If you’re comparing insurers, ask each carrier about claim reporting, preferred repair networks (if any), total loss process, and whether your policy has any special endorsements or Costco-related perks.

How to Get a Quote

You can typically get a quote online through the Costco insurance portal or by calling a licensed representative. You should be ready with:

• Driver names, dates of birth, and license information
• Vehicle VINs and mileage
• Address history (in many states)
• Prior insurance details (carrier name, limits, and expiration date)

To avoid surprises, quote with the same liability limits and deductibles you currently have—then adjust coverage only after you’ve compared the baseline pricing.

How to File a Claim

Most policyholders can file claims online (through an account login) or by phone. If you’re a guest (or you’re not sure which system applies to your policy), claim reporting phone options may differ—so check the “Ways to report a claim” instructions on your policy documents for the most accurate path.

How to Cancel a CONNECT / American Family Policy

Cancellation rules and fees (if any) vary by state and policy type, but the usual process is:

• Choose your cancellation date (ideally the same day your new policy starts to avoid a coverage lapse).
• Call customer service and request cancellation with the effective date.
• Ask for written confirmation (email or letter) showing the cancellation date.
• If you paid ahead, you may be eligible for a pro-rated refund of unused premium (learn how refunds typically work here: refund unused premiums).

FAQs About CONNECT by American Family Auto Insurance

Contact Information for CONNECT / American Family (Costco Program)

If you need help with billing, policy service, claims, or general questions, start with the contact details listed on your declarations page. For many Costco-program policies, these are common contact points:

Customer Service / Sales Phone: 1-888-239-9953

24/7 Claims Support: 1-888-404-5365 (some guest claim reporting paths may use other numbers depending on the situation)

Customer Service Email: servicepromise@amfam.com
Sales Email: customersfirst@amfam.com

Billing Address:
American Family Insurance
6000 American Parkway
Madison, WI 53777-0001

General Mail:
American Family Insurance
PO Box 77093
Madison, WI 53707-1093

Official Costco Program Website: https://costco.amfam.com/