CONNECT insurance review 2024

CONNECT, powered by American Family car insurance, may be an option for drivers who want access to additional benefits within certain car insurance coverage types. For example, CONNECT’s comprehensive coverage comes with stolen key expense coverage that will replace your car’s locks if the keys to the vehicle are stolen. If the cost of the replacement locks is less than $250, there is no deductible requirement. CONNECT car insurance also offers accident travel expense coverage that pays for travel or accommodation if you are more than 100 miles from home and your car is not drivable.

These options allow you to personalize your standard CONNECT car insurance policy. CONNECT even offers gap insurance and new car replacement insurance for drivers who want additional protection for their new vehicles, as well as roadside assistance.

Pros and cons of CONNECT car insurance

When shopping around for the best car insurance, narrowing down your list of carriers is part of the process. This summary of CONNECT car insurance’s pros and cons could help you easily compare with other car insurance carriers.

CONNECT home insurance allows homeowners to build fully personalized policies for their homes and cover unique risks with endorsements. After choosing policy limits for standard coverage, like dwelling and liability coverage, homeowners can choose to add other types of coverage, like earthquake coverage, scheduled personal property coverage, or mine subsidence insurance, which must be offered in some states.

As with its auto insurance, CONNECT home insurance is underwritten by American Family, the insurer’s parent company. American Family received a Bankrate Score of 3.2 out of 5, due in part to its coverage options and discount opportunities. It scored slightly below average in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study, indicating that it could have some work to do to ensure policyholders are generally satisfied with its home insurance. CONNECT home insurance also does not have mobile app accessibility, which may be a drawback for customers who want to manage their policies on mobile.

Pros and cons of CONNECT homeowners insurance

When shopping for the best homeowners insurance, it’s important to consider the carrier as well as the product offerings. Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of CONNECT homeowners insurance to help you see how it stacks up against other insurance companies when you are ready to compare home insurance quotes:

Although Bankrate’s CONNECT insurance review may highlight why this insurer is the right fit for some, others may need to know how it stacks up against competitors. If you’re unsure about CONNECT insurance or want to explore other options during the quoting process, consider these alternatives. *Note that J.D. Power scores reflect parent company American Family’s scores.

Bankrate strives to provide honest, straightforward and helpful information about insurance companies to help our readers pick the best options for their needs (and budgets). We use our decades of combined industry experience to provide insights you may not find in other reviews.

CONNECT is an insurance company that offers a range of insurance products, including auto, home and umbrella insurance. The company strives to match customers with the products that most closely match their lifestyles. With the backing of American Family Insurance, CONNECT could be a good option for some policyholders. However, its limited state availability, lack of a strongly rated mobile app and inconsistent NAIC complaint index scores may be a drawback for some.

What are real-life customers saying about CONNECT?

To better understand the experiences of CONNECT policyholders, we've delved into firsthand accounts shared by real customers on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot. These insights provide a glimpse into customers' interactions and experiences with CONNECT. It's important to remember that online reviews can vary widely and may not always represent the full spectrum of customer experiences. However, they can offer valuable perspectives for those considering CONNECT for their insurance needs. As we explore these reviews, keep in mind that individual experiences can differ, and what works well for one person might not be the ideal fit for another.

Reddit and Trustpilot reviews of CONNECT insurance reveal a spectrum of customer experiences. While some praise the competitive rates and responsive claims process, others express concerns over unexpected premium hikes and communication issues during policy renewal. Overall, these reviews highlight customers' mixed experiences, with some finding value in their policies and others facing challenges.

CONNECT company details

• Customer service phone number: 1-888-239-9953, from Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Central time
• Customer service email: Existing customers can email servicepromise@connectbyamfam.com, while prospective customers can email customersfirst@connectbyamfam.com 
• Claims: Claims can be filed online by logging into your account or by calling 1-800-872-5246
• Roadside assistance: 1-888-742-4572

State availability

CONNECT insurance is available in 44 states and Washington, D.C. The company does not operate in AK, LA, ME, ND, RI and WY

CONNECT tools and benefits

Home and auto insurance aren’t the only two insurance products that CONNECT offers. Here’s a sample of other policies customers may buy from CONNECT:

• Renters insurance: Renters can purchase a policy with coverage for their personal belongings, as well as liability and loss of use coverage.
• Condominium insurance: Condominium unit owners typically need coverage for the interior of their unit, which this policy type accounts for.
• Umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy can be useful if you want increased personal liability coverage for your auto and home policies that goes beyond the policy limit.
• Specialty insurance: This is coverage for your ATV, motorcycle, boat or other alternative methods of transportation, as well as flood insurance and coverage for rental properties.
• Business insurance: CONNECT offers commercial auto, commercial general liability and business owner policies (BOP) to small business owners.

Frequently asked questions about CONNECT

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlight where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways a home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.