Ameriprise Car Insurance Review 2024

Ameriprise was founded in 1984 and provides financial planning and advice. In 1987, the company began selling auto and home insurance. American Family Insurance acquired Ameriprise Auto & Home (AAH) in 2019. AAH was renamed Connect, powered by American Family Insurance, in August 2020.

Connect is headquartered in De Perce, Wisconsin and sells car, condo, home, renters and umbrella insurance in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

Ameriprise has been renamed Connect, powered by American Family Insurance. You’ll find the following types of car insurance coverage from Connect car insurance:

• Liability. This covers property damage and injuries you accidentally cause to others. Liability car insurance also covers your legal defense, settlements and judgments if you are sued because of an accident. You are required to carry liability car insurance in most states.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM). This pays for your medical bills and other expenses if a driver without liability insurance or without enough liability insurance crashes into you. Uninsured motorist insurance is required in some states and optional in others.
• Collision and comprehensive insurance. These are optional coverage types that cover problems such as car accidents, car theft, vandalism, fires, floods, severe weather, falling objects and collisions with animals. Collision and comprehensive insurance are often sold together and may be required if you have a car loan or lease.
• Personal injury protection (PIP). If you or your passengers suffer injuries after a car accident, PIP pays for medical expenses, no matter who caused it. It can also cover other costs, such as lost wages or essential services, if you cannot work or perform everyday tasks due to your injuries. Personal injury protection is required in some states, optional in other states and unavailable in some.
• Medical expense insurance. This covers medical bills for you and your passengers, no matter who caused the car accident. This coverage is also called “medical payments” or “MedPay” and is usually sold in small amounts, between $1,000 and $5,000. Medical payments coverage is not available in all states.

Connect also offers some additional coverage benefits:

• Accident travel expense coverage helps cover out of pocket expenses if you get into an accident more than 100 miles from your home.
• Stolen-key expense coverage is included with comprehensive insurance and pays to replace stolen keys and locks. If the lock replacement is less than $250, your deductible will not apply.

Connect offers accident forgiveness insurance. This type of coverage typically “forgives” an at-fault accident, and you won’t get hit with a rate increase when your policy renews.

For example, we looked at a Connect car insurance policy in Florida that will forgive an at-fault accident if:

• The driver did not have any at-fault accidents for the three-year “experience period” ending 45 days prior to the renewal of the policy.
• And the policy has been continuously in force for the past three years.

You can purchase new car replacement insurance as an add-on to your Connect car insurance policy. This coverage will replace your damaged or totaled car with a new one of the same make and model, up to 110% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

This coverage only applies to cars within the first year of ownership or with fewer than 15,000 miles.

Connect offers gap insurance that will pay up to 120% of the value of your car. This type of coverage pays the “gap” between what you owe on your car loan or lease if it’s totaled due to a problem covered by your policy (like a car accident or fire).

For example, let’s say you buy a car for $25,000 and owe $23,000 on the loan. After your car is totaled in a car accident, the depreciated value of your car is $20,000, leaving a $3,000 “gap.” Gap insurance pays that amount.

Gap insurance through Connect includes new car replacement insurance for the first year that you own your car.

Connect doesn’t offer a diminishing deductible.

Some car insurance companies sell a diminishing deductible. This type of coverage typically reduces the amount of your car insurance deductible for every policy period that you remain accident-free.

For example, a car insurance company might reduce $100 from your deductible every year you maintain a good driving record. Some insurers limit the amount you can reduce your deductible (such as $500), and some insurers will allow you to reduce your deductible to $0.

Connect generally does not provide SR-22 insurance. But in some states, Connect is required by law to provide an SR-22 for a driver who meets eligibility requirements for a car insurance policy.

An SR-22 is also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility. It is a court ordered form that shows a driver meets the state minimum insurance requirements. Drivers are typically required to provide this document for reasons such as:

• Driving without car insurance
• DUI conviction
• Excessive traffic violations or car accidents
• License suspension or suspension
• Reckless driving

Connect does not sell usage-based car insurance (UBI).

Some insurance companies offer UBI programs that calculate your car insurance costs based on your driving habits, such as speeding, acceleration, harsh braking, the time of day you’re on the road and mileage driven. Insurers assess these factors and then give you a driving score. If you get a good score, you could get a car insurance discount. If you get a bad score, your rates may increase.

Connect doesn’t offer pay-per-mile insurance.

Pay-per-mile insurance typically bases your car insurance costs on the miles you drive, which can be good for low-mileage drivers. Insurers that offer pay-per-mile insurance usually charge a daily rate plus a mileage rate to calculate your rates.

Connect does not offer rideshare insurance.

If you drive for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber, your car insurance might have a gap in coverage between your personal car insurance and the coverage provided by your rideshare company. Rideshare insurance can help cover this gap.

Car insurance discounts are a good way to lower your costs, and you may already be eligible for one or two (or more). Here are some discounts you’re likely to find at Connect.

• Good driver discount (California only). California drivers that practice safe driving habits and avoid traffic tickets and at-fault accidents can get a discount.
• Defensive driver discount. When you complete a defensive driving course approved by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or an accredited organization, you may qualify for a discount.
• Garaging discount. You could qualify for a discount if you park your car in a garage overnight (this discount is not available in all locations).
• Good student discount. Full-time students that achieve academic accolades like maintaining a “B” average, making the honor roll or Dean’s list, or qualifying in the top 20% of their class can earn a discount.
• Multi-car discount. You can qualify for a discount when you insure multiple vehicles under one Connect car insurance policy.
• Multi-product discount. You can get a discount if you buy other types of insurance from Connect, such as condo, home, renters, business or umbrella insurance.
• Premier safety discount. If you go four years without accidents, traffic violations or claims you could earn this discount.
• Student away discount. If your student driver attends school at least 100 miles away from your home and keeps their car at home while at school, you could get a discount.
• Tenure discount. You could get discounted rates the longer you stay insured with Connect.
• Vehicle safety discounts. Driving a car with safety features like anti-lock brakes, airbags or automatic seatbelts can help you save money on your policy.

Connect, formerly Ameriprise, has a higher level of auto insurance complaints than the industry average, based on complaints made to state insurance departments across the country. Car insurance buyers should have no problem finding an insurer that has a better level of complaints.

In addition to car insurance, Connect offers other types of insurance, including:

• All-terrain vehicles (ATV)
• Boat
• Business (sold through Midvale Insurance, a Connect affiliate)
• Classic car
• Condo
• Flood
• Homeowners
• Motorcycle
• Recreational vehicles (RV)
• Rental property
• Renters
• Umbrella

Connect policyholders can use Connect’s policy manager where you can:

• Pay your bill
• Update your payment methods
• Download documents like your ID card and declarations page
• Update your information such as your address, vehicle identification number (VIN), driver’s license number and education level
• Add or remove drivers, vehicles, and leasing or financing companies