CSE Insurance Review
CSE's high rates and mediocre customer service reputation make it a poor choice for most drivers.
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Editor's Rating
CSE's car insurance rates are high, and customers aren't typically happy with the service they receive. Additionally, CSE is currently only accepting new customers in four states: Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.
CSE Insurance is short for Civil Service Employees Insurance. The company focuses on providing insurance to public employees, but it also sells policies to the public.
Most drivers can find a better deal and better service from another insurance company.
Pros and cons
Pros
Benefits and discounts for public employees
Cons
Expensive quotes
Difficult claims process
Can't get a quote online
Only available in 4 states
Rates from CSE vs. competitors
Drivers looking for cheap rates should consider another company.
A minimum coverage policy from CSE costs $50 per month, which is 7% more expensive than average. Its full coverage rates are also expensive at $172 per month. That's 16% higher than average.
Auto insurance rates from CSE are 33% to 34% more expensive than rates from the cheapest company, Geico.
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However, drivers with an accident on their record can often find affordable rates with CSE.
A full coverage policy from CSE costs $243 per month after one at-fault accident, which is 8% cheaper than average. But it's still $33 per month more expensive than Geico.
Monthly car insurance rates: CSE vs. competitors
Minimum coverage
Full coverage
Full coverage after an accident
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $33 | |
| Progressive | $39 | |
| CSE Insurance | $50 | |
| State Farm | $55 | |
| Allstate | $58 | |
Minimum coverage
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Geico | $33 | |
|
| Progressive | $39 | |
|
| CSE Insurance | $50 | |
|
| State Farm | $55 | |
|
| Allstate | $58 | |
Full coverage
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Geico | $116 | |
|
| Progressive | $134 | |
|
| State Farm | $152 | |
|
| Allstate | $165 | |
|
| CSE Insurance | $172 | |
Full coverage after an accident
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Geico | $210 | |
|
| State Farm | $242 | |
|
| CSE Insurance | $243 | |
|
| Progressive | $277 | |
|
| Allstate | $356 | |
Unfortunately, you can't get an online car insurance quote from CSE.
You'll have to call or email a local insurance agent. That means it will take longer to get a quote compared to national insurance companies like State Farm and Geico, which can give you an online estimate in a few minutes.
Auto insurance discounts from CSE
CSE only offers a few discounts, but they tend to be substantial. Discounts can vary from state to state, and some discounts are only available in California.
- Multivehicle discount: Save up to 24% when you insure two or more cars with CSE
- Multipolicy discount: Save a maximum of 22% when you insure your home, apartment or condo with CSE
- Good driving discount: Save up to 25% if you drive safely for three or more years
- Good student discount: Students up to age 25 can save around 14% when they maintain good grades
- Superior good driver discount (CA only): Save a maximum of 20% if you avoid filing a claim or getting a ticket for five years
- Loyalty discount (CA only): Save up to 3% for staying insured with CSE for a certain amount of time
CSE specializes in providing insurance to civil servants. So it offers benefits, discounts and lower rates to people who work in certain public roles.
If you work 30 or more hours per week in one of the following jobs, you're eligible for additional benefits:
- Educators
- Law enforcement officers
- Military personnel
- Firefighters
- Government employees
Coverages offered by CSE
In addition to the standard coverages all auto insurance companies provide, CSE offers a few extra coverages.
- Roadside assistance helps you when your car breaks down on the side of the road. It can also help if you're out of gas or you're locked out of your car.
- Full glass coverage eliminates your deductible for glass repairs.
- Gap coverage pays the remainder of your car loan if your car is totaled in a covered accident and it's worth less than what you owe.
- Equivalent replacement cost coverage replaces your new car with a brand new one if it is totaled. Other companies may call this coverage "new car replacement."
- Medical parts and accessibility coverage provides extra coverage for any customized equipment that was added to your car.
- Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage helps ensure that repairs to your car are done only with parts from the original manufacturer.
The basic coverages that CSE offers include:
CSE customer service reviews
Drivers who value excellent customer service should consider another company besides CSE for their auto insurance.
CSE receives more customer complaints than other insurance companies of a similar size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Most of the complaints are about the company's claims process. So if you choose CSE, it may take longer to fix your car after an accident.
In addition, CSE does not have a mobile app, so customers have to call their agent to make a change to their policy or file a claim. Drivers who like to manage their policy on their phone should consider a different company.
CSE earned a B+ financial stability score from AM Best. This score means that CSE has a good ability to pay out claims. However, CSE scored lower than most major insurance companies.
Contact CSE Insurance
For insurance claims with CSE, you can either log in and file via the online portal at myCSEpolicy.com or you can call the claims department phone number at 888-236-5584.
To make a payment to CSE Insurance, use the portal or send your check to the following address:
CSE Insurance Group
P.O. Box 60289
Los Angeles, CA 90060
Frequently asked questions
What does CSE Insurance stand for?
CSE Insurance stands for Civil Service Employees Insurance. It was originally founded to provide insurance to public servants like teachers, government employees and military members.
What is CSE Insurance's AM Best rating?
CSE Insurance has a B+ financial strength rating from AM Best. While that means it has a "good" ability to pay out claims, CSE has a lower rating than most major insurance companies.
Is CSE a good car insurance company?
CSE's auto insurance rates are higher than average, and the company receives more customer complaints than other companies, based on its size. It also has a lower financial stability rating than we would typically recommend.
For those reasons, most drivers can find better car insurance elsewhere.
Methodology
To compare car insurance quotes for CSE Insurance, we gathered rates from all ZIP codes in California. Rates are for a 30-year-old single man with a clean driving record and good credit score who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Full coverage quotes include higher liability limits than the California state requirement, along with comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Medical payments: $5,000
- Comprehensive and collision deductible: $500
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
