Is Liberty Mutual (Safeco) writing home insurance in California?

Yes. In a July 23, 2026 alert, the Department of Insurance called Liberty Mutual "California's 8th-largest homeowners insurance group by market share." It added that the company "never stopped writing in California."

The same alert put Liberty Mutual on its list of 11 insurance groups committing to stay and grow in the state. Those promises come under the state's new rules for home insurers, called the Sustainable Insurance Strategy.

Writing in the state does not mean every home qualifies. Each company decides home by home, and some areas are harder than others.

Liberty Mutual asked to write more homes in the state's wildfire-distressed areas. In the Department's words, it asked to do so "with no additional rate increase for policyholders." Once approved, it would grow "through independent agents and brokers," the Department said.

The Department repeated that wording on August 3, 2026, in an alert written for agents and brokers. Wildfire-distressed areas are ZIP codes and counties the Department designates where insurance may be hard to find.

As of October 29, 2026, the Department had not announced an approval. Its list of filings closed through September 30, 2026, shows only form and rule changes for Liberty Mutual's home companies that year.

The other groups under the same rules are in our list of who is writing in California.

Yes. A Liberty Mutual company, American States Insurance Company of Texas, filed a new California homeowners program in 2026. The Department listed it in its weekly public notice of rate filings on September 25, 2026, as file 26-1737.

The notice gives no start date. The Department's list of approvals through September 30, 2026, does not include the program, and no approval had been announced as of October 29, 2026.

Liberty Mutual retired the Safeco name on April 25, 2026. Safeco had been the brand that independent agents sold, and its products are now sold only as Liberty Mutual.

If you had a Safeco policy, the company said you keep your agent, and the name change does not change your policy. Liberty Mutual also sells directly, online and by phone, and said its direct and agent products would stay different.

Buying direct may not be an option for a home. In December 2024, the Mercury News reported that the Liberty Mutual brand had stopped adding California homeowners policies in 2023. Safeco, the brand independent agents sold, kept writing them, it said.

Condos and renters are a separate story. Claims Journal reported on December 20, 2024, that Safeco would stop writing new condo and renters policies on January 1, 2025. A Safeco spokesperson said it would focus on "core Safeco auto, home, landlord and umbrella products."

Ask early, and do not wait on one company. The Department said on August 3, 2026, that FAIR Plan customers should "shop the market regularly" and ask which companies are writing new policies in their area.

These steps keep your options open:

• Ask an independent agent who represents Liberty Mutual whether your address qualifies today.
• Ask whether the answer could change once the expansion request or the new program is approved.
• If you call Liberty Mutual directly, ask whether it writes new homeowners policies at your address.
• Ask about other standard insurers too. Try specialty insurers after them, and keep the FAIR Plan for last.
• Do not cancel the policy you have until the new one has started.