The California State Automobile Association traces its history to a 1900 meeting of car buffs[1][2] in San Francisco's Cliff House.

[3] Recognizing the need for better roads (America had very few paved roadways outside of cities), signage, and more friendly laws, those car owners formed the Automobile Club of California (ACC) to deal with barriers that hindered acceptance of the auto throughout the state.

The club's efforts began to pay off in 1905, when the legislature passed a set of uniform regulations governing the use of motor vehicles on California highways.

This change took effect in February 2011, which was reflected in their December 15, 2010 corporate amendments filed with the California Secretary of State.

[13] In April 2017, the auto-club company moved its headquarters from Emeryville to the Treat Towers in Walnut Creek, just a block away from the insurance group.