It was founded as the Civil Service Motoring Association in 1923 by Frank Vernon Edwards, an executive officer in the Ministry of Labour who had an interest in motorcycle trials.

Today its member benefits include discounts on insurance, shopping, holidays, banking, attraction tickets, cinema, travel, leisure and roadside rescue, providing these through relationships with Approved Partners, notably LV= Insurance, with which it has worked since 1923.

In 2007, CSMA sold Britannia Rescue to Liverpool Victoria, the owner of the Frizzell Insurance brand (now known as LV=).

Boundless by CSMA owns and operates a number of "Holiday and Leisure properties" in the UK.

These currently include Although the general public can stay at any of the properties, members and their families and guests receive a considerable discount on tariffs.