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Wawanesa Insurance review 2024

Updated Mar 14, 2024
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At a glance

2.8
Rating: 2.8 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
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Auto

Rating: 2.8 stars out of 5

2.8

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Cost & ratings

Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5

3.2

Coverage

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

2.5

Support

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

2.5

About Bankrate Score

Bankrate's take

Wawanesa consistently earns high J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings, making it a carrier of choice for California homeowners and drivers who value a good experience.

Who Wawanesa may be good for: With Wawanesa offering a full line of the most common insurance products, it may be a good option for preferred policyholders who want the ease of having their insurance with one company.

 

Who Wawanesa may not be good for: Wawanesa is a provider that caters to preferred customers, so drivers with a challenging driving history or who live outside the state of California may need to look for a different carrier.

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers
 

New

What’s new with Wawanesa?
  • On Aug 1, 2023, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company announced that it is in the process of selling Wawanesa General Insurance Company to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s affiliated insurer, Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club. The Auto Club has been writing insurance in California for over 100 years and Wawanesa states that it will continue its legacy of quality products and customer service. Wawanesa CEO and president stated they made this decision so the company could focus more on its Canadian homeowners insurance market. The acquisition is still pending approval from the California Department of Insurance.
  • Originally, Wawanesa was available to both California and Oregon residents. In 2023, it paused issuing new policies in Oregon to “make some important changes to service you better.” While new business policies are currently unavailable, existing Oregon policyholders are able to maintain their coverage.

Wawanesa car insurance

Wawanesa earned a Bankrate Score of 3.1 out of 5.0, as it lacks some of the things that the best car insurance companies tend to have, like a mobile app, local agencies and 24/7 customer support. Its consistently high customer satisfaction ranking with J.D. Power and typically holds a solid financial stability rating from AM Best (although it currently earns a Marginal rating following news of its intent to sell its U.S. subsidiary).

Additionally, Wawanesa insurance is currently only offered in California. In addition to state-required coverage, like bodily injury and property damage liability, drivers may opt to include special vehicle equipment coverage, which insures aftermarket customizations and equipment added to the vehicle, and vehicle manufacturer replacement parts. With this optional coverage, car parts can be replaced with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts after a covered accident instead of standard or aftermarket parts.

Pros and cons of Wawanesa car insurance

When comparing car insurance quotes, it’s important to consider what a carrier offers through its policies as well as through its service. Here are some quick pros and cons of Wawanesa car insurance:

Pros
  • Add-on option available to repair vehicle with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts after a covered claim

  • Aftermarket and custom parts can be covered with optional endorsement

  • Strong customer service ratings from J.D. Power

Cons
  • Auto insurance only offered in California

  • Low mobile app rating

  • No 24/7 customer service support

Wawanesa car insurance cost

Drivers with Wawanesa pay an average of $2,424 per year for full coverage and $676 per year for minimum coverage, according to rates from Quadrant Information Services. The cost of a full coverage policy with Wawanesa is lower than the national average cost of car insurance of $2,545 per year. A minimum coverage policy with Wawanesa is also cheaper than the national average of $741 per year. However, because car insurance rates vary by individual and car insurance carrier, your actual rate could be higher or lower depending on rating factors like your driving record, vehicle make and model, and more.

Wawanesa car insurance rates by driving history

Car insurance companies pay close attention to driving records when it comes to determining car insurance rates. Based on Bankrate’s study of car insurance rates sourced from Quadrant Information Services, drivers with one or more driving violations on their record, like a speeding ticket or at-fault accident, can expect to pay higher rates on average compared to drivers with clean driving records. While a DUI is one of the most serious moving violations a driver can receive, these rates have been excluded from the table below, as not every car insurance company accepts drivers with a DUI.

Clean driving record
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$2,424
National full coverage premium
$2,545
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,129
National full coverage premium
$3,070
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,442
National full coverage premium
$3,575
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$5,015
National full coverage premium
$4,740

Wawanesa car insurance quotes by age

Drivers that are young and newly licensed face some of the most expensive car insurance rates compared to all age groups. Car insurance for teen drivers is particularly expensive, as car insurance companies view them as riskier drivers and more likely to be involved in accidents. The rates below show the average cost of car insurance for a variety of age groups and how it varies for young drivers depending on whether or not they remain on their parents’ car insurance. All rates provided are based on a clean driving record.

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their parents’ policy
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,697
National full coverage premium
$5,374
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,392
National full coverage premium
$5,024
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,187
National full coverage premium
$4,720
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$3,325
National full coverage premium
$4,155
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$3,247
National full coverage premium
$3,932
Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy 
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$4,201
National full coverage premium
$7,188
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$2,784
National full coverage premium
$3,142
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$2,545
National full coverage premium
$2,696
Age 40
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$2,424
National full coverage premium
$2,545
Wawanesa full coverage premium
$2,239
National full coverage premium
$2,307

Wawanesa car insurance discounts

Cheap car insurance can be a priority for many. If you want to save on car insurance, adding discounts can help. A few key car insurance discounts that Wawanesa offers include:

If you stay insured with Wawanesa for one year without a lapse, this discount could be added to your policy at renewal.
Features in your car like a GPS tracker or stolen vehicle recovery system could help you qualify for this discount.
If you are a member of an affinity group partnered with Wawanesa, this discount could be added to your policy. A Wawanesa representative could help by providing you with a full list of accepted organizations.
If you insure more than one policy with Wawanesa, this discount could be automatically added.
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Wawanesa home insurance

Like with its car insurance, Wawanesa home insurance is currently only offered in California. Its home insurance earned a 2.8 out of 5 Bankrate Score, which is less than its auto insurance policies. One factor is that Wawanesa’s standard home insurance policy is relatively basic, and homeowners would need to opt for additional coverage for increased limits. The options are included under its Special Limits Enhancements coverage, and include options for personal property, watercraft and equipment, as well as extended replacement cost.

Wawanesa also has other add-on home insurance coverage available. This includes the option to schedule personal property for any high-value items, like artwork and jewelry, that exceed the personal property maximum for special belongings. Homeowners worried about their personal information could also include identity fraud and home cyber protection coverage in their Wawanesa home insurance policy.

Pros and cons of Wawanesa home insurance

If you’re considering Wawanesa home insurance, it helps to consider how the carrier could meet your home insurance requirements. Below is a quick summary of some of Wawanesa’s strengths and drawbacks:

Pros
  • Identity fraud and home cyber protection coverage available

  • Special Limits Enhancements package is a simple way to add more coverage to a standard home insurance policy

  • Discounts available to help make home insurance more affordable

Cons
  • Only available in California

  • Home insurance questionnaire can be started online, but a full quote is only available with a live agent over the phone

  • Base home insurance policy with Wawanesa is no-frills compared to other carriers, with enhanced coverage at an additional cost

Wawanesa home insurance cost

While home insurance rates for Wawanesa are not available, the average cost of homeowners insurance throughout the nation is $1,759 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, according to Bankrate’s research. California homeowners pay around $1,266 for the same amount of coverage. However, actual rates may vary depending on the age and construction materials of your home, square footage, claims history and more. If you want to compare cheap home insurance companies and are curious about how much a Wawanesa home insurance policy might cost for you, it can help to reach out to the company for a quote.

Wawanesa home insurance discounts

While rate data on the average cost of homeowners insurance with Wawanesa is unavailable, the carrier does offer discount opportunities. Those who want to find options for the best homeowners insurance company without breaking the bank may be able to take advantage of these savings opportunities to help save on their premium.

Some of Wawanesa’s home insurance discounts include:

If all residents in a home do not smoke, this unique discount could be added to the policy.
This discount could be earned if the home has automatic sprinklers in the main areas, such as the kitchen and bedrooms, that help reduce fire risk.
If your home has a water leak detection device that has been professionally installed and has its own automatic shut-off valve, it could earn you another discount.
Homeowners with a connected theft alarm system could qualify for this discount.
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Quick Facts
Moneybag
$382/year
average savings through Bankrate
Two Thirds
2 out of 3 homes
are underinsured
Insurance Home
1 out of every 20
insured homes makes a claim each year
Circle Check
100% of homes
need insurance before getting a mortgage
Mortgage

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Compare Wawanesa with other insurers

Wawanesa may meet the needs of many drivers and homeowners, but it can be helpful to compare its home insurance and auto insurance offerings against other companies. Perhaps you’re looking for a carrier that has a bit more flexibility, for example. Comparing with other carriers can also give you an idea of what your preferences are. Below are some comparable insurers that might also offer what you need:

Badge 1 Featured

Wawanesa

Wawanesa
Rating: 2.8 stars out of 5
2.8
Caret Down

Cost & ratings

Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5
3.6

Coverage

Rating: 3.1 stars out of 5
3.1

Support

Rating: 3.3 stars out of 5
3.3

AAA

AAA
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
Caret Down

Cost & ratings

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8

Coverage

Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5
3.4

Support

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2

American Family

American Family
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Caret Down

Cost & ratings

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3

Coverage

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2

Support

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
OVERVIEW
Info
AAA ranked third in the 2023 J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Study for California. The carrier offers home and auto insurance, as well as many other products and travel solutions. Whereas Wawanesa is only available in California, AAA is available nationally through its different insurance groups for tailored coverage options. Since the Automobile Club of Southern California is an AAA affiliate, most Wawanesa policyholders might be moved over to AAA policies in the future.
American Family consistently receives strong customer satisfaction ratings for its home and auto insurance policies. It’s also more widely available than Wawanesa, which could be ideal for those who plan to relocate.
STANDOUT FEATURES
Info
Online Reviews
Extensive educational resources available online
Profile
May have access to additional AAA perks if you’re a member
Location
Geographic-focused coverage options
Dollar Reload
Low rates for drivers with an at-fault acident or ticket
Badge
Highly rated for customer satisfaction
Dollar
Offers bundling discount
AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Info
$2,125 $1,521
JD POWER AUTO SCORE
Info
847/1000 874/1000
AVG HOME RATE
Info
$765 $1,457
JD POWER HOME SCORE
Info
808/1000 813/1000
AM BEST RATING
Info
A(Excellent) A(Excellent)

Is Wawanesa a good insurance company?

At Bankrate, our insurance editorial team combines nearly 50 years of industry experience to help consumers make the best insurance decisions for their needs. As a super-regional carrier, Wawanesa is not going to be an option for most. Additionally, the lack of a mobile app for non-Android users and a robust online portal may be a drawback for those who want a fully digital policy management experience — Wawanesa still primarily operates through local independent agents. However, those that own a home or have a car registered in California may appreciate Wawanesa’s extensive add-on coverage options and vetted customer service.

Wawanesa customer satisfaction

To get another view of insurance companies, it can help to look at customer satisfaction ratings from third-party agencies like J.D. Power. Through a numerical customer satisfaction score, J.D. Power rates companies on a 1,000-point rating scale. AM Best measures a company's financial stability and creditworthiness using a standard letter grade scale from A to D. These outside sources can help you focus on other important qualities you need from an insurance company beyond affordability.

Wawanesa came in number one for customer satisfaction in California for the fifth year in a row in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study. The region average is 813 out of 1,000 points, but Wawanesa scored far above that with 843 out of 1,000 points. However, Wawanesa is not rated in the 2023 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study or the 2023 J.D. Power Property Claims Satisfaction Study due to its limited regional availability (most rankings include nationally-available carriers).

Wawanesa also does not have a score from J.D. Power’s Digital Experience Study. However, AM Best provided Wawanesa a “marginal” score for financial strength and creditworthiness. The recent agreement between Wawanesa and the Automobile Club of Southern California will likely improve this score once the acquisition is finalized.

Study or Rating agency Wawanesa Industry average
2023 J.D. Power Digital Experience Study - Service Not rated 702/1,000
2023 J.D. Power Digital Experience Study - Shopping Not rated 521/1,000
AM Best rating C++ (Marginal) N/A

Wawanesa customer complaints

Customer service from a provider can be just as important as price when you are looking for new home or auto insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) can help provide you with a picture of customer satisfaction. The NAIC Consumer Complaint Index can be used as a tool to see how many reports have been filed with the NAIC against an insurer. An index score of 1.0 represents the average, or baseline, number of complaints for insurers of similar size. A score above 1.0 indicates more complaints than average whereas a score below 1.0 indicates fewer complaints than average.

Wawanesa received an overall index reflecting over twice as many complaints as the market baseline, and just a bit over baseline for private passenger insurance. This company had particularly underperformed in 2022. However, its pending changes in ownership may show a better experience for policyholders over time.

Similar to its auto complaints, Wawanesa scored low for home insurance complaints as well. In 2020 and 2022, it received four times the amount of complaints than a company of similar size. These scores indicate that customers are generally dissatisfied with the level of service they receive from Wawanesa.

Other Wawanesa tools and benefits

In addition to home and auto insurance, Wawanesa also offers the following insurance products:

  • Renters insurance: As a renter, you’ll likely need to consider insurance for your own belongings, as your landlord’s policy does not insure this. Liability coverage is also provided through renters insurance.
  • Condominium insurance: Condominium unit owners may purchase insurance to cover the interior of their units, which this type of insurance provides.
  • Pet insurance: Wawanesa partnered with Embrace to offer pet owners accident and illness coverage to care for their pets.

Frequently asked questions about Wawanesa

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years of industry expertise
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carriers reviewed
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quotes analyzed

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze February 2024 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Auto insurance rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region.

Auto

Rates include the most recent approved rate changes filed by insurance companies that affect our profile. These revised rates are then weighted based on the population density in each geographic region so that policyholders can see the impact rates have in their areas. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our sample drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16–20 added to their parent's policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

  • Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
  • Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
  • Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
  • Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
  • Coverage E, Liability: $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $500,000
  • Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Scores

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

  • Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
  • Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
  • Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Written by
Shannon Martin
Writer, Insurance

Shannon Martin is a licensed insurance agent and Bankrate analyst with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She enjoys helping others navigate the insurance world by cutting through complex jargon and empowering readers to make strong financial decisions independently.

Edited by Editor, Insurance