Commonwealth Casualty insurance review 2023

Commonwealth Casualty car insurance

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team used their real-world industry expertise to conduct an extensive Commonwealth Casualty Insurance review. Based on our assessment, drivers looking for no-frills car insurance may find Commonwealth Casualty car insurance ideal.

Although the company’s car insurance endorsements may be limited compared to some of the best car insurance companies, Commonwealth Casualty policyholders can choose from a few add-ons to bolster their policy, including safety equipment coverage, roadside assistance, rideshare coverage and rental reimbursement.

In addition to these endorsements and the standard car insurance coverage types you’d expect to find, policyholders can include named driver exclusion removal coverage. Typically, comprehensive and collision coverage will only trigger on a Commonwealth Casualty auto policy if an active driver is involved in an accident. With the named driver exclusion removal add-on, comprehensive and collision may apply even if the driver wasn’t listed on the policy at the time of the accident (as long as that driver does not live in your household and isn’t a frequent operator).

Commonwealth Casualty works primarily through a network of independent agents, so customers who prefer to do business with a brick-and-mortar agency might find this carrier appealing — this is especially true since the company lacks a mobile app and a full-service online policy portal. However, since this is a regional insurer, it’s only available to drivers in Arizona, Ohio and Texas.

Pros and cons of Commonwealth Casualty car insurance

Gathering car insurance quotes can be intimidating, especially if you aren’t sure where your priorities for coverage lay. This is where a list of pros and cons can help. Determining your must-haves and what benefits you could do without may help you find the coverage that best fits your needs.

Commonwealth Casualty car insurance cost

According to our research and rate information from data analytics company Quadrant Information Services, the national average cost of car insurance is $2,014 per year for a full coverage policy, with minimum coverage coming in at $622 per year. However, car insurance companies use several factors to determine how much to charge you for a policy, so you could be paying more or less than the average.

Rate data for Commonwealth Casualty is not available, so you will need to contact the company and request a quote for more information regarding their car insurance premiums. 

Commonwealth Casualty car insurance discounts

One of the biggest limitations to Commonwealth Casualty car insurance is that there are few car insurance discounts available. The only advertised discount is a multi-policy discount, which can help you get a lower rate if you bundle your auto and home or renters insurance with Commonwealth.

While not a traditional discount, you may also save on your car insurance by enrolling in Commonwealth’s vanishing deductible program. For each year that you do not have a claim, your deductible will drop by $100, with savings of up to $500. If you are a safe driver, taking advantage of this program could help you save money. It’s important to note that adding the program to your policy will likely increase your premium, but the cost could be offset by the deductible savings if you file a claim.

Commonwealth Casualty car tools and benefits

Commonwealth Casualty offers its own roadside assistance program, with towing available up to 25 miles. Other roadside services include battery jump start, flat tire replacement, emergency fluid delivery such as gas, oil or water and key lockout assistance.

Commonwealth Casualty home insurance

After studying this carrier in-depth, we’ve concluded that Commonwealth Casualty home insurance may be best for those looking for discount opportunities. Like some of the best homeowners insurance companies, Commonwealth Casualty offers many different ways to save.

Although the coverage options available with Commonwealth Casualty home insurance may not be as robust as some of its competitors, it offers a few more add-ons than it does with its auto insurance. Along with the standard financial protection for your dwelling, liability and personal property you could include water backup protection and service line coverage. Additionally, there’s the option to add golf cart coverage, which provides liability coverage while driving a golf cart and covers any damage caused to your golf cart. You can also add special computer coverage, which provides a higher dollar amount of coverage for electronics like desktops, laptops, tablets, gaming equipment and related hardware.

Pros and cons of Commonwealth Casualty homeowners insurance

If Commonwealth Casualty is a contender when you’re comparing home insurance quotes, you may want to keep some of the following perks and drawbacks in mind:

Commonwealth Casualty home insurance cost 

To track insurance trends over time, Bankrate studies average premiums throughout the country. Based on our research, the 2023 national average cost of homeowners insurance for $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,428 per year. However, insurance is a personalized product — rating factors like the age of your home, the cost of labor in your area and in some states, even your credit score, can determine how much you pay for homeowners insurance. As such, your homeowners insurance rate may be higher or lower than the average.

Commonwealth Casualty’s homeowners insurance premium data is unavailable, so please get in touch with the company directly for more information regarding its rates. 

Commonwealth Casualty home insurance discounts

In terms of discounts, Commonwealth Casualty provides a variety of ways for Arizona homeowners to get a lower home insurance premium. You will find common discounts, like those for purchasing a new home or being claims-free, as well as some more unique savings opportunities. Here are a few standout discounts from Commonwealth:

Commonwealth Casualty home tools and benefits

Commonwealth Casualty does not advertise any additional tools or benefits for its homeowners insurance policyholders.

Commonwealth Casualty customer satisfaction

For some, customer service is just as important as cheap rates, so to evaluate this metric, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team studies various third-party scores. Among these scores, we typically review a company’s J.D. Power scores, but J.D. Power did not include Commonwealth Casualty in any of its studies in 2022 (likely due to the insurer being a small, regional carrier).

Another way that we quantify customer satisfaction is by analyzing the NAIC Complaint Index Report. Here, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, keeps a tally of the consumer complaints it receives regarding an insurance company and its product lines. It then converts these complaints to an index score. For instance, an average — or baseline — number of complaints is 1.0. A score greater than 1.0 indicates more complaints than average, and a score less than 1.0 indicates fewer complaints. This index score can help you better understand how satisfied an insurance company’s policyholders could be with the company overall and its insurance offerings.

Lastly, Bankrate usually reviews a company’s financial strength. Although financial strength may not directly link with customer satisfaction, it does prove whether a company has historically had the means to pay out claims when necessary, and fair claims payouts could lead to happier customers. Like with J.D. Power, however, Commonwealth Casualty is not rated by any of the standard rating companies, such as AM Best, Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (S&P). 

Commonwealth Casualty auto satisfaction

According to the NAIC Complaint Index, Commonwealth Casualty may fall short in terms of customer satisfaction. The company as a whole has a complaint index score of 5.16, meaning the company receives more than five times the amount of customer complaints compared to companies of equivalent size.

Regarding its private passenger auto insurance, the company fares a bit better, but is still higher than the baseline, with a score of 3.43 (a total of seven complaints). Although seven complaints may not seem like much, the NAIC reports that this level of complaints is higher than average — likely due to the company’s small size.  

Commonwealth Casualty homeowners satisfaction

In contrast to its overall and private passenger complaint index scores, the NAIC reports that it has not received any complaints regarding Commonwealth Casualty’s homeowners insurance product. However, Commonwealth Casualty lacks J.D. Power scores and financial strength ratings, so shoppers with customer service at the top of their minds may want to speak with friends and family currently insured with the company. Real-world customer testimonials and word of mouth can be effective ways to get a holistic view of a company’s level of customer service.

How to file a claim with Commonwealth Casualty

Knowing what to expect when filing an insurance claim helps streamline the process and take some of the guesswork out of a potentially stressful situation. The information you’ll need to provide to Commonwealth Casualty depends on the type of claim you’re filing. For example, if you’re filing an auto insurance claim, the company may ask for the other party’s name, license number, date of birth and insurance information. Additionally, you may want to take pictures of vehicle damage and obtain copies of the police report (when applicable).

When you’re ready, you can file a claim with Commonwealth Casualty by calling 1-877-603-1310.

Commonwealth Casualty availability

Commonwealth Casualty car insurance is available in Arizona, Ohio and Texas, but Commonwealth Casualty homeowners insurance is only available in Arizona.

Other Commonwealth Casualty perks worth considering

In addition to home and auto insurance, the only other policy type that Commonwealth Casualty offers is renters insurance. This type of policy usually comes at a low cost and can provide loss of use and liability coverage, as well as coverage for personal belongings. However, it appears to only be available to Arizona residents.

Commonwealth Casualty corporate sustainability

Commonwealth Casualty reports that almost all of their employees volunteer with community service organizations. The company has also partnered with different organizations like the Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Saint Mary’s Food Bank and the Salvation Army.

Not sure if Commonwealth Casualty is right for you?

As a regional insurer, Commonwealth Casualty may not be for everyone (or it may not be available to you, depending on where you live). You might want to consider requesting quotes from some of the carriers below as you’re comparing rates.

Commonwealth Casualty vs. MAPFRE

Another regional insurer, MAPFRE could be ideal for customers who want alternative options to a national company. MAPFRE operates in 14 states, including Arizona and Ohio, although product availability may vary by state.

Learn more: MAPFRE Insurance review

Commonwealth Casualty vs. State Farm

State Farm received the highest ranking for customer service in the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study for the Southwest region. The company also offers a wide variety of products, including home, auto and life insurance.

Learn more: State Farm Insurance review

Commonwealth Casualty vs. Geico

Geico may be one of the cheapest car insurance companies in the nation and is widely available to drivers. Whether you’re on a budget or moving out of Commonwealth Casualty’s operating states and need more options, Geico could be worth a look.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Is Commonwealth Casualty a good insurance company?

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has nearly 50 years of combined insurance experience and includes three licensed agents. Over the years, we’ve helped countless drivers and homeowners choose coverage levels that make sense for their financial goals and have tailored policies to fit into budgets, large and small. We aim to use our real-world agency experience to give our readers the information they need to make the wisest decisions regarding their insurance.

With that said, Commonwealth Casualty could be a good company, but it depends on your needs and preferences. Commonwealth Casualty may not be a good fit if you like the freedom of hands-on policy management granted through a mobile app or website. Additionally, this company is only available to a small number of states. However, if you live in Arizona, Ohio or Texas and prefer the personalized service that a brick-and-mortar agency might provide, it could be worth your time to request a quote from Commonwealth Casualty.