Wawanesa Insurance review 2023

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.

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.

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:

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 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.

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

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

Auto

• $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 2021 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.