Wawanesa Insurance review 2024

Wawanesa has a Bankrate Score of 2.8 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. On the plus side, it holds a solid financial stability rating from AM Best of A+ (Superior). 

Wawanesa insurance is currently only offered in California. In addition to state-required coverage like bodily injury and property damage liability, drivers may include special vehicle equipment coverage to insure aftermarket customizations and equipment added to the vehicle. You may also opt for coverage that assures repairs and replacements are completed with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts instead of standard or aftermarket parts in the case of a covered accident.

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:

Like with its car insurance, Wawanesa home insurance is currently only offered in California. Its home insurance earned a 3.9 out of 5.0 Bankrate Score. Policyholders can up their policy limits under Wawanesa’s Special Limits Enhancements coverage, which includes options for personal property, watercraft and equipment, as well as extended replacement cost.

Wawanesa also offers other add-on home insurance coverage. This includes the option to schedule personal property for 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 homeowners 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:

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 editorial team of experienced insurance professionals is committed to helping consumers make the best coverage decisions. As a super-regional carrier, Wawanesa is not going to be an option for most. Additionally, the lack of a mobile app and limited website capabilities may be a drawback for those who want digital policy management. Wawanesa still primarily operates through local independent agents. However, those who own a home or have a car registered in California may appreciate Wawanesa’s extensive add-on coverage options and bundling opportunities.

What are real-life customers saying about Wawanesa?

Word of mouth can be one of the best ways to determine how customers feel about their insurance company. Customer reviews and discussions on online platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot can give you helpful insight into the kind of service you may receive from your potential carrier. While Reddit allows users to post questions and discuss any topic regarding a company, Trustpilot's format permits users to post a review and the carrier can publicly reply; there isn't an option for additional comments or feedback from other users.

One thing to remember when reviewing online forums is that consumers usually post about an experience that is exceptionally good or unusually bad. It is the combination of consumer feedback, official customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings, reviews from industry experts and your personal interactions with a company that will help you feel confident about your choice of insurance company.

Reddit

Due to the regional availability of Wawanesa, there aren't too many conversations about this company on Reddit. After a thorough review of posts spanning several years, the common consensus is that customers are unhappy with the recent premium increases — which are happening with most insurance companies, not just Wawanesa. Comments from many users state they have been with the company for several years, but there aren't many comments regarding coverage or customer service.

Trustpilot

The Wawanesa reviews from Trustpilot differ from Reddit, with the majority of users unhappy with the claims process and payout amounts. While there are few company reviews — most of them being over a year old — the major sticking point aside from claim experience is the level of service. Something to note is that while the newer reviews skew towards the negative, they are from users based in Canada, not California. The reviews from California users tend to be from 2022 and earlier, but are much more optimistic about their experience with customer service and claims.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Wawanesa company details

Whether you are thinking about joining Wawanesa or just need to make some policy updates, here is the primary contact information to help you start or manage your policy:

• Customer service: 1-800-640-2920
• Claims: 1-888-WAWA-CLAIM (929-2252)
• Roadside assistance: 1-855-WAWA-TOW (929-2869) can be called 24/7 or by filling out an online form.
• Email: New customers can email insure.us@wawanesa.com, while existing customers can email service.us@wawanesa.com.

State availability

For U.S. residents, Wawanesa is only available in California. While there are still some active Oregon policies, Wawanesa is no longer accepting new businesses in other states.

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 them. Liability coverage is also provided through renters insurance. You can get a discount on this type of policy if you live in a gated community or secured building.
• Condominium insurance: Condo owners typically purchase insurance to cover the interior of their units. As of October 2024, Wawanesa has stopped issuing new condo insurance policies while it “makes some important changes to serve you better.” Customers who already have a policy can continue to file claims.
• Pet insurance: Wawanesa partnered with Spot to offer pet owners accident and illness coverage to care for their pets. Policyholders can use any vet in the U.S. and may get up to 90 percent cash back on their vet bills for qualifying visits. 

Frequently asked questions about Wawanesa

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. 

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 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.

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. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average 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, Demotech 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.