Wawanesa auto insurance review: Cheap for Californians
Wawanesa offers solid car insurance options at lower-than-average rates, but auto coverage is only available in California.
By
Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
3.8
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
B
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
Wawanesa may not be well known across the U.S., but it’s a top car insurance company in California, the only state where it offers car insurance as of 2023. In fact, Wawanesa was the top-rated car insurance company in California for the third year in a row according to the most recent J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which measures overall customer satisfaction.
Wawanesa car insurance has been available in Oregon as well, but as of 2023, Wawanesa was not writing auto policies in any U.S. state besides California.
Wawanesa offers the standard types of car insurance most drivers need, including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, along with some additional types of coverage, including roadside assistance, vehicle manufacturer replacement parts, and rental car coverage.
Wawanesa has some of the lowest rates in the industry, but it doesn’t offer as many coverage options as some competitors. Wawanesa also has lower financial scores than other insurance companies, but its low rates and multiple discounts make it a good choice for many drivers.
Liability coverage: Covers the cost of bodily injuries or property damage you cause to someone else when you’re at fault in an accident. Liability coverage is required in almost every state.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Also known as UM/UIM, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for your medical expenses if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all the damage they caused. UM/UIM is required coverage in some states.
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle after a car accident no matter who was at fault.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision damage to your car, including damage caused by hail, flood, fire, falling objects, vandalism and theft.
Medical payments: Also known as MedPay, this covers medical costs for you and your passengers if you get into a covered accident, but the benefit is usually small, between $1,000 and $10,000.
Additional coverages offered
Roadside assistance: Pays for common roadside services if you’re stranded by the side of the road, including towing, flat tire change, jump start, fuel delivery, winching, and locksmith services.
Rental car expense: Drivers who have comprehensive and/or collision coverage can purchase rental car coverage to help pay for rental car fees while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced because of a covered claim.
Special vehicle equipment coverage: Drivers with comprehensive and/or collision coverage can buy special vehicle equipment coverage to pay for loss or damage to vehicle equipment in a covered accident. For example, damage to electronic equipment, specialized tires and wheels, engine accessories, anti-theft equipment, and custom paint would all be covered under special vehicle equipment coverage.
Vehicle manufacturer replacement parts: Pays to repair or replace property or parts with those made for or by the original equipment manufacturer.
Ratings methodology
Price
4.8/5
We used data provided by Quadrant to compare the average cost of a full-coverage policy from Wawanesa (50/100/50 coverage limits and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage) to competitor rates for the same coverage with the same driver profile (single drivers aged 30, 35, and 45 driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE about 10,000 miles per year.)
Customer experience
3.9/5
Wawanesa does not have a score on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study or on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, which looks at customer satisfaction with a company’s digital offerings. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) National Complaint Index Report, Wawanesa had an average number of customer complaints in 2021.
Coverage options
2.8/5
Wawanesa offers 11 different types of auto insurance coverage, giving it a low score when it comes to coverage options. Beyond the standard auto insurance coverage types, including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, Wawanesa offers add-ons like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.
Financial strength
1.6/5
Wawanesa has mediocre financial ratings, scoring a B with AM Best and an A- with S&P. Wawanesa is not rated by Moody’s. This means Wawanesa is in a decent financial position to pay out its customers’ claims, but the company has lower financial strength ratings than many of its competitors in the industry.
How much does Wawanesa auto insurance cost?
Wawanesa costs an average of $80 a month. That makes Wawanesa less expensive than most of its competitors, with an average annual premium of $959 a year for a full-coverage policy with bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
Average cost per month
Average cost per year
Wawanesa average
$80
$959
National average
$136
$1,638
In California, where Wawanesa is a top car insurance company, coverage costs $80 per month on average. The overall average cost of car insurance in California is $153 per month, or $1,837 per year, which means Wawanesa is almost 50% cheaper than the state average in California.
What discounts does Wawanesa offer?
Good driver discount: If you have been licensed for at least three years, have no more than one violation point or one at-fault accident in the last three years, and have been DUI-free for the last ten years, you may be eligible for a good driver discount.
Multi-car discount: Insure two or more cars on your Wawanesa policy to earn a discount on your car insurance.
Loyalty discount: Be continuously insured by Wawanesa for one year or more to be eligible for a loyalty discount. The longer you stay with Wawanesa, the bigger the loyalty discount.
Defensive driver discount: Also called a mature driver course, drivers 55 and older can earn a discount by taking an approved defensive driving course.
Multi-policy discount: Bundle two or more policies together, like home and auto insurance or renters and auto insurance, to get a discount.
Anti-theft discount: If your vehicle has anti-theft features, either factory installed or after-market, you may be eligible for a discount.
Affinity discount: Customers who are members of an affinity group that partners with Wawanesa could get a discount.
Wawanesa auto insurance state availability
Wawanesa is currently only available in California. Drivers in Oregon with an existing Wawanesa policy still have coverage, but new auto policies are not currently available in Oregon. Wawanesa is not available in the following states:
How to get a quote: Drivers can get a quote for Wawanesa auto insurance online or by calling the company directly at 800-640-2920.
Customer service options: Customers can address basic customer service issues, like updating an address or getting copies of their ID card, online. People who have more complex issues (or just want to speak to a human) can call 800-640-2920 for their customer service needs.
How to file a claim: Wawanesa customers can file a claim by phone at 888-929-2252 or online through the Wawanesa website.
How to cancel your policy: Customers who want to cancel their Wawanesa policy should reach out to their broker or call 800-640-2920 for assistance.
Wawanesa doesn’t have a rating on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Survey but it does rank in first place for the California region on the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which rates car insurance companies based on customer satisfaction. Also, according to NAIC, Wawanesa has an average number of customer complaints.
Is USAA cheaper than Wawanesa?
USAA and Wawanesa both offer low rates, but the company that has the lowest rates for you will be based on personal factors, like your driving history and your ZIP code. The best way to make sure you are getting the lowest possible rates is to compare quotes from multiple companies.
Who is Wawanesa insurance owned by?
Wawanesa is a mutual company, officially called The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company of Canada, which means it is owned by the policyholders.
Rachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
