Wawanesa Insurance Review

  • With 2.8/5 stars in 2024, Wawanesa is a good insurance company.
  • Read Wawanesa reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
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Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

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  • 4+ years in the Insurance Industry

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

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Kristine Lee

Insurance Analyst

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 4+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

Wawanesa insurance: Ratings and reviews

2.8 100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 79.99999999999999% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon

Rating from The Zebra Question mark icon

Wawanesa Insurance, a Canada-based company serving customers in California and Oregon, is recognized for its strong market presence and customer-oriented services. By providing an array of coverage options and competitive rates, Wawanesa holds its own among significant players like Progressive and State Farm. This review delves into what makes Wawanesa a customer favorite, including an exploration of its coverage options and discount programs.

100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 79.99999999999999% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon
2.8 stars Rating from The Zebra
Ratings based on price, customer service, coverage, and financial strength.
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Pros
  • Affordable premiums

  • Ample discount opportunities

Cons
  • Only available in California and Oregon

  • Weak financial strength

  • Less than stellar customer reviews


Is Wawanesa a good insurance company?

To evaluate Wawanesa Insurance, we considered its performance in customer service, using various third-party ratings:

Trustpilot reviews: 2.1/5

  • Wawanesa earned 2.1/5 stars from Trustpilot[1]

Customer Satisfaction: Above average

  • J.D. Power rated Wawanesa as Above average in overall auto customer satisfaction[2]

Complaint Index: Above average

  • The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Above average customer complaints for Wawanesa[3]

Financial Strength: Marginal/Weak

  • Wawanesa received an Marginal/Weak financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[4]

The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey

Our evaluation also includes the results of our customer survey, in which we rank car insurance companies based on feedback from actual customers. However, we did not collect a sufficient amount of data on Wawanesa for it to be included.


How much does Wawanesa Insurance cost?

Currently, the national average for a 6 month car insurance policy is $880, whereas Wawanesa is about $557 or roughly 37% cheaper than a typical policy, making it an affordable option for residents of California and Oregon.

The table below shows how Wawanesa auto insurance compares against other top insurers. 

Average Monthly Cost by Insurance Carrier
Company Avg. Monthly Premium
Wawanesa $93
USAA $114
Nationwide $123
GEICO $129
State Farm $131
Progressive $157
Allstate $201

Similar to any insurance company, pricing for Wawanesa auto insurance does vary based on your age and generally will get cheaper the older you get. 

The table below shows Wawanesa's car insurance premiums for different age brackets.

Wawanesa Costs by Age Group
Age Group Avg. Monthly Premium
Teens $155
20s $102
50s $82
40s $82
30s $82
60s $82

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

Discounts offered

Auto insurance discounts with Wawanesa Insurance depend on specific qualifications and state availability. Here are some ways you could potentially lower your monthly rate:

  • Loyalty discount - After one full year of car insurance with Wawanesa, you can earn this discount
  • Anti-theft devices - You may be elligible for this discount if your has features that prevent theft
  • Multi-car - Having more than one vehicle on your policy will earn you this discount
  • Good driver discount - Licensed drivers of at least three years with no DUIS and a maximum of one violation or at-fault accident in the past three years can qualify for this discount. 
  • Defensive driver - Also known as a mature driver course, drivers aged 55 and above can lower their rates by completing an approved course.

Wawanesa offers even more discounts you can use to save on your premium. Read more about them here.

Search, compare and buy all on one site. Start saving today!

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What types of coverage does Wawanesa offer?

Wawanesa offers standard coverage options, including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. Additionally, they offer:

  • Roadside assistance - Emergency roadside services like towing, tire changes, fuel delivery and more are available for disabled vehicles.
  • Rental car expense - Also known as rental reimbursment, the cost of a rental car will be covered if your vehicles is rendered temporarily inoperable by a covered loss.
  • Special vehicle equipment - This pays for additional costs for damage to special or customized vehicle equipment.

Read more about Wawanesa's additional coverages here.

wawanesa logo

Additional lines of insurance

Wawanesa also offers other insurance products you can bundle with auto:


Wawanesa insurance review: Summary

Overall, Wawanesa Insurance is a standard insurance provider with affordable premiums for drivers in California and Oregon. While it is limited to two states, the low prices and suite of discount options make it an attractive choice. Keep in mind its third-party ratings indicate a high number of customer complaints and weak financial strength. Depending on your insurance needs and priorities, Wawanesa may be able to provide adequate coverage.

Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies

The team of insurance experts at The Zebra considers the company's standing in five main categories to come up with an overall rating. These metrics are weighted according to importance and are detailed below:

  • Price (20%): Using the base profile detailed below, we compared the company's average rate with the national average. If it surpassed this average, we gave a lower rating; if it fell below, we awarded a higher rating.
  • Coverage (20%): The highest-scoring companies offer a variety of coverage options, including bundling options, roadside assistance, telematics, beyond-basic coverage levels, and a variety of other coverage types.
  • Customer service (30%): We averaged ratings from JD Power, the NAIC complaint index to come up with a rating for the company's customer service. In instances when a company is not rated, we may use alternative rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot.
  • Financial strength (10%): We use AM Best to determine a company's financial standing. In some cases when a company is not rated by AM Best, we may use an alternative measure such as Demotech.
  • The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey (20%): The Zebra conducts an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction for many of the top insurance companies with the goal of ranking both the best auto insurance companies and best home insurance companies. Read more below.

For our auto insurance review, we analyzed more than 83 million insurance rates spanning every U.S. ZIP code using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:

  • $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
  • $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
  • $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage

For our home insurance review, rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:

  • $200,000 for the dwelling
  • $20,000 for other structures
  • $100,000 for personal property
  • $100,000 for personal liability
  • $1,000 deductible

These sample premiums are dynamic and automatically refresh whenever the newest data is made available.

To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted this profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level and others.

For The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.


Wawanesa insurance: Frequently asked questions

Wawanesa Insurance is an okay option for drivers in California and Oregon who prioritize affordable prices and a variety of discount opportunities. However, potential customers should be aware of the company's mixed customer service reputation and low financial strength which may eventually affect its ability to pay out claims.

Wawanesa Insurance does business in California and Oregon as well as Canada.

Wawanesa Insurance offers auto, renters, homeowners, and condo insurance as well as pet insurance through Embrace.

According to The Zebra's data, Wawanesa auto insurance is over 30% cheaper than the typical policy. However, your unique profile may make Wawanesa more or less expensive than average for you. Always get quotes from multiple insurers to ensure you're getting the best value.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.