Wawanesa Auto Insurance Review 2023

Kayda Norman
By Kayda Norman  

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Our Take

3.0

NerdWallet rating 

The bottom line:

Wawanesa offers cheap coverage for drivers in California and Oregon, but received more complaints than expected for a company of its size.

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Full Review

Wawanesa Auto Insurance
Wawanesa
NAIC complaints
More than expected
Ease of use
Average
Discounts
Average set of discounts
Compare Quotes

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • May offer cheaper rates since customer base is “good” drivers.

Cons

  • More auto insurance complaints than expected.
  • Available only in California and Oregon, but not currently offering new policies in Oregon.

Full Review

Wawanesa earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.

Wawanesa specializes in selling car insurance to California and Oregon drivers who have relatively clean driving records. Established in 1896 as a farmers’ mutual insurance carrier in Canada, Wawanesa opened up its United States branch in 1974 and sells auto and renters insurance directly to consumers.

Note: Wawanesa has stopped selling policies in Oregon temporarily.

» MORE: Best car insurance companies

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B. 

Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.

Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.

Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.

Wawanesa insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

Eligibility to apply for Wawanesa car insurance varies between California and Oregon. (As a reminder, Wawanesa is not currently selling new policies in Oregon.) Applicants with more than one at-fault accident or traffic violation point in the last 36 months won’t qualify for a premium quote.

Wawanesa offers the usual auto insurance coverages, including roadside assistance and rental reimbursement coverage. If you have comprehensive and collision insurance, you can add vehicle manufacturer replacement parts coverage, which replaces parts from the original equipment manufacturer at an additional cost.

» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates

Auto insurance discounts

Wawanesa offers the following discounts for drivers in both California and Oregon:

  • Discount if all drivers on the policy meet Wawanesa’s “good driver” criteria.

  • Discount for drivers 55 and older who take an approved defensive driver course.

  • Multi-car discount.

  • Discount if you have a policy with Wawanesa for a year or more.

  • Multi-policy discount.

  • Affinity discount for membership with specific partner organizations.

Wawanesa also offers additional discounts for drivers in Oregon only:

  • Discount if your vehicle has anti-theft features.

  • Driver training discount for those under age 19 who complete a driver education course.

  • Discount if the vehicle is equipped with a recovery device, such as LoJack.

  • Discount for paperless billing and automated payments.

  • Military discount. 

  • Discount for drivers switching from an active insurance policy with another provider.

🤓Nerdy Tip

First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance.

Wawanesa homeowners insurance

Wawanesa offers standard home insurance, as well as additional coverage that includes: 

  • Limited earthquake coverage.

  • Scheduled personal property coverage.

  • Identity theft, fraud and home cyber protection coverage.

Wawanesa is not currently selling new home insurance policies in Oregon.

» MORE: Best homeowners insurance companies

Home insurance discounts

  • Multi-policy discount.

  • Loyalty insurance discount.

  • Discount if you do not have any claims in your first year with Wawanesa.

  • Non-smoking discount.

  • Discount if your home has an automated sprinkler system.

  • Discount if your home has a burglar alarm or central monitoring system.

  • Discount if your home has a water leak detection device.

Complaints

Wawanesa had more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

More about Wawanesa auto insurance

Website: Wawanesa’s website clearly outlines coverage details and available discounts for both California and Oregon drivers. You can also pay your bills, view policy information and get your ID card.

App: Wawanesa does not currently have a mobile app..

Other insurance from Wawanesa

Wawanesa also offers condo and renters insurance in California and Oregon. However, the company is not currently offering new condo insurance policies.

Methodology

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2019-2021. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

Auto insurance ratings methodologyNerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.

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