Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Wawanesa car insurance review Mar 2021
Last updated:
Safe drivers in California or Oregon could land low rates and hefty discounts.
finder.com's rating: 3.5 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if you’re a safe driver looking to save.
- Pick something else if you have a spotty driving record.
optional
Roadside assistance
New car protection
Accident forgiveness
Details
| States served | California, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Optional |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes |
| New car protection | No |
| Pay schedule | 12 months, 6 months, monthly (fee applies) |
| Claims methods | online, phone |
| Rideshare coverage | No |
| SR-22 support |
No |
Pros
- Low rates
- Transparent website
- Long list of discounts
- Local company
Cons
- Safe drivers only
- Hidden fees
- Poor customer service
- Limited states served
- Inconvenient online quote process
| Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| Defensive driving discount | Yes |
| Good student discount | No |
| Loyalty discount | Yes |
| Homeowner discount | No |
| Military discount | Yes |
| Safety device discount | Yes |
| Special employment discount | No |
| Usage-based discount | No |
| Other discounts | Driver in training, Previous insurance, Autopay |
Expert review
Review by
Sarah George
sarah.george@finder.comSarah George is a writer at Finder who unravels complicated topics about insurance, business and finance. She's been wordsmithing for nearly five years, after earning an English education degree. Her insurance know-how has been featured on CarInsurance.com. You can usually find Sarah sipping hot tea and talking through movie plots in her downtime.
Expert review
Wawanesa covers your basic auto insurance needs with a variety of discounts to save more on your premium. But this local company prefers a history of careful driving, and your coverage options are limited compared to other insurance policies.
Along with that, the company is known for receiving more customer complaints than normal for its size. Overall, this company works as a great option if you’re a safe driver seeking low rates in California or Oregon.
Otherwise, narrow down a company for your next car insurance policy to find the best fit for your auto, lifestyle and budget.
How to apply for Wawanesa auto insurance
Get started with this local insurer in five steps from your phone or computer:
- Go to Wawanesa’s Auto Quotes page to sign up for a quote online. Or talk with a Quote Specialist at 877-929-2637.
- Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Indicate your vehicle, preferred coverage and driving record information. Click Continue.
- Enter your personal information and finalize your details.
- Get your quote, accept coverage and enter your payment details.
What info do I need to apply?
Speed up the application process by gathering information that includes your:
- Vehicle make, model and license plate or VIN
- Driving record details
- Coverage needs
- Home address and phone number
- Driver’s license number
- Bank account, credit card or debit card information for payment
What car insurance discounts can I get with Wawanesa?
Wawanesa offers several discounts you might not see with other insurers:
- Good driver. Score savings on your policy if you’ve been licensed for three years, have no more than one violation or driving point on your license and had no DUIs within the past 10 years.
- Driver training. Young drivers can shave savings off the premium by completing an approved safety course in Oregon.
- Mature driver improvement. Drivers ages 55 and older can net a discount for driver safety training.
- Antitheft recovery. Get a discount if your car is equipped with a vehicle recovery system like LoJack or GM OnStar.
- Previous insurance. Receive a discount for carrying an auto policy with a previous insurer before signing up with Wawanesa.
- Multicar. Save money by keeping all your cars insured on one policy.
- Multipolicy. Bundle your home, car, renters and other insurance policies for convenience and discounts.
- Autopay and e-statements. Sign up for automatic payments and email statements for a quick and easy discount.
- High credit-based insurance score. Get a lower rate with a high credit-based insurance score, which shows insurance companies that you pay bills on time and manage debt well.
- Military. Active or retired members of the US Armed Forces are eligible for a discount.
- Loyalty. Get rewarded when you’ve stayed with Wawanesa for at least one year.
What car insurance coverage does Wawanesa offer?
Wawanesa provides standard coverage to get you on the road:
- Property damage liability. Repairs other people’s property, such as vehicles, fences or building damage.
- Bodily injury liability. Covers medical bills related to an accident you caused.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury. Takes care of medical expenses for you or your passengers if the driver at fault can’t cover you, and at the same limits as your bodily injury liability, unless otherwise indicated.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage. Pays for up to $20,000 in car repairs if an at-fault driver doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover expenses.
- Medical payments. Reimburses medical, dental, hospitalization or funeral expenses if an accident leaves you or your passengers down and out. This coverage includes protection for you and family living at your home if they get injured as pedestrians.
- Collision. Takes care of repairs to your own car after a collision where you’re at fault.
- Comprehensive. Covers damage not related to car collision, including from fire, theft, earthquake, broken glass or storm damage.
What extra benefits and add-ons does Wawanesa offer?
The company offers several options to bolster your car’s protection, including:
- Roadside assistance. Reimburses $100 per incident for minor roadside needs, up to twice per policy period for each car on a six-month policy. You can file for up to four incidents on an annual policy. You’ll need to go through Wawanesa’s preferred service network, or you can receive $50 per breakdown for your own licensed servicer.
- Rental expenses. Pays for a rental while your car is in the shop as long as you also carry comprehensive or collision. Choose limits up to $50 per day or $1,500 total for a six-month policy.
- Original manufacturer parts. Repair your car with original parts from the manufacturer. You can choose this option if your car is less than 11 years old and you keep both comprehensive and collision coverage.
Wawanesa car insurance reviews and complaints
Wawanesa has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), as of October 2020. It’s been accredited by the BBB for 46 years, showing longevity. However, the company sees BBB customer ratings average 2 out of 5 stars from a handful of reviews. It has over 30 complaints, many involving customers frustrated with slow or unhelpful customer service and misunderstandings.
In addition, the company has received a 3.70 rating on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index overall, and a score of 1.77 for its private auto insurance policies alone. The national standard is 1.00, showing that Wawanesa has received more than its share of complaints for the company’s size.
Alternatives to Wawanesa
How do I qualify for Wawanesa car insurance?
Wawanesa enforces strict eligibility for drivers to get coverage, which helps keep rates low for all policyholders. But the company is transparent about who it covers. You must meet several license and driving requirements:
- Valid license for at least three years
- No more than one minor license point or at-fault accident within three years
- No accident-related injury claims within three years
- No DUIs or vehicle manslaughter within 10 years
Pros and cons of Wawanesa car insurance
If you qualify as a safe driver and live within Wawanesa’s service area, Wawanesa could be a cheap local pick.
Pros
- Low rates. Because the company is strict on drivers it covers, you may get lower standard rates with Wawanesa compared to some of its competitors.
- Transparent website. This insurer gets extra points for laying out its eligibility terms before you go through the online quote process.
- Long list of discounts. On top of low rates from safe driving, you can qualify for a variety of other savings opportunities, especially for Oregon drivers.
- Local company. If you prefer to shop local for service specialized to your area, this car insurance company can check that box.
Cons
- Safe drivers only. This is almost a pro and a con. Wawanesa’s eligibility requirements leave room for only the healthiest of driving records, which excludes certain drivers but keeps rates low.
- Hidden fees. If you pay in two or more installments, you’ll have to add up to $5 per payment for processing fees. You’ll also pay $50 for canceling your policy early, where most other companies don’t include a cancellation fee.
- Poor customer service. The company sees more than its fair share of customer complaints, although it holds high business ratings from the Better Business Bureau.
- Limited states served. The company covers drivers in Oregon and California only.
- Inconvenient online quote process. You might get to the end of the online quotes process and have to call a representative, voiding the convenience this tool should offer. This happened to us twice when going through the system using a safe driver profile.
How to make a claim with Wawanesa
File your insurance claim with Wawanesa online or by phone at any time:
- Online. Enter details about your accident through the company’s online claims form.
- Phone. Call the company with your claim any time at 877-929-2637.
Frequently asked questions about Wawanesa car insurance
Car insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our insurance team analyzes car insurance providers to help you choose the best car insurance for you.
We rank insurers from one to five stars based on key factors including customer satisfaction, policy options, price, billing, claims, and support. We create these rankings to help you narrow down an insurance provider that best suits your budget and coverage needs.