Esurance vs. Wawanesa: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Wawanesa offers significantly cheaper prices than Esurance
• Esurance may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Wawanesa Insurance
• Wawanesa has less expensive premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Esurance or Wawanesa: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Esurance or Wawanesa for your next policy, but which company has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Wawanesa has average rates that are around 65% a month cheaper than those from Esurance.

However, Wawanesa may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Esurance or Wawanesa is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Esurance vs. Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Wawanesa only compete against each other in California, where Wawanesa offers the cheaper average rates. Wawanesa drivers tend to pay about $44 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Esurance for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Wawanesa save over 75% a month compared to those who use Esurance. It's worth noting that Esurance offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Wawanesa's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will lower premiums once you turn 25. Wawanesa offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Esurance's average prices drop more than 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Esurance and Wawanesa? Wawanesa gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $87 per month compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance rates than those who are single. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Wawanesa premiums coming in at around a third of Esurance's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Wawanesa offers the most affordable average prices.

Esurance or Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets. That means when it comes to insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

On average, men see rates about $20 per month higher with Esurance; and with Wawanesa, both genders end up paying the same monthly rate.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Wawanesa comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $205 less for men and $184 cheaper for women.

Esurance vs. Wawanesa: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Wawanesa has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $64. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Wawanesa again has the edge, with policies averaging around $144 a month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance or Wawanesa Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Esurance or Wawanesa more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Esurance for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Wawanesa policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 30%.

Even so, Wawanesa tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are 69% and 63% less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Esurance drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Wawanesa will see about a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper rates come from Wawanesa, with average premiums coming in at $113 compared to Esurance's $364.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Esurance increases average prices by nearly $60 per month -- that's nearly a 20% increase.

Wawanesa has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $125 a month, but it's worth noting that Esurance's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Wawanesa, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Wawanesa Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Wawanesa and Esurance, which one has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have stellar credit, Esurance will normally reward you. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will generally save Esurance customers around 20%. Wawanesa, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Esurance. As you can see, Esurance customers with poor credit scores pay about 30% a month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Because Wawanesa doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Esurance.

Is Esurance or Wawanesa Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Wawanesa tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Esurance's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in $200 more expensive than Wawanesa. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay just under $200 more with Esurance over Wawanesa.

Esurance or Wawanesa: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Wawanesa usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Wawanesa's average premiums are around $114 while Esurance offers rates about $396. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of around $105 with Wawanesa compared to $288 with Esurance. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $95 monthly with Wawanesa compared to Esurance's $211.

Esurance vs. Wawanesa Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Esurance and Wawanesa so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Esurance knocks Wawanesa out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than Wawanesa.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Esurance also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, agency transfer, and more.

Wawanesa's discounts come through just two categories -- Good Driving and Mature Driver.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Wawanesa Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right one for you and your specific needs?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and Wawanesa and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Esurance and Wawanesa. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is Esurance or Wawanesa cheaper?

Wawanesa is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $104 per month with Wawanesa and $299 for Esurance. But that doesn't mean Wawanesa will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or Wawanesa?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Esurance is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Wawanesa offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Esurance and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as gender, where you call home, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and Wawanesa use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Esurance or Wawanesa is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Esurance or Wawanesa at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.