First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Wawanesa offers significantly more affordable rates than First American Property & Casualty
• First American Property & Casualty offers more discounts than Wawanesa Insurance
• Wawanesa tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Wawanesa has average rates that are about 40% per month cheaper than those from First American Property & Casualty.

But Wawanesa may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa only offer auto insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For California residents, Wawanesa offers car insurance for $104 per month on average. First American Property & Casualty's average rates come out to be over 60% more expensive, at $167 monthly.

Typically, where you call home will play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, several other factors will come into play when you compare First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Wawanesa for their car insurance pay nearly $200 less than those who use First American Property & Casualty.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. Wawanesa offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. First American Property & Casualty's average prices reduce more than 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa? Wawanesa gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $34 more affordable than the national average for First American Property & Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Wawanesa is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $74 a month cheaper than First American Property & Casualty, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Wawanesa is also obvious, where drivers save over $45 per month.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly premiums with First American Property & Casualty; and with Wawanesa, everyone ends up paying the same monthly prices regardless of gender.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Wawanesa offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $63 a month and men save about $63 with Wawanesa compared to the average First American Property & Casualty policyholder.

First American Property & Casualty or 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 coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Wawanesa usually offers slightly more affordable prices of $64 compared to First American Property & Casualty's $70. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Wawanesa again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month less expensive than First American Property & Casualty, on average.

Is First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

First American Property & Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $26 a month if they get a ticket, while Wawanesa generally raises rates about $31 per month, on average.

That being said, Wawanesa tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $45 and $40 cheaper, respectively, compared to First American Property & Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

First American Property & Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over $25, while those who have insurance through Wawanesa will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Wawanesa end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $113 compared to First American Property & Casualty's $145.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. First American Property & Casualty drivers usually see a 54% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Wawanesa will typically raise prices by about 41%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Wawanesa tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $125 a month compared to $256 from First American Property & Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Wawanesa tends to be the more affordable option. Wawanesa's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 30% cheaper than First American Property & Casualty. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay about 42% less with Wawanesa over First American Property & Casualty.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Wawanesa boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Wawanesa comes out on top with average prices around $95 monthly. Wawanesa also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $58 and $83 a month respective difference when compared to First American Property & Casualty drivers in similar areas.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

First American Property & Casualty knocks Wawanesa out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Wawanesa.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but First American Property & Casualty also offers anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, good student discounts, and more that Wawanesa does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best fit for you?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices climb.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

First American Property & Casualty might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

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

First American Property & Casualty vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Wawanesa is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $104 per month compared to $167 for First American Property & Casualty. However, Wawanesa won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Variables like where you live, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both First American Property & Casualty and Wawanesa calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be First American Property & Casualty or Wawanesa at all!

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.