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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Wawanesa offers significantly more affordable prices than The Hartford
• The Hartford may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Wawanesa Insurance
• Wawanesa has less expensive rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

The Hartford or Wawanesa: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to The Hartford or Wawanesa as your top options, but which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, The Hartford is quite a bit more expensive than Wawanesa, with prices averaging $265 a month compared to just $104 with Wawanesa.

Even so, Wawanesa may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, where you call home, or even your age (among other things), so rates will change quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if The Hartford or Wawanesa is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

The Hartford vs. Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both The Hartford and Wawanesa only offer insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. Wawanesa drivers tend to pay about $161 per month less on average compared to drivers who use The Hartford for their car insurance.

Typically, your home state will play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, a whole range of other variables will come into play when you compare The Hartford and Wawanesa. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 60% less a month by choosing Wawanesa over The Hartford.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for The Hartford policyholders lower more than 30% and Wawanesa's prices drop over 40% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Wawanesa gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $105 more affordable than the national average for The Hartford.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one vehicle, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Wawanesa premiums coming in at around a third of The Hartford's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Wawanesa has the edge when it comes to average rates.

The Hartford or Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With The Hartford, everyone ends up paying the same monthly prices regardless of gender; and with Wawanesa, everyone ends up paying the same monthly premiums regardless of gender.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Wawanesa comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $161 per month and women save about $161 with Wawanesa compared to the average The Hartford policyholder.

The Hartford 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Wawanesa has the significant edge, with average monthly prices 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 The Hartford's $394.

Is The Hartford or Wawanesa Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- The Hartford or Wawanesa -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use The Hartford for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 36% after getting a speeding ticket. Wawanesa policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 30%.

But Wawanesa tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $52 and $92 less expensive, respectively, compared to The Hartford.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

The Hartford drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over 50%, while those who have insurance through Wawanesa will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Wawanesa end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $113 compared to The Hartford's $262.

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 car insurance bill. On average, The Hartford will climb your premiums around 73% after a DUI, while Wawanesa's average rates rise by more than 40%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Wawanesa tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $125 to The Hartford's $474.

How does Credit Score Impact The Hartford and Wawanesa Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is The Hartford 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Wawanesa offers more affordable premiums than The Hartford. The Hartford average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $139 more expensive than Wawanesa. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $181 more with The Hartford over Wawanesa.

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

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

Wawanesa boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $95 a month with Wawanesa compared to The Hartford's $255. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $105 with Wawanesa compared to $265 with The Hartford. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Wawanesa's average premiums are around $114 per month compared to The Hartford's $273.

The Hartford vs. Wawanesa Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

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

The Hartford blows Wawanesa away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 13 different discounts to Wawanesa's two.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver -- but The Hartford also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Wawanesa has a proprietary discount of their own -- a mature driver discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is The Hartford or Wawanesa Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is The Hartford or Wawanesa the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

The Hartford might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (The Hartford offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between The Hartford and Wawanesa and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just The Hartford and Wawanesa. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

The Hartford vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is The Hartford or Wawanesa cheaper?

Wawanesa is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $104 a month with Wawanesa and $265 for The Hartford. However, that doesn't mean Wawanesa will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, The Hartford or Wawanesa?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do The Hartford and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both The Hartford and Wawanesa calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't The Hartford 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.