Wawanesa Home Insurance Review (2026)

Wawanesa home insurance: The basics

• Founded: 1896 (130 years in business)
• Parent company: Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
• Underwriting companies: Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
• Website: www.wawanesa.com/canada
• Phone number: 1-844-929-2637 (claims) or your local broker’s number
• Availability: Nationwide
• Home insurance products: Home, condo, tenant, seasonal residence, and farm

What does Wawanesa home insurance cover?

Wawanesa home insurance offers three levels of coverage: basic, broad, and comprehensive. 

• Basic policies, also known as “standard” or “named peril” policies, cover your main dwelling, detached structures, and personal property only against the perils (or causes of loss) listed in your policy documents. Expect coverage for fire, theft, wind, and hail, at a minimum. 
• Broad policies cover your personal property against named perils only, but will cover your home’s primary and detached structures against all perils except those listed as exclusions. Expect terrorism, war, and nuclear events to be excluded, but flood and earthquake may also be listed as not covered. 
• Comprehensive policies, also known as “special” or “all risks” policies, cover your dwelling, detached structures, and contents against all perils except those listed as exclusions. This is the broadest form of coverage available for residential property in Canada. 

Standard coverage options

All Wawanesa home insurance quotes include the following standard coverage options: 

• Dwelling coverage: Your policy should cover at least the full anticipated cost to rebuild your home after a total loss, based on local construction and materials costs. 
• Detached structures: Coverage for outbuildings, detached garages, fences, and more typically starts around 10–15% of your dwelling coverage limit.
• Contents coverage: Coverage for personal property such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and appliances not built into your home’s structure usually starts at 80% of your dwelling coverage limit. 
• Additional living expenses/loss of use: This part of your policy will reimburse you for living costs on top of your usual expenses, such as hotel stays and restaurant meals, if you’re unable to stay in your home following an insured loss. Coverage usually starts at 20% of your dwelling coverage limit. 
• Personal liability coverage: If you unintentionally cause harm (bodily injury or property damage) to someone else, either on your property or off-premises, this coverage can pay for their expenses as well as your legal costs if you’re sued. 

Although it’s not a form of insurance coverage, all Wawanesa home insurance policies include unlimited access to Wawanesa’s Telephone Legal Helpline Service, where you can consult a lawyer at no added charge and without paying a deductible. 

When getting home insurance quotes through a Wawanesa broker, be sure to ask: 

• What level of coverage applies to your dwelling, detached structures, and contents: basic, broad, or comprehensive coverage? 
• Does your quote include guaranteed replacement cost coverage for your dwelling in case rebuilding costs exceed your policy’s written limits? 
• Will personal property be covered on an actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost basis? 

Optional coverage and endorsements

In addition to the core coverage included in all Wawanesa home insurance policies, you may be able to customize your coverage with optional endorsements, including: 

• Water Defence coverage: A robust package deal, this endorsement includes coverage for sewer backups, overland flooding, and ground water. 
• Personal umbrella coverage: High net worth individuals and anyone looking for robust, low-cost liability protection can extend their liability limits with an umbrella policy, with rates as low as $10/month. 
• Increased limits for high-value personal property: If you own jewellery, art, wine, or collectibles that go beyond the special limits listed on your standard policy, Wawanesa may allow you to extend your coverage. 
• Legal expense coverage: You can add this endorsement to cover legal expenses and lawyers’ fees in any matter, up to $100,000 per occurrence and $500,000 per policy term. 
• Additional coverage for home-based businesses: Property and liability associated with a business you run out of your home may not be covered by your standard home insurance, so you may need to purchase additional coverage. 
• Claims-free protection: This endorsement protects your home insurance premium against increases following your first claim. 

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the endorsements you may be eligible for. Wawanesa encourages shoppers to talk to a broker about the options that may be available in their area. 

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What you’ll need for a quote

When you get home insurance quotes from Wawanesa Insurance, be ready to provide the following information and any other data your broker requests:

• The address of the home you want to insure
• The year the home was built
• The square footage of the home
• The year the roof was last updated
• Information regarding heating, plumbing, and electrical systems
• The number of bathrooms in the home
• Your personal insurance history, including any past claims

Wawanesa home insurance discounts

Wawanesa Insurance offers at least eight distinct discounts for home insurance: 

• Home and auto insurance bundling discount: Wawanesa offers discounts to customers who purchase both home and car insurance from Wawanesa.
• Water loss prevention discount: If you recently installed a sump pump, backflow valve, or leak detection system to reduce your risk of water claims, ask your broker if you’re eligible for a discount. 
• Roof quality discount: If you recently upgraded or replaced your roof, be sure to ask about discounts. 
• Security system discount: A centrally monitored burglar alarm could earn you a lower premium. 
• Other home updates: Upgrading your electrical, plumbing, or other home systems could help to lower your premium. 
• Loyalty discount: Customers who renew their home insurance with Wawanesa could see their rates go down thanks to a loyalty discount. 
• Mortgage-free discount: If you’ve paid off your mortgage and own your home outright, you might be eligible for a discounted premium. 
• Claims-free and continuous coverage discounts: Policyholders who have maintained continuous coverage with no property claims for a certain number of years may qualify for discounts. 

This may not be a complete list of the discounts available from Wawanesa, and not all discounts are available in all coverage areas. Wawanesa encourages shoppers to ask their broker about the discounts they may be eligible for based on location, home condition, and other factors. 

How much does Wawanesa home insurance cost?

Because Wawanesa only sells home insurance through brokers, we weren’t able to secure sample rates for this coverage. 

When getting home insurance quotes from Wawanesa, keep in mind that your premiums depend on the risk factors associated with your insurance profile. Your quotes may be higher or lower based on factors such as:
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• Province: In high-risk provinces like Alberta, where hail and wildfire are both prevalent, Wawanesa customers may pay higher rates than in provinces like Manitoba and Ontario that present a lower statistical risk of claims. 
• Home location: On the local level, your property’s proximity to fire halls and hydrants, property crime hotspots, and bodies of water can all impact home insurance premiums. Wawanesa may also take your home’s elevation into account if your policy includes extended water damage coverage. 
• Home age: Older homes are more likely to sustain extensive damage from a wide range of perils than new homes that are well-maintained. 
• Roof age: Your roof is your home’s primary defence against various forms of structural damage, including from hail, strong winds, and fire. A new or upgraded roof can reduce insurance premiums. 
• Your insurance history: Homeowners with past claims may pay higher rates or even be denied coverage, since claims are a marker of risk. 

The Wawanesa home insurance claims process

If you need to make a home insurance claim with Wawanesa, you’ll follow the process outlined below: 

1. File your claim: Be prepared to provide your policy number, a description of the incident, and information about any parties involved. If possible, prepare a detailed inventory of all lost or damaged property along with documentation (e.g. receipts, invoices, photos, and videos) to establish their value. 
2. Work with your adjuster: Your adjuster may request additional documentation or ask you to fill out a Proof of Loss form. 
3. Choose your contractor: Wawanesa may recommend a contractor from their own network. You do not need to work with this contractor and have the right to choose your own, but be aware that in-network contractors may streamline the claims process. 
4. Get quotes for repairs: You’ll need to show your claims adjuster at least two quotes. They will review each quote and will typically choose the lower-cost option
5. Authorize repairs or take a cash settlement: If you choose to go through with repairs, you’ll need to fill out a form in order to authorize work to begin. 
6. Receive payment: You can choose to receive your payment by bank transfer (direct deposit or electronic funds transfer) or by cheque. 

For a more detailed explanation of Wawanesa’s claims service, consult the claims guide. 

How to contact Wawanesa for a claim

You can call 1-844-WAWANESA (929-2637) or submit a claim online by signing into your Member Centre 24/7, 365 days a year.

Is Wawanesa good for claims?

We explored Reddit for discussions of Wawanesa’s claim service to get a sense for how well the insurer meets customer expectations in this area. The feedback was mixed, but some users had strong praise for Wawanesa’s claims team.
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How Wawanesa home insurance compares to other providers

Here’s a comparison of Wawanesa to two large Canadian home insurance companies.

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Is Wawanesa home insurance right for you?

For homeowners who prefer to do business with local brokers and mutual companies, Wawanesa may be an excellent option with affordable rates and robust coverage. 

Because Wawanesa only sells insurance through independent brokers and doesn’t advertise as aggressively as other insurers, it’s harder to capture a sense of this insurer’s strengths and weaknesses. However, Wawanesa holds a strong position in the Canadian insurance market with consistent praise from customers on social media. As a 100% Canadian-owned and operated mutual company, it may be a particularly good choice for homeowners looking to invest in their local community and work with brokers who understand their area.

FAQ: Wawanesa home insurance

This article is for general information only and is not insurance or legal advice. Examples and any sample quotes or rate ranges are illustrative and do not constitute an offer or guarantee of coverage, price, or eligibility. Actual coverage, discounts, and premiums depend on your individual circumstances and the insurer provider; if there is any discrepancy, your policy and insurer documentation govern. For advice about your situation, speak with one of our licensed insurance professionals.