Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company (WAIC) Review

Ann Herro, Insurance Expert Written by Ann Herro
Ann Herro, Insurance Expert
Written by Ann Herro

Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.

Updated

Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company (WAIC) at a Glance

  • Founded in 1949
  • Non-standard auto insurer in California
  • Backed by Mercury Insurance Group
  • Drivers with multiple violations and DUIs are acceptable
  • Liability only coverage as well as liability plus physical damage coverage available
  • 24/7/365 claims reporting
  • Not rated by the BBB or AM Best
  • Network of independent insurance agents

WAIC Pros: Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company accepts California drivers with multiple tickets, multiple accidents, DUIs, poor credit ratings, and other issues that standard auto insurance companies will not cover. Sold through independent insurance agents throughout California. Multiple payment plans and low down payment options. Pay by credit card, check, or electronic funds transfer. Several discounts are available. 24/7/365 claims reporting.

WAIC Cons: WAIC is not accredited by the BBB nor is it rated by AM Best. Limited coverage options designed for non-standard risks. Only a few discount options. The company’s official website is outdated and offers minimal information or ability to interact with the carrier.

What Type of Insurance Does WAIC Offer?

WAIC serves the non-standard car insurance market in California. For high-risk California drivers, WAIC offers the following. 

  • Liability only policies
  • Liability plus physical damage policies for high-risk California drivers

Your independent insurance agent can help you decide if Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company has the type of coverage you need.

What to Know about WAIC

Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company (WAIC) was founded in 1949. It is a non-standard auto insurance carrier based in California. It provides basic auto insurance policies to high-risk drivers, including those that have a poor driving record, bad credit, and even DUIs.

The insurance company is a subsidiary of Mercury Insurance Group. Mercury General Corporation is a multiple-line insurance organization offering personal automobile, homeowners, renters, and business insurance. Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury has assets in excess of $4 billion, employs 4,500 people and has more than 8,000 independent agents in 11 states. 

Coverage from WAIC is available through independent insurance agents in California.

What Discounts Does WAIC Offer?

WAIC offers several discounts for its auto insurance customers. These include the following.

  • Multi-car discount: Customers who insure more than one vehicle with WAIC will receive this discount.
  • Good driver discount: Drivers with no claims, accidents, or violations may receive a good driver discount on their WAIC auto insurance policy.
  • Paid in full discount: Customers who pay in full for the policy period may be eligible for a discount from WAIC.

You may qualify for other discounts from WAIC. An independent insurance agent can help you learn more for ways to save with the carrier and help you find any additional discounts that you’re eligible for.

WAIC Customer Service

WAIC customers can file claims by phone 24/7. The carrier also provides the following customer service options.

  • Phone contact for Main Office, Customer Service, and payments Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST
  • Social media contact via Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Email contact via Contact Us form
  • Customer service department has the following hour restrictions.


Hours (PST)


Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The best way to handle your customer service needs is to work with an independent insurance agent. These agents help make customer service easier for you by handling claims and other concerns. 

WAIC FAQ

What is WAIC'S average claim response time frame?

WAIC allows customers to file claims by phone 24/7. The company does not publish an average claim response time or a timeline for claim resolution.

What is WAIC'S customer service availability?

WAIC offers customer service and bill pay by phone Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PT. Customers can also reach the insurance company by email and via Facebook. Claims can be initiated by phone 24/7/365. WAIC customers can also create an account online that allows them to view their policy status, print notice, and make online payments. 

What is WAIC'S claims process?

Customers can call the carrier’s claims hotline 24/7/365 to get a claim started. Once the claim is filed, it will be assigned a claim number and a claims adjuster who will handle the claim. 

Customers can also use an online tool to find a direct repair shop in their area.

Does WAIC create a user-friendly experience for customers?

WAIC’s official website offers minimal information, except for a basic FAQs section that answers some questions about coverage types and claims. The website is outdated and navigation is clunky. Customer service is available by phone from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST, and by email. Claims can be initiated by phone 24/7/365. Payments are easy to make online. Customers can find the carrier on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Does WAIC have good auto insurance?

Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company offers coverage to high-risk drivers in California. It offers liability only coverage as well as liability plus physical damage coverage.

Workmen’s prices and coverage options will not compete with standard insurance companies because of the high-risk market that it serves. When comparing rates and ratings they should only be compared to other non-standard companies.

You can learn more about the carrier’s offerings by visiting their website or speaking with an independent insurance agent in California. 

Is WAIC a good insurance company?

WAIC seems to make it easy for high-risk California drivers to obtain coverage that they either could not get or could not afford from standard carriers. This makes WAIC an important option for these drivers to explore. Unfortunately, the majority of customer reviews that can be found online are negative. 

WAIC Customer Reviews

Yelp
“It takes a week to get ahold of anyone when you want to file a claim. They won't even do what you pay them to do. For two accidents, I've had to be the one dealing with the other party.”


Yelp
“Poor excuse for an insurance company. You have to call multiple times to get answers. What is supposed to take a couple days will take weeks.”


Yelp
“Terrible insurance. I had full coverage and they won't pay a dime on my totaled brand new car!”


Clearsurance
5 Stars
“I think they have fantastic rates for non-standard auto insurance, and the ease of use on the system is fantastic.”


Clearsurance
"Great prices for auto insurance and paying online is easy."


TrustedChoice.com's Final Review

We award Workmen’s Auto Insurance Company a final rating of 2.75 out of 5 stars. While WAIC has been in business since 1949, it does not have ratings from the BBB or AM Best that speak to its financial strength and stability. An important factor in choosing an insurance company is being assured that it can afford to pay out claims. Without these financial ratings, customers must have faith that WAIC will remain stable and able to pay claims for the long term. Being a subsidiary of Mercury Insurance Group helps with this assumption.

WAIC only provides car insurance for high-risk drivers in California. Its rates, ratings, and products should not be compared to standard carriers, but only to other non-standard carriers in California. Because it serves a high-risk market, WAIC does not offer the breadth of products, discounts, and service options as most standard carriers do. Customers should expect that when choosing a policy from WAIC.

WAIC offers 24/7/365 claims reporting, several convenient payment plans, and low down payment options for its customers.  Again this can be very attractive for buyers in the high-risk market.

Unfortunately the vast majority of online customer reviews are negative. WAIC may need to work on its claims resolution and customer service capabilities in order to improve customer satisfaction.

The carrier works with a network of independent insurance agents in California. If you have multiple accidents, violations, or DUIs on your driving record, we recommend finding out more about the carrier online or with the help of your independent agent.

What’s more, you can use our online national IA company directory to find the best insurance companies to meet your needs. Locate companies that specialize in your specific coverage needs and get connected to an agent near you.

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