Commonwealth Casualty insurance review 2024
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At a glance
Bankrate's take
Those who value the personalized service a brick-and-mortar company may provide over a mobile app or online portal might consider Commonwealth Casualty as their company of choice. However, policies are only available in three states.
- Only available in AZ, OH and TX
- Local agents and claims adjusters available
- Multiple add-ons for auto and home insurance
- Not rated by J.D. Power
We want to know what you think about Commonwealth Casualty
Do you have experience with Commonwealth Casualty? Let us know your thoughts.
Commonwealth Casualty car insurance review
Bankrate’s insurance editorial team used their real-world industry expertise to conduct an extensive Commonwealth Casualty Insurance review. Based on our assessment, drivers looking for no-frills car insurance in Arizona, Ohio or Texas may find Commonwealth Casualty car insurance ideal.
In the case of Commonwealth Casualty, “no-frills” means two things: a lack of digital tools and fairly basic coverage offerings. There’s no Commonwealth Casualty app, and online policy management options are limited. As for coverage, the company offers all the standard options — liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, including uninsured motorist property damage where available — but further add-ons are limited. You can add roadside assistance, vanishing deductibles, rental reimbursement, rideshare insurance and waivers for glass damage (Commonwealth calls this “safety equipment coverage”). But if you’d like gap insurance, accident forgiveness or other add-ons, you may want to work with a different auto insurance company.
Pros and cons of Commonwealth Casualty car insurance
Gathering car insurance quotes can be intimidating, especially if you aren’t sure about your priorities for coverage. This is where a list of pros and cons can help. Determining your must-haves and what benefits you could do without may help you find the coverage that best fits your needs.
Pros
- Rideshare coverage offered
- Vanishing deductibles available
- Online payments accepted
Cons
- Financial strength not rated by AM Best
- High number of NAIC customer complaints
- Discount information is limited
Commonwealth Casualty car insurance cost
Rate data for Commonwealth Casualty is not available, so you will need to contact the company and request a quote for more information regarding their car insurance premiums. You can compare the rate you get from Commonwealth Casualty with quotes from other companies, as well as the national average cost of auto insurance.
According to rate information from data analytics company Quadrant Information Services, the national average cost of car insurance is $2,278 per year for a full coverage policy. Minimum coverage averages $621 per year. However, car insurance companies use several factors to determine how much to charge individuals, so you could be paying more or less than average.
Commonwealth Casualty customer satisfaction
For some, customer service is just as important as cheap rates, so to evaluate this metric, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team typically reviews third-party scores from J.D. Power. However, J.D. Power does not include Commonwealth Casualty in its studies due to its small size and limited customer base.
Bankrate also reviews companies’ financial strength. Although financial strength may not directly link with customer satisfaction, it does evaluate whether a company has historically had the means to pay out claims when necessary. Commonwealth Casualty earned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from AM Best.
Commonwealth Casualty auto insurance customer complaints
Another way to quantify customer satisfaction is by analyzing the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index. The NAIC tallies the consumer complaints it receives regarding an insurance company and its product lines and converts these complaints to an index. An average — or baseline — number of complaints is 1.00. A score greater than 1.00 indicates more complaints than average based on a carrier’s market share, and a score less than 1.00 indicates fewer complaints.
Commonwealth Casualty does not fare well per the NAIC in the personal auto category. While complaints dropped by about 50 percent from 2022 to 2023, the carrier still receives triple the number of complaints expected compared to the industry average. This may be a sign that Commonwealth Casualty is improving its customer service practices, but customers still report considerable issues.
Commonwealth Casualty car insurance discounts
One of the biggest limitations to Commonwealth Casualty car insurance is that there are few car insurance discounts available. The only advertised discount is a multi-policy discount, which can help you get a lower rate if you bundle your auto and home or renters insurance with Commonwealth.
You may also save on your car insurance by enrolling in Commonwealth’s vanishing deductible program. For each year that you do not have a claim, your deductible could drop by $100, with savings of up to $500. If you are a safe driver, taking advantage of this program can potentially help you save money. It’s important to note that adding the program to your policy will likely increase your premium, but the cost could be offset by the deductible savings if you file a claim.
Commonwealth Casualty home insurance review
Commonwealth Casualty’s home insurance product is only available in Arizona. For Arizona homeowners, Commonwealth Casualty may offer advantages in the form of local claims adjusters and robust discounts.
Although the coverage options available with Commonwealth Casualty home insurance may not be as robust as some of the best home insurance companies, it offers a few more add-ons than it does with its auto insurance. Along with the standard financial protection for your dwelling, liability and personal property you could include water backup protection and service line coverage. Additionally, there’s the option to add golf cart coverage, which provides liability coverage while driving a golf cart and covers damage to your golf cart. You can also add special computer coverage, which provides a higher dollar amount of coverage for electronics like desktops, laptops, tablets, gaming equipment and related hardware.
Pros and cons of Commonwealth Casualty home insurance
If Commonwealth Casualty is a contender when you’re comparing home insurance quotes, you may want to keep some of the following perks and drawbacks in mind:
Pros
- Plenty of discount opportunities may help you save
- In-office claims adjusters are available for personalized service
- Golf cart coverage available
Cons
- Can’t file claims online
- Only available in Arizona
- Not rated by J.D. Power
Commonwealth Casualty home insurance cost
Commonwealth Casualty’s homeowners insurance premium data is not publicly available, so you will need to contact the company directly for more information regarding its rates.
To track insurance trends over time, Bankrate studies average premiums throughout the country. Based on our research, the July 2024 national average cost of homeowners insurance for $300,000 in dwelling coverage is $2,230 per year. However, insurance is a personalized product. Rating factors like the age of your home, the cost of materials and labor in your area and, in some states, even your credit can determine how much you pay for homeowners insurance. As such, your homeowners insurance rate may be higher or lower than the average.
Commonwealth Casualty customer satisfaction
Looking at third-party ratings helps Bankrate’s insurance editorial team to give an accurate assessment of how well home insurance companies meet their customers’ needs. In the case of Commonwealth Casualty, however, ratings from groups like J.D. Power are unavailable due to the carrier’s small customer base.
Commonwealth Casualty home insurance customer complaints
Commonwealth Casualty’s NAIC Complaint Index for home insurance is comparable to its high score for auto insurance. In 2023, Commonwealth Casualty’s index of 4.92 put it at nearly five times the average number of complaints for an insurer of its size. However, it’s worth noting that this reflects just four complaints total for its home insurance product.
Commonwealth Casualty home insurance discounts
Commonwealth Casualty provides a variety of ways for Arizona homeowners to get a lower home insurance premium. You will find common discounts, like those for purchasing a new home or being claims-free, as well as some more uncommon savings opportunities. Here are a few standout discounts from Commonwealth:
- Water leak detection: Smart home systems or devices that notify you if there’s a leak reduce the chances of widespread water damage, and having one may lower your home insurance rate with Commonwealth Casualty.
- Protective device discount: Having a fire alarm, sprinkler system or burglar alarm in your home could earn you a discount from Commonwealth Casualty.
- New purchase discount: If you’ve just purchased your home, you could qualify for this discount on your policy.
- Paid in full discount: If you pay your policy premium in full rather than in installments, you could save on your homeowners policy.
Compare Commonwealth Casualty with other insurers
As a regional insurer, Commonwealth Casualty may not be for everyone (or it may not be available to you, depending on where you live). You might want to consider requesting quotes from some of the carriers below as you’re comparing rates.
Commonwealth Casualty vs. MAPFRE
Another regional insurer, MAPFRE could be ideal for customers who want alternative options to a national company. MAPFRE operates in 14 states, including Arizona and Ohio, although product availability may vary by state. MAPFRE is known for robust claims management and an extensive list of endorsements available for your auto and home insurance policies.
Learn more: MAPFRE Insurance review
Commonwealth Casualty vs. State Farm
State Farm received a higher-than-average ranking for customer satisfaction in the 2024 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study for the Southwest region. The company offers a wide variety of products, including home, auto and life insurance. State Farm works with a large network of local agents in Arizona, Ohio and Texas, but it also has highly rated digital tools, making it easy to switch between old-school and tech-friendly options for policy management.
Learn more: State Farm Insurance review
Commonwealth Casualty vs. Geico
Geico may be one of the cheapest car insurance companies in the nation and is widely available to drivers. Whether you’re on a budget or out of Commonwealth Casualty’s operating area and need more options, Geico could be worth a look. When it comes to car insurance, Geico has high ratings, and won three Bankrate Awards in 2024: Best Auto Insurance Company Overall (tied with Amica), Best Budget Auto Insurance Company (tied with Auto-Owners) and Best Company for Young Drivers.
Learn more: Geico Insurance review
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyOur insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth Commonwealth Casualty insurance review.
46
years of industry expertise
122
carriers reviewed
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
1.2M
quotes analyzed
Is Commonwealth Casualty a good insurance company?
Bankrate’s insurance editorial team includes licensed agents and other industry professionals. Using that expertise, we work to recommend auto and home insurance companies that offer competitive coverage and make sense for consumers’ financial goals.
Commonwealth Casualty could be a good company for some customers in Arizona, Ohio and Texas, but it depends on your needs and preferences. Commonwealth Casualty may not be a good fit if you prefer to manage your policy from your smartphone, but its local agents may be an advantage for other customers. However, if you live in one of the states it serves and prefer the personalized service that a brick-and-mortar agency might provide, it could be worth your time to request a quote from Commonwealth Casualty.
What are real-life customers saying about Commonwealth Casualty?
Because Commonwealth Casualty is such a small regional insurer, one of the best ways to evaluate its offerings is to look for comments from real policyholders on forums, social media and review sites. Bankrate’s editorial team scoured online forums and found users on both Yelp and Reddit discussing their experience with Commonwealth Casualty. Customer impressions appear fairly mixed. While some found affordable rates with Commonwealth Casualty compared to larger insurers, others reported poor communication from the company’s representatives.
Yelp
Commonwealth Casualty Insurance has over 100 reviews on Yelp. The majority are negative, but we also found a small but significant portion of customers who had positive experiences — particularly with Commonwealth’s low rates.
On Reddit, we found users discussing Commonwealth Casualty in a few places, including local subreddits dedicated to life in Austin, Texas and a casual forum for complaining about TV commercials. Surprisingly, both venues yielded detailed customer feedback for Commonwealth Casualty.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Commonwealth Casualty company details
The best way to contact Commonwealth Casualty is by phone. You can also use the website or mailing address below for certain inquiries.
- Sales, customer service and claims: 1-877-603-1310
- Website: commonwealthcasualty.com
- Mailing address: Commonwealth Casualty Insurance, 2500 North 24th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
State availability
Commonwealth Casualty car insurance is available in Arizona, Ohio and Texas, but Commonwealth Casualty homeowners insurance is only available in Arizona.
Commonwealth Casualty tools and benefits
As a smaller, no-frills company, Commonwealth Casualty doesn't offer many additional tools, products or benefits. Here are a few that may be of interest to potential policyholders:
- Roadside assistance: Commonwealth Casualty offers its own roadside assistance program, with towing available up to 25 miles. Other roadside services include battery jump start, flat tire replacement, emergency fluid delivery such as gas, oil or water and key lockout assistance.
- Renters insurance: Commonwealth Casualty also sells renters insurance that includes liability coverage, personal property coverage and loss of use. There is the option to add personal property replacement cost and increased limits for jewelry or computers.
- Rideshare coverage: If you’re a rideshare driver for a service like Lyft or Uber, Commonwealth Casualty offers an endorsement that will offer coverage in situations where the policies offered by Lyft and Uber don’t.
- Mexico endorsement: Drivers in Texas may want to consider an endorsement that would provide coverage while driving in Mexico.
- Unlisted driver endorsement: Texas drivers may also access an endorsement that would provide coverage if an accident occurs while a resident of your household not listed in your policy is driving your covered vehicle.
Frequently asked questions about Commonwealth Casualty
Methodology
Bankrate Scores
Our Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.
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Cost & ratings 50%
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Coverage & savings 30%
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Support 20%
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
