If you’re a Wawanesa policyholder in the San Francisco Bay Area, you might be wondering whether you’re locked into a specific shop list after a collision. The short answer: no. California law gives you the right to choose any licensed auto body shop — and Wawanesa is required to honor that choice.

Whether you drive a Tesla, a Honda, a pickup truck, or a hybrid, here’s everything you need to know about using your Wawanesa coverage and getting your car repaired the right way.

What Does Wawanesa Auto Insurance Cover?

Wawanesa offers standard collision and comprehensive coverage for California drivers. Depending on your policy, you may have:

Collision coverage — repairs after an accident, regardless of fault
Comprehensive coverage — theft, weather damage, falling objects, and more
Rental reimbursement — a rental car while yours is being repaired
OEM or aftermarket parts — varies by policy; California law gives you input on parts used in your repair

Always review your declarations page or call Wawanesa directly at the number on your insurance card to confirm what’s included on your specific policy.

California Law: You Choose Your Shop

This is the part most drivers don’t know. Under California Insurance Code Section 758.5, your insurer — including Wawanesa — cannot require you to use a specific repair shop. They can recommend their preferred shops, but the final choice is yours.

That means:

• You are free to take your car to any licensed auto body shop in California
• Wawanesa must pay the reasonable cost of repairs at the shop you choose
• You cannot be penalized or have your claim denied simply because you didn’t use a “preferred” shop

If a Wawanesa rep tells you that you have to use a specific facility, politely remind them of your rights under California law — or call the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357.

How to File a Wawanesa Collision Claim

Filing with Wawanesa is straightforward:

1. Report the accident — call Wawanesa at 1-800-640-2920 or log in to your online account to open a claim
2. Document everything — photos of all damage, the other vehicle, the scene, and any police report number
3. Choose your shop — tell Wawanesa you’ll be taking your car to EV Central at 718 Bryant St, San Francisco
4. Get your estimate — Wawanesa may send an adjuster or ask for photos; we can work directly with them on your behalf
5. Approve repairs — once the estimate is agreed upon, we get to work
6. Pick up your car — we handle final paperwork and billing with Wawanesa directly

We work with all major insurance carriers every day. You won’t need to chase anyone down.

Serving the Entire SF Bay Area

EV Central is located at 718 Bryant St in San Francisco, but we serve drivers from across the Bay Area, including:

San Francisco · Oakland · Berkeley · San Jose · Fremont · Palo Alto · Daly City · South San Francisco · Redwood City · Mountain View · Sunnyvale · Santa Clara · Hayward · Richmond · Walnut Creek · Concord · Marin County · the Peninsula · East Bay · South Bay

No matter where you’re coming from, we make drop-off and pickup simple.

Why Choose EV Central?

• We work with all makes and models — gas, hybrid, and electric
• I-CAR certified technicians
• Lifetime warranty on all bodywork and paint
• We handle insurance billing directly — less hassle for you
• Conveniently located in SoMa, San Francisco

Ready to Get Started?

Give us a call or stop by. We’ll take it from here.

📞 (415) 881-1845
📍 718 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA