AAA vs. Gainsco: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Gainsco offers significantly cheaper premiums than AAA
• AAA may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than GAINSCO
• Gainsco offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

AAA or Gainsco: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to AAA or Gainsco, but which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

As you can see, Gainsco is quite a bit cheaper than AAA, with premiums averaging $205 a month compared to $314 with AAA when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Gainsco will necessarily be more affordable than AAA for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of AAA or Gainsco is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

AAA vs. Gainsco: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and Gainsco only compete against each other in Arizona, where Gainsco offers the cheaper average prices. Gainsco drivers tend to pay about $144 per month less on average compared to drivers who use AAA for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 35% less a month by choosing Gainsco over AAA.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly once you turn 25. Gainsco offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. AAA's average rates decrease nearly 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices out there.

When looking at AAA and Gainsco specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Gainsco gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $80 cheaper than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married drivers. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Gainsco premiums coming in at a third less than AAA's. The advantage for married couples with Gainsco is also obvious, where drivers save over 35% per month.

AAA or Gainsco: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to charge women less than men.

With AAA, women typically pay around $35 a month less than men, but with Gainsco, the difference is closer to $14 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Gainsco comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $119 less for men and $99 cheaper for women.

AAA vs. Gainsco: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Gainsco has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $125. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Gainsco again has the edge, with policies averaging about $285 a month to AAA's $459.

Is AAA or Gainsco Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use AAA for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 29% after getting a speeding ticket. Gainsco policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 9%.

But Gainsco is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 13% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 32% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with AAA climbing by around 37%. Gainsco has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from Gainsco, with average premiums coming in at $227 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. AAA drivers usually see a 47% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Gainsco will typically raise rates by about 9%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Gainsco tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $203 to AAA's $403.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Gainsco Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

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

Looking at AAA and Gainsco specifically, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, AAA will usually reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, AAA comes in just under 10% more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 17% with Gainsco compared to average rates from AAA.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Gainsco typically offers lower prices than AAA when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 33% per month less with Gainsco compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 62% per month.

Is AAA or Gainsco Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Gainsco charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for AAA, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Gainsco is the cheaper carrier.

AAA or Gainsco: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Gainsco tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GAINSCO's average prices are about 22% less than AAA Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 40% less with Gainsco compared to AAA. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 47% with Gainsco compared to AAA.

AAA vs. Gainsco Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by AAA and Gainsco so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

AAA knocks Gainsco out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to Gainsco's four.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, paid in full discounts, and renewal discounts -- but AAA also offers discounts for AAA, academic, anti-theft, and more.

Gainsco's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Homeowner, Paid In Full, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or Gainsco Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Gainsco might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Aaa has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between AAA and Gainsco and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just AAA and Gainsco. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. Gainsco FAQs

Is AAA or Gainsco cheaper?

Gainsco is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $205 a month with Gainsco and $314 for AAA. That being said, that doesn't mean Gainsco will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or Gainsco?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, AAA is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Gainsco offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do AAA and Gainsco offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and Gainsco calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if AAA or Gainsco is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't AAA or Gainsco 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.