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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Allstate offers slightly more affordable premiums than Gainsco
• Allstate offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs
• Gainsco offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas

Allstate vs. Gainsco: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Allstate or Gainsco for your next policy, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Allstate is about $6 per month cheaper than Gainsco when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Allstate will necessarily be less expensive than Gainsco for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so rates could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Allstate and Gainsco by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Allstate or Gainsco: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Gainsco only compete against each other in Arizona, where Allstate offers the cheaper average rates. For Arizona residents, Allstate offers insurance for $203 monthly on average. Gainsco's average premiums come out to be more expensive, at $205 a month.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $10 less a month by choosing Allstate over Gainsco. It's worth noting that Allstate offers auto insurance in 47 different states compared to Gainsco's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Gainsco offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Allstate still has the lowest prices at $167 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Allstate and Gainsco specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Allstate gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $152 monthly compared to Gainsco's $158. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your driving record or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance rates than those who are single. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Allstate is the winner for single drivers, with prices about $13 per month cheaper than Gainsco, on average.

Allstate vs. Gainsco: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

Usually, women see rates nearly $10 a month less expensive with Allstate, and around $15 cheaper with Gainsco when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Allstate comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $9 per month and women save about $4 with Allstate compared to the average Gainsco policyholder.

Allstate or 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Allstate offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while Gainsco has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Allstate, while full coverage comes out to be around $4 more affordable with GAINSCO.

Is Allstate or Gainsco Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Allstate or Gainsco -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $27 a month if they get a ticket, while Gainsco normally raises rates about $18 per month, on average.

However, Allstate tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 16% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 10% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Gainsco will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Gainsco, with monthly rates averaging $227 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. Allstate drivers usually see a 31% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Gainsco will generally raise rates by about 9%.

Gainsco has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $203 a month, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for Gainsco, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Gainsco Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at Allstate and Gainsco, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Allstate. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 30% compared to Gainsco, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $33 or 16% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $2 less with Allstate than Gainsco, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $70 a month with Gainsco.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? That's because the more miles you put on your car, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause 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 Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Allstate is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Allstate vs. Gainsco: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Gainsco tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Allstate wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $136 per month with Gainsco compared to Allstate's $174. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of about $180 with Gainsco compared to $199 with Allstate. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Allstate's average prices are around $222 per month compared to Gainsco's $299.

Allstate vs. Gainsco Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Allstate and Gainsco so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Allstate knocks Gainsco out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 more discounts than Gainsco.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, paid in full discounts, and renewal discounts -- but Allstate also offers ABS discounts, agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, and more that Gainsco does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Gainsco Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Allstate or Gainsco the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Gainsco might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Allstate and Gainsco and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Allstate and Gainsco. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Gainsco FAQs

Is Allstate or Gainsco cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Allstate is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $199 a month compared to $205 for Gainsco. Even so, Allstate won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Allstate or Gainsco?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Gainsco offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Allstate is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Allstate and Gainsco offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Factors like where you live, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Allstate and Gainsco calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Allstate 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Allstate or Gainsco at all!

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.