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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Gainsco offers significantly more affordable rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than GAINSCO
• Gainsco offers more affordable premiums for residents in Arizona

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Gainsco as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Gainsco is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with rates averaging $205 per month compared to $466 with Encompass.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Gainsco will be the less expensive option for each driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Gainsco: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Gainsco only compete against each other in Arizona, where Gainsco offers the cheaper average premiums. For Arizona residents, Gainsco offers auto insurance for $205 a month on average. Encompass's average rates come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $230 monthly.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your prices. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Gainsco over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers auto insurance in 31 different states compared to Gainsco's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. Gainsco offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average prices decrease over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable insurance premiums you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and Gainsco? Gainsco gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $177 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Gainsco is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $328 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Gainsco is also obvious, where drivers save more than $150 a month.

Encompass vs. Gainsco: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Encompass, women typically pay nearly $25 per month less than men, while with Gainsco, the difference is closer to $14 a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Gainsco comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices 56% less for men and 56% cheaper for women.

Encompass 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Gainsco generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $125 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Gainsco again has the edge, with policies around $350 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Gainsco Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Encompass or Gainsco -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Gainsco normally raises rates about $18 per month, on average.

Even so, Gainsco tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $42 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $85 per month with GAINSCO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass raising by over $100. Gainsco has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Gainsco, with monthly rates averaging $227 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Gainsco will typically increase premiums by around 9%.

Gainsco has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $203 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Gainsco, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Gainsco Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Gainsco. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $191 or 48% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Gainsco typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $265 a month less with Gainsco compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $442 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, 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 Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Gainsco is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Gainsco tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both carriers, but Gainsco comes out on top with average rates about $136 a month. Gainsco also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $261 and $254 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Gainsco Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Gainsco so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Encompass blows Gainsco away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Gainsco's four.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Gainsco does not.

On the flip side, Gainsco has a unique discount of its own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Gainsco Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Gainsco might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You have a short commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- GAINSCO is only available in AZ.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Gainsco and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

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

Encompass vs. Gainsco FAQs

Is Encompass or Gainsco cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Gainsco is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $205 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Gainsco won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Gainsco?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Gainsco offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as age, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Gainsco calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass 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.