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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Metromile offers significantly more affordable premiums than Gainsco
• Metromile offers less expensive average prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Metromile tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who have a short commute

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Gainsco or Metromile as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, Gainsco is quite a bit more expensive than Metromile, with prices averaging $205 per month compared to just $150 with Metromile when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But Metromile may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Gainsco or Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Gainsco and Metromile only offer auto insurance in Arizona, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Arizona residents, Metromile offers car insurance for $150 per month on average. Gainsco's average prices come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $205 a month.

Typically, where you live will play a big role in how much you pay for insurance, but since both companies only do business in Arizona, lots of other factors will come into play when you compare Gainsco and Metromile. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Metromile for their car insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use Gainsco.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Gainsco policyholders lower almost $300 and Metromile's premiums drop more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you can find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Metromile gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $129 monthly compared to Gainsco's $158.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than those who are single. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Metromile is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $70 a month more affordable than Gainsco, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Metromile is also obvious, where drivers save over 20% per month.

Gainsco vs. Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

Men usually pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see premiums about $15 a month higher with Gainsco, but surprisingly, with Metromile, men typically pay around $4 per month less than women.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Metromile comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $46 a month and men save about $64 with Metromile compared to the average Gainsco policyholder.

Gainsco or Metromile: 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 pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Metromile usually offers less expensive premiums of $99 compared to Gainsco's $125. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies around $85 per month cheaper than Gainsco, on average.

Is Gainsco or Metromile 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Gainsco policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $18 a month if they get a ticket, while Metromile normally raises rates about $33 per month, on average.

Even so, Metromile tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 38% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 27% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Metromile raising by over $55. Gainsco has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Metromile, with monthly rates averaging $171 compared to GAINSCO's $227.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Metromile will raise your premiums around 31% after a DUI, while Gainsco's average prices climb by just under 10%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Metromile tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $167 a month compared to $203 from Gainsco.

How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and Metromile Rates?

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

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Metromile. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Gainsco, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $68 or 33% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower prices than Gainsco when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $49 a month less with Metromile compared to Gainsco, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $16 monthly.

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Gainsco or Metromile report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Metromile comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $150 per month for both.

Gainsco vs. Metromile: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Metromile boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Metromile comes out on top with average prices around $120 per month. Metromile also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 30% and 33% a month respective difference when compared to Gainsco drivers in similar areas.

Gainsco vs. Metromile Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Gainsco and Metromile so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

They both offer great discounts like.

Final Thoughts: Is Gainsco or Metromile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Gainsco or Metromile the best fit for you?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Gainsco might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Gainsco and Metromile and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

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

Gainsco vs. Metromile FAQs

Is Gainsco or Metromile cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Metromile is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $205 for Gainsco. That being said, Metromile won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Gainsco or Metromile?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Gainsco and Metromile offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Factors like age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Gainsco and Metromile calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Gainsco or Metromile 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.