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

Quick Facts

• In general, Root offers significantly cheaper premiums than Gainsco
• Root has less expensive prices for couples purchasing insurance together
• Root offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Gainsco or Root as your top options, but between the two, which company has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Gainsco is quite a bit more expensive than Root, with prices averaging $205 per month compared to just $65 with Root.

However, that doesn't mean Root will necessarily be cheaper than Gainsco for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Gainsco or Root: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Gainsco and Root only offer insurance in Arizona, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Arizona residents, Root offers auto insurance for $65 per month on average. Gainsco's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $205 monthly.

Typically, where you live will play a hefty role in how much you pay for insurance, but since both companies only do business in Arizona, a multitude of other factors will come into play when you compare Gainsco and Root. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Root for their car insurance pay more than $300 less than those who use Gainsco.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Gainsco policyholders reduce nearly $300 and Root's premiums lower about $85 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Root gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $57 a month compared to Gainsco's $158.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something many auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Root is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $168 a month more affordable than Gainsco, on average. The advantage for married couples with Root is also obvious, where drivers save over $100 per month.

Gainsco vs. Root: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for car insurance than men? This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, women see premiums around 7% a month less with Gainsco, while with Root, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Root comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $134 a month and men save about $146 with Root compared to the average Gainsco policyholder.

Gainsco or Root: 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. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Root normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $46 compared to Gainsco's $125. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Root again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month more affordable than Gainsco, on average.

Is Gainsco or Root Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Gainsco or Root -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Gainsco policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $18 a month if they get a ticket, while Root usually raises prices about $10 per month, on average.

That being said, Root tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save around $128 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $136 per month with Root Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Gainsco can expect to see around an $42 -- or about 19% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Root for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $22 (or 28%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Root, with monthly rates averaging $79 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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Gainsco drivers usually see a 9% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Root will normally climb rates by about 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Root tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $57 per month compared to $203 from Gainsco.

How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and Root Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Root. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 75% compared to Gainsco, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $145 or 71% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Root typically offers lower premiums than Gainsco when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $139 a month less with Root compared to Gainsco, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $126 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Gainsco or Root report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Root comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $65 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Root usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but Root comes out on top with average rates about $58 a month. Root also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $222 and $120 a month respective difference when compared to Gainsco drivers in similar areas.

Gainsco vs. Root Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Gainsco and Root offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Root has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Gainsco offers a grand total of four discounts, while Root has five.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a homeowner and paid in full discounts -- but Root also offers auto-steer discounts, good driving discounts, and paperless discounts that Gainsco does not.

On the flip side, Gainsco has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Gainsco or Root Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Root might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

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 Root. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 several companies, not just Gainsco and Root. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Gainsco vs. Root FAQs

Is Gainsco or Root cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Root is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $65 per month compared to $205 for Gainsco. Even so, Root won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Gainsco or Root?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Gainsco and Root offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like gender, your driving record, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Gainsco and Root calculate prices using different factors, 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 multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Gainsco or Root 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.