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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Gainsco offers slightly cheaper prices than Safe Auto
• Gainsco offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Safe Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than GAINSCO

Gainsco or Safe Auto: 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 big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Gainsco or Safe Auto for your next policy, but which one has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Safe Auto is around $18 more a month than Gainsco.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Gainsco will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Gainsco vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Gainsco and Safe Auto only compete against each other in Arizona, where Safe Auto offers the cheaper average rates. Safe Auto drivers tend to pay about $33 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Gainsco for their car insurance.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any group out there on the road. The reason is that teen 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 Safe Auto for their auto insurance pay over 4% less than those who use Gainsco. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers car insurance in 13 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 companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Gainsco policyholders drop about $300 and Safe Auto's prices decrease almost $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Gainsco and Safe Auto? Gainsco gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 10% cheaper than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for those who are single. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one vehicle, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is not very significant, with Gainsco rates coming in at around 6% less than Safe Auto's. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - Gainsco has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Gainsco or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men.

Men typically pay about $15 a month more than women with Gainsco, and around $15 with Safe Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Gainsco comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices $19 less for men and $16 cheaper for women.

Gainsco vs. Safe Auto: 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for many 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 two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Gainsco has the slight edge, with average monthly rates 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 per month to Safe Auto's $320.

Is Gainsco or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Gainsco for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 9% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 18%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Gainsco tends to offer the best prices at around 8% more affordable, while Safe Auto has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Gainsco drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over $40, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see about a $65 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Gainsco end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $227 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Safe Auto will increase your premiums around 27% after a DUI, while Gainsco's average prices rise by nearly 10%.

Gainsco has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $203 per month, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just one for Gainsco, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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.

So, which company offers the lowest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Safe Auto will normally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Safe Auto comes in just under 9% less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 8% with Gainsco compared to average rates from Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Gainsco typically offers lower premiums than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 11% a month less with Gainsco compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 19% a month.

Is Gainsco or Safe Auto 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 substantial impact on your monthly rates? Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Gainsco or Safe Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Gainsco comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $205 per month for both.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Gainsco tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Safe Auto wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $61 with Gainsco compared to Safe Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay about $20 less with Gainsco compared to Safe Auto. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Safe Auto's average rates are around $28 less than GAINSCO.

Gainsco vs. Safe Auto Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Gainsco and Safe Auto so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Safe Auto blows Gainsco away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Gainsco.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a homeowner, paid in full discounts, and renewal discounts -- but Safe Auto also offers discounts for agency transfer, anti-theft, claim free, and more.

On the other hand, Gainsco has a proprietary discount of their own -- a advance quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Gainsco or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Gainsco might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You live in an urban area.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Gainsco and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Gainsco and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Gainsco vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Gainsco or Safe Auto cheaper?

Gainsco is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $205 a month with Gainsco and $223 for Safe Auto. But that doesn't mean Gainsco will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Gainsco or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Safe Auto is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Gainsco offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Gainsco and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Things like age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Gainsco and Safe Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Gainsco or Safe Auto 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information 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 most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Gainsco or Safe Auto 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.