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

Quick Facts

• In general, Safeway offers slightly less expensive prices than Gainsco
• Gainsco has cheaper premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Safeway offers more affordable rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

Gainsco vs. Safeway: 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 large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Gainsco or Safeway as potential options, but which company will offer you more affordable premiums?

As you can see, Safeway is about $11 per month less expensive than Gainsco when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

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

Wanting to know if Gainsco or Safeway is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Gainsco or Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Gainsco and Safeway only compete against each other in Arizona, where Safeway offers the cheaper average prices. For Arizona residents, Safeway offers insurance for $155 per month on average. Gainsco's average rates come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $205 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

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 Safeway for their insurance pay $5 less than those who use Gainsco.

Even so, both carriers will decrease prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Gainsco policyholders drop nearly $300 and Safeway's prices lower around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Safeway gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 15% more affordable than the national average for Gainsco.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are typically cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for car insurance, Safeway tends to have the lowest average rates regardless of relationship status, with prices nearly $15 less expensive for married policyholders and about $10 more affordable for those who are single.

Gainsco vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

On average, men see premiums almost $15 a month higher with Gainsco, while with Safeway, the difference is closer to $18 per month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Safeway comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $9 less for men and $13 cheaper for women.

Gainsco or Safeway: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a variety of different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common 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 a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

In this case, Gainsco offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Safeway has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $5 with GAINSCO, while full coverage comes out to be around $25 cheaper with Safeway Insurance.

Is Gainsco or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Gainsco or Safeway more affordable for drivers with spotty 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 Safeway normally raises premiums about $7 per month, on average.

That being said, Safeway is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $22 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $33 per month with Safeway Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Safeway increasing by $60. Gainsco has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay over $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Safeway, with monthly prices averaging $223 compared to GAINSCO's $227.

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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Safeway will climb your rates around 26% 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 premiums, Gainsco tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $203 monthly compared to $220 from Safeway.

How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and Safeway Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance prices. 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 policyholders.

Auto 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Safeway and Gainsco, which one has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Gainsco or Safeway 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 your monthly premiums? Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Gainsco or Safeway report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Safeway comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average premiums of $194 a month for both.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a big impact on your monthly insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Gainsco generally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Safeway wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, Safeway's average prices are about $234 while Gainsco offers rates around $299. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $180 with Gainsco compared to $201 with Safeway. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $136 per month with Gainsco and $146 with Safeway.

Gainsco vs. Safeway 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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

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

Safeway blows Gainsco away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 different discounts to Gainsco's four.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Safeway also offers agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, full coverage discounts, and more that Gainsco does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Gainsco or Safeway Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Safeway might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Gainsco might be best for you if...

• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You live in a rural area.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Gainsco and Safeway and that you can now make a more informed 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 Safeway. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Gainsco vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Gainsco or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Safeway is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $194 per month compared to $205 for Gainsco. But Safeway won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Gainsco or Safeway?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Gainsco offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Safeway is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Gainsco and Safeway offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Gainsco and Safeway use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Gainsco or Safeway 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.