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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Gainsco offers more affordable rates than The General
• Gainsco tends to be a much less expensive option for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself
• The General offers more discounts than GAINSCO

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Gainsco or The General as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Gainsco is about $36 per month more affordable than The General.

But Gainsco may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

Gainsco or The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Gainsco and The General only compete against each other in Arizona, where Gainsco offers the cheaper average prices. For Arizona residents, Gainsco offers insurance for $205 a month on average. The General's average premiums come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $235 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. 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 auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use The General save nearly $15 a month compared to those who use Gainsco.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Gainsco policyholders decrease more than 60% and The General's rates reduce over 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Gainsco and The General specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Gainsco gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 20% less expensive than the national average for The General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's usually because married drivers 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 single policyholders, with prices around $35 per month less expensive than The General, on average. The advantage for married couples with Gainsco is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $40 a month.

Gainsco vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Men usually pay about $15 per month more than women with Gainsco, and around $32 more with The General.

Looking at overall affordability, Gainsco comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $45 less for men and $27 cheaper for women.

Gainsco or The General: 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Gainsco typically offers more affordable prices of $125 compared to The General's $154. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Gainsco again has the edge, with policies about $45 a month cheaper than The General, on average.

Is Gainsco or The General 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.

Tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Gainsco or The General less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Gainsco policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while The General generally raises prices around $48 a month, on average.

However, Gainsco tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are 4% and 15% cheaper, respectively, compared to The General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Gainsco drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through The General will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, Gainsco offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $227 compared to The General's $279.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, The General increases average rates by over $60 per month -- that's just under a 25% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Gainsco tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $203 per month compared to $254 from The General.

How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and The General Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with The General for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 15% compared to Gainsco, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Gainsco -- around $12 or 6% more affordable than The General each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Gainsco typically offers lower prices than The General when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $41 a month less with Gainsco compared to The General, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $120 a month.

Is Gainsco or The General 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 considerable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Gainsco or The General report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Gainsco 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 rates of $205 per month for both.

Gainsco vs. The General: 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. Usually, 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.

Gainsco tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Gainsco offers prices about $299 monthly compared to The General's $310. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $180 a month for Gainsco and $225 for The General. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $136 and $189 for Gainsco and The General respectively.

Gainsco vs. The General Discounts

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

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

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

Overall, The General comes out ahead with six discounts to Gainsco's four.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a homeowner and paid in full discounts. The General also offers defensive driver discounts, group discounts, liability only discounts, and more 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 The General Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies 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 best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Gainsco might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

The General might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Gainsco and The General. 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Gainsco and The General. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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. The General FAQs

Is Gainsco or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Gainsco is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $205 per month compared to $241 for The General. That being said, Gainsco won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Gainsco or The General?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Gainsco offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while The General is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Gainsco and The General offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables like gender, age, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Gainsco and The General calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Gainsco or The General 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.