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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers cheaper rates than Gainsco
• Gainsco offers more affordable prices for residents of rural areas
• Progressive offers more affordable average rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Gainsco or Progressive as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Progressive is about $25 per month less expensive than Gainsco.

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

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

Gainsco or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Gainsco and Progressive only compete against each other in Arizona, where Progressive offers the cheaper average premiums. For Arizona residents, Progressive offers auto insurance for $169 per month on average. Gainsco's average prices come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $205 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Progressive for their car insurance pay nearly $10 less than those who use Gainsco.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Gainsco policyholders decrease almost $300 and Progressive's prices reduce more than $300 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 most affordable premiums you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $131 monthly compared to Gainsco's $158.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single policyholders, with prices only differing about $23 a month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Gainsco vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Men usually pay around 7% more per month than women with Gainsco, and about 3% with Progressive.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Progressive comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates $29 less for men and $20 cheaper for women.

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Gainsco or Progressive: 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 a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Progressive typically offers less expensive premiums of $111 compared to Gainsco's $125. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies around $35 a month more affordable than Gainsco, on average.

Is Gainsco or Progressive 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 tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Gainsco policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Progressive normally raises prices about $31 a month, on average.

That being said, Progressive has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 19% and 11% more affordable, respectively, compared to GAINSCO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Progressive raising by $65. Gainsco has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay over $40 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, Progressive offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $214 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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Progressive drivers usually see a 16% increase in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Gainsco will typically raise prices by around 9%.

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How does Credit Score Impact Gainsco and Progressive Rates?

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

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

Looking at Gainsco and Progressive specifically, which carrier 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?

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Is Gainsco or Progressive 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 sizable impact on your monthly car insurance bill? Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Gainsco or Progressive report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Progressive comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $180 per month for both.

Gainsco vs. Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Progressive usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Gainsco wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average rates are about $207 while Gainsco offers prices around $299. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $179 with Progressive compared to Gainsco's $180 per month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $136 monthly with Gainsco compared to Progressive's $154.

Gainsco vs. Progressive Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Gainsco and Progressive offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Progressive knocks Gainsco out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Gainsco's 34.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Gainsco does not.

Gainsco's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Homeowner, Paid In Full, and more.

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Final Thoughts: Is Gainsco or Progressive Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You're looking for discounts -- Progressive has the most.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Gainsco might be best for you if...

• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Gainsco and Progressive. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 several companies, not just Gainsco and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

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Gainsco vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Gainsco or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Progressive is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $205 for Gainsco. Even so, Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Gainsco or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Progressive offers cheaper premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Gainsco is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Gainsco and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Gainsco and Progressive calculate rates using 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 a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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, sites like Compare.com make 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 Progressive at all!

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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.