GAINSCO Auto Insurance Review: Costs and Ratings (2024)

GAINSCO offers nonstandard car insurance as well as discounts for drivers in some states to save on their rates.

Anna Baluch
Written byAnna Baluch
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Anna BaluchInsurance Writer
  • 4+ years writing insurance and personal finance content

  • MBA from Roosevelt University

Anna leverages her personal finance and insurance knowledge to create educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions.

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Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated February 22, 2023

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If you search for car insurance online, you’ll come across a number of different companies. GAINSCO specializes in nonstandard and high-risk car insurance for drivers in 19 states. Here’s what you need to know about GAINSCO’s discounts, reviews, and auto insurance options.

Quick Facts
  • GAINSCO focuses on nonstandard car insurance for high-risk drivers who other insurance companies deny coverage to.

  • Its full-coverage insurance costs an average of $284 a month.

  • If you need an SR-22 form to prove you’ve met the minimum car insurance requirements in your state after a DUI or other serious offense, GAINSCO can file one on your behalf.

What is GAINSCO car insurance?

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and established in 1978, GAINSCO is a property and casualty insurance company with a focus on nonstandard personal auto insurance. Its policies are designed for high-risk drivers with traffic violations like at-fault accidents, DUIs, and driving without insurance.

In late 2020, State Farm, one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S., acquired GAINSCO. While GAINSCO is a separate entity, State Farm says it expects to offer combined products in the future.

How does GAINSCO auto insurance work?

GAINSCO’s sole product is car insurance for drivers with a history of traffic offenses. The company sells its policies through online marketplaces and a network of more than 20,000 independent agents across 19 states.

Unlike most car insurance companies, GAINSCO provides SR-22 forms after it sells policies so that drivers can get back on the road as soon as possible. Plus, its premiums for nonstandard car insurance are competitive.

GAINSCO car insurance coverage

GAINSCO offers various auto insurance coverage options, including:

  • Liability: With liability coverage, you can protect your assets after you caused a car accident. It covers the cost of property damage and injuries or death of others involved in the accident.

  • SR-22 insurance: GAINSCO specializes in SR-22 insurance policies, offering coverage to drivers with infractions and violations in their driving history. SR-22 insurance provides proof of responsibility to state governments that the policyholder has adequate coverage.

  • Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage can repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged in a noncollision event, like theft or vandalism. While it’s generally more expensive than liability coverage, it may be worth it if you want extra peace of mind. 

  • Collision: Collision coverage pays for repair or replacement costs if your car sustains damage in an accident with another vehicle or object, no matter who’s liable.

  • Personal injury protection: Also known as no-fault car insurance, personal injury protection (PIP) helps cover expenses like medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs after a car accident, regardless of who’s responsible.

How to get a GAINSCO car insurance quote

If you’re interested in a GAINSCO auto insurance quote you can visit the GAINSCO website, click “Get a Quick Quote,” and enter your ZIP code. From there, you provide basic personal information, like your name, home address, email address, and phone number. 

You can also consult an independent agent or use an online quote-comparison tool like Insurify to quickly compare GAINSCO with other car insurance companies in one place.

GAINSCO car insurance cost by state

Car insurance requirements and prices vary by state.[1] The table below shows the average monthly rate of GAINSCO full-coverage and liability-only policies:

StateAverage Monthly Quote: Full CoverageAverage Monthly Quote: Liability Only
Alabama$226$101
Arkansas$222$127
Arizona$254$129
Florida$249$192
Georgia$344$190
Illinois$162$103
Indiana$155$91
Missouri$270$154
New Mexico$187$79
Ohio$149$99
Oklahoma$247$115
South Carolina$404$241
Tennessee$276$106
Texas$355$162
Utah$255$134
Virginia$207$93
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GAINSCO auto insurance rates by driving history

Your driving history will affect your car insurance rates. Drivers with clean records pay lower rates on full-coverage and liability-only policies than drivers with serious traffic violations like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs.[1] Here are GAINSCO’s average car insurance rates based on driving history.

Quote Price by Driving Record

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GAINSCO car insurance cost by age

Auto insurance premiums can vary based on a driver’s age.[1] Teens with minimal experience may pay more for a GAINSCO car insurance policy than older, more experienced drivers.

Quote Price by Age Group

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GAINSCO car insurance discounts

Discounts can make a GAINSCO car insurance policy more affordable for you. While GAINSCO doesn’t offer as many discounts as other larger insurance companies, here’s an overview of the discounts that are available.

  • Pay-in-full discount: If you pay for your auto insurance policy premium up front, you may save on your policy.

  • Autopay discount: GAINSCO will reward you with a discount if you enroll in automatic payments.

  • Homeowner’s discount: You may land a discount if you own a home.

  • Proof of prior coverage discount: This discount might apply if you can show that you’ve had continuous auto insurance coverage with no gaps.

  • Student discount: GAINSCO offers a discount for drivers who are enrolled as students.

Unfortunately, GAINSCO doesn’t offer discounts for safe driving, military service, or telematics-based usage.

GAINSCO Insurance bundling options

Bundling can reduce the cost of car insurance. In fact, some companies will give you up to 10% off your premiums if you bundle your auto policy with your homeowners insurance. Since GAINSO only offers car insurance, however, bundling isn’t an option.

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GAINSCO Insurance reviews and ratings

Before you commit to a GAINSCO car insurance policy, be sure to read reviews and ratings from reputable sources. This can help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. Below are several examples of GAINSCO insurance reviews and ratings.

GAINSCO Insurance customer reviews

GAINSCO Insurance ratings

Here’s how GAINSCO stacks up on various rating sites as of February 2023.

  • Google reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars with 2,679 reviews

  • Better Business Bureau: No BBB accreditation, 1.0 out of 5 stars with 29 reviews

  • Yelp: 1.0 out of 5 stars with 79 reviews

  • Apple App Store: 3.0 out of 5 stars with 22 reviews

  • Google Play Store: 3.4 out of 5 stars with 108 reviews

GAINSCO Insurance vs. other insurance companies

The car insurance market is highly saturated. With so many auto insurance providers out there, it’s a good idea to see how GAINSCO compares to other car insurance options.

GAINSCO vs. Infinity

Kemper Insurance acquired Infinity in 2018, but Infinity still operates under its own name in California. Just like GAINSCO, it offers nonstandard policies, but it’s only available in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. However, average policies from Infinity are more expensive than GAINSCO’s. A GAINSCO full-coverage policy costs $284 a month on average, compared to Infinity’s $411 average monthly cost. For liability-only insurance, GAINSCO costs an average of $156 a month and Infinity costs an average of $283 a month.

GAINSCO vs. Progressive

Progressive Mutual Insurance Company has been in the car insurance market since 1937. Unlike GAINSCO, it offers a number of other insurance products, such as home insurance and commercial insurance. Drivers can score a Progressive bundling discount and save an average of 20% if they enroll in auto and home insurance policies.

While Progressive doesn’t specialize in SR-22 insurance or high-risk car insurance, its rates are comparable to GAINSCO’s. A GAINSCO full-coverage insurance policy costs an average of $284 a month, while Progressive’s full-coverage insurance costs an average of $238 a month. For liability-only coverage, GAINSCO costs an average of $156 and Progressive costs an average of $161.

GAINSCO vs. State Farm

GAINSCO is actually a subsidiary of State Farm. State Farm is known for a robust lineup of products as well as two telematics programs called Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear, which may help you save on your premiums. Plus, it offers far more discounts than GAINSCO.

These discounts may be reflected in the slightly lower average rates with State Farm. GAINSCO’s full-coverage car insurance costs an average of $283 a month, and State Farm’s full coverage costs an average of $175 a month. Additionally, State Farm’s liability-only monthly average cost is $125, compared to GAINSCO’s $156.

GAINSCO Insurance pros and cons

Pros
  • Focus on nonstandard car insurance: GAINSCO’s only offering is nonstandard auto insurance for high-risk drivers with serious traffic violations, like DUIs and speeding tickets. If you’re having trouble getting a policy elsewhere, GAINSCO might be a good option.

  • Agent network: GAINSCO has more than 20,000 independent agents across 19 states. This is great news if you prefer a personal service experience.

  • Mobile app: GAINSCO has a full-service mobile app. You can use it to request a quote or manage your auto policy.

Cons
  • Limited coverage: Compared to other car insurance companies, GAINSCO offers fewer coverage options.

  • Many negative reviews: Most review sites are filled with poor GAINSCO reviews. This may indicate that a GAINSCO auto policy is risky to get.

  • Not available everywhere: GAINSCO car insurance products are only available in 19 states. You might have to find another provider if you live somewhere it doesn’t serve.

Filing an auto insurance claim with GAINSCO Insurance

After a car accident, you can submit an auto insurance claim to request reimbursement for your expenses. GAINSCO lets you file a claim online through its website or mobile app. The claims department is available 24/7 to help you complete a claim form or manage a claim. You can also work with an independent agent if you need hands-on assistance.

GAINSCO Insurance FAQs

Here are answers to several of the most frequently asked questions about GAINSCO car insurance.

  • Is GAINSCO Insurance legitimate?

    Yes, GAINSCO is a legitimate insurance company that State Farm acquired in late 2020.

  • What is the average cost of GAINSCO car insurance?

    The average cost of full-coverage car insurance with GAINSCO is $284 a month. For liability-only policies, its average cost is $156 a month.

  • Is GAINSCO Insurance good with claims?

    GAINSCO earned an A- financial strength rating from A.M. Best.[2] This means it’s good with claims and considered a reputable insurance company.

  • Is GAINSCO Insurance right for you?

    If you have a high-risk driving history, with tickets, accidents, and other violations, then GAINSCO may be one of your only options when other companies deny you coverage. However, if you have a relatively clean driving history, you have many other options to consider.

  • What other types of insurance does GAINSCO offer?

    Unlike most insurance companies, GAINSCO’s sole product is car insurance.

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Sources

  1. III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed February 15, 2023
  2. A.M. Best. "MGA Insurance Company, Inc.." Accessed February 15, 2023
Anna Baluch
Anna BaluchInsurance Writer

Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.

Courtney Mikulski
Edited byCourtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.