Gainsco After a Ticket: Texas and Florida Points Coverage

Gainsco Insurance Company underwrites non-standard auto policies in exactly two states: Texas and Florida. The carrier built its distribution model around appointed agents in both states and filed county-specific rate programs in Texas that allow granular pricing by ZIP code risk tier. Most non-standard carriers expand to 15 or 20 states once they achieve scale, but Gainsco maintains single-state expertise in two high-volume markets with distinct regulatory filing requirements. Texas and Florida both rank in the top five states for uninsured motorist rates, and both require proof of financial responsibility after certain violations. Gainsco's underwriting appetite covers drivers with one or two moving violations, at-fault accidents under $5,000 in damages, and lapsed coverage up to 90 days. The carrier will quote drivers with points on record but declines multi-DUI cases and suspended license applicants who haven't completed reinstatement. If you live outside Texas or Florida, Gainsco will not quote you. The carrier does not write policies in border states, does not offer online quoting for out-of-state relocations, and does not maintain surplus lines authority to cover high-risk drivers in other jurisdictions. Drivers with violations in other states need to compare regional non-standard carriers or national programs like Progressive's non-standard division.

Texas uses a two-point system for most moving violations and a three-point assignment for violations resulting in an accident. A speeding ticket 10% or more over the posted limit adds two points to your DMV record. An at-fault accident with a citation adds three points. Points remain on your Texas driving record for three years from the conviction date, and the state assesses an annual Driver Responsibility Program surcharge of $100 per point once you reach six points in a three-year window. Gainsco's Texas rate filings include violation surcharges that stack on top of base premium. A single speeding ticket typically increases your six-month premium by 20 to 35 percent, depending on county risk tier and coverage limits. A second ticket within 36 months triggers a higher surcharge bracket and may require underwriting review before renewal. The carrier does not automatically cancel after two violations, but three moving violations in three years will generate a non-renewal notice at your next policy term. Texas points do not automatically trigger SR-22 filing requirements unless your license is suspended. Gainsco writes embedded SR-22 coverage into its Texas policies at no additional policy fee, but the state charges a $25 filing fee through the Texas Department of Public Safety. If you accumulate six or more points and receive a suspension notice, you'll need to maintain SR-22 for two years after reinstatement. Gainsco will file the SR-22 form electronically within 24 hours of policy binding if you provide the suspension order number.

Florida assigns three points for speeding 15 mph or less over the limit, four points for speeding 16 mph or more over, and six points for violations like running a red light or improper lane change resulting in a crash. Points stay on your Florida driving record for three to five years depending on violation severity. The state suspends your license if you accumulate 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months, or 24 points in 36 months. Gainsco's Florida underwriting treats points as a proxy for claim probability. A three-point speeding ticket increases your premium by 25 to 40 percent at renewal, with the surcharge applied for three full policy terms even though Florida removes the points from your DMV record sooner. A six-point violation like reckless driving triggers a 50 to 70 percent surcharge and requires underwriting approval to renew. The carrier will not quote drivers with 12 or more points on record or drivers who have had a license suspension in the past 36 months. Florida does not require SR-22 filing. The state uses an FR-44 certificate for DUI convictions only, and Gainsco does not write FR-44 policies in Florida. If your violation does not involve alcohol and your license remains valid, you will not need any filing certificate. If your license is suspended for points accumulation, you must complete reinstatement with the Florida DMV before Gainsco will bind a new policy. The carrier does not offer restricted-license coverage during suspension periods.

Gainsco declines applications from drivers with three or more moving violations in the past 36 months, any DUI or DWI conviction in the past five years, or any license suspension that has not been fully resolved. The carrier also declines drivers with at-fault accidents exceeding $10,000 in total damages or drivers with any combination of two at-fault accidents and two moving violations in a three-year window. If you receive a declination, your agent will typically refer you to a managing general agency that writes higher-tier non-standard business. In Texas, county mutual insurers and surplus lines carriers cover drivers Gainsco declines. In Florida, assigned risk plans and specialty high-risk carriers like Acceptance or Direct Auto provide last-resort coverage at higher premiums. These carriers charge 40 to 80 percent more than Gainsco's rates, but they underwrite violations Gainsco will not touch. Drivers who improve their record by completing a defensive driving course or reaching the three-year point expiration date can reapply with Gainsco. Texas allows one defensive driving course every 12 months to dismiss a ticket and prevent point assignment, but the course must be completed before the conviction appears on your record. Florida allows one election of traffic school every 12 months to withhold points, but you must elect the course at the time of your court appearance or within 30 days of citation. Gainsco will re-quote clean-record rates once points fall off your DMV record and your violation lookback window clears.

Texas non-standard carriers include Gainsco, Safe Auto, Acceptance, Direct Auto, and Fred Loya. Gainsco typically quotes 10 to 20 percent below Safe Auto and Direct Auto for drivers with one speeding ticket, but Safe Auto will quote drivers with three violations where Gainsco declines. Fred Loya underwrites higher-risk profiles and offers lower liability limits, but Gainsco requires state minimum coverage or higher and will not write liability-only policies below 30/60/25 limits in most Texas counties. Florida non-standard carriers include Gainsco, Direct Auto, Infinity, Kemper, and Safe Auto. Gainsco's Florida rates run 15 to 25 percent higher than its Texas rates for equivalent driver profiles because Florida's no-fault PIP requirement adds $40 to $70 per month to every policy. Direct Auto and Infinity both quote drivers with suspended license history, while Gainsco requires full reinstatement before binding. Kemper writes standard and non-standard tiers and may offer lower rates if your violation is older than 24 months, but Gainsco does not tier by violation age within the three-year surcharge window. Gainsco does not offer online quoting. You must contact an appointed agent by phone or visit an agent office to receive a quote. The carrier does not participate in aggregator platforms or lead-generation websites. If you request a quote through an online form, the lead is sold to an agency network, not routed directly to Gainsco underwriting. This distribution model keeps Gainsco's acquisition costs lower than direct-to-consumer competitors, but it also limits your ability to compare rates quickly across multiple non-standard carriers.

Request a re-quote 60 days before your renewal date. Gainsco applies violation surcharges at renewal, not mid-term, so your current policy period reflects your clean-record rate even if you received a ticket two months ago. If your renewal quote shows a 30 percent increase, call your agent and confirm the violation details Gainsco pulled from your MVR. Errors in conviction date, point assignment, or violation code happen in roughly 8 percent of MVR pulls, and disputing an incorrect record before renewal can prevent the surcharge from applying. If the violation is accurate and the surcharge applies, ask your agent to quote three alternative coverage structures: higher deductibles, liability-only coverage, and reduced uninsured motorist limits. Increasing your collision deductible from $500 to $1,000 typically reduces your premium by 10 to 15 percent, and dropping comprehensive coverage entirely saves another $30 to $50 per month if your vehicle is older than 10 years. Texas and Florida both require minimum liability limits, but you can reduce optional coverages to offset the violation surcharge without dropping below legal requirements. If Gainsco's renewal quote exceeds your budget, request quotes from Safe Auto, Direct Auto, and at least one regional carrier your agent represents. Non-standard carrier pricing varies by 20 to 40 percent for identical driver profiles because each carrier files county-specific rate programs with different base assumptions about claim frequency. Switching carriers after a violation does not reset your surcharge timer—your new carrier will pull the same MVR and apply its own violation surcharge—but a competitor's base rate may be low enough that your total premium drops even with the surcharge applied.