Gainsco Insurance Company
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Program overview / appetite - Personal nonstandard private passenger auto program; state-specific rules. Example used: Indiana Personal Auto Program Rules Manual, effective April 15, 2024 for new and renewal business. - Written via independent agents and bound/serviced through GAINSCOconnect.com. - Focus on nonstandard drivers (SR-22s acceptable with surcharge, prior lapses allowed with surcharge, surcharges for high‑risk vehicles and drivers). Non-owner policies available for named insured (and spouse if not excluded) when using vehicles not owned by or regularly available to the household. Preferred / target characteristics (within nonstandard segment) - Private passenger vehicles garaged and principally used in state (Indiana in referenced manual) with clean or moderate loss history and verifiable garaging and ownership. - Risks with proof of prior insurance (avoids additional surcharge). - Vehicles without severe title problems and without significant pre‑existing damage (or with documented inspections when comp/collision is written). - Drivers with valid licenses (including foreign licenses with documentation) and complete disclosure of all household drivers. Unacceptable / declined risks (summarized from "Unacceptable Risks", "Unacceptable Vehicles", "Unacceptable Drivers" sections) - Certain vehicle types: business or commercial use vehicles outside the personal auto rules, vehicles with severe title issues, and those falling under the manual’s "Unacceptable Vehicles" list. - Certain drivers: those meeting the "Unacceptable Drivers" definitions (e.g., serious violations, fraudulent activity, or other conditions identified as unacceptable in the state manual). Unacceptable drivers or vehicles added mid‑term may trigger cancellation or additional "unacceptable" surcharges. - Risks outside the state: garaging or primary operation moved outside the state (e.g., outside Indiana) may render the risk unacceptable or subject to surcharge. Geographic / territorial notes - Policies are state-specific; the referenced manual applies to Indiana business only. Vehicles must be principally garaged and primarily operated in the state; moving garaging or residence out of state can produce surcharges or make the risk unacceptable. - Severe weather binding restrictions: during company-declared severe weather events, all new business and any endorsements that increase exposure are suspended until GAINSCO lifts the restriction on GAINSCOconnect.com. Submission & binding requirements (agents) - All applications must be submitted and bound online through GAINSCOconnect.com. If agent cannot rate/bind online, they must contact Customer Service/Help Desk for assistance. - Binding authority – new business: governed by online processing; coverage is not considered bound if the applicant’s down payment is returned by the bank/financial institution. Returned down payment allows company to void the policy; agent must immediately notify GAINSCO upon notice of insufficient funds. - Binding authority – endorsements: must be processed online via GAINSCOconnect.com. Agents may not backdate coverage. Agents have 72 hours of binding authority from the time the insured notifies the agent; if more than 72 hours have elapsed, effective date is date/time of contact/notice to company. - Severe weather: when GAINSCO posts binding restrictions on GAINSCOconnect.com, agents may not submit new business or endorsements that increase exposure until restriction is lifted. Documentation & inspection requirements - Required documents to retain (minimum 7 years after policy expiration/cancellation or longer if law requires): signed application (if not e‑signed in GAINSCOconnect), selection/rejection of UM forms, vehicle inspection forms/photos, proof of prior insurance, copies of foreign IDs, military ID/proof of deployment, proof of homeownership, student transcript (good student), accident documentation for "not at fault", certificates for driver‑training/defensive‑driver discounts, and any other documents required by law or company. - Pre‑insurance vehicle inspection required for any vehicle with pre‑existing damage when comprehensive and collision coverages are requested. Agent must verify VIN, walk the vehicle, and document damage. Rating / surcharges (operational highlights) - Policy will be re‑rated to appropriate level if driver class, discounts, or surcharges are incorrectly applied or supporting proof is missing; changes are effective back to policy effective date. - Surcharges may apply for: • Prior endorsement activity (frequent changes to coverages, deductibles, vehicles, drivers, address, or garaging). • Re‑addition of vehicles after prior deletion. • Prior cancellations for non‑payment of premium. • Unacceptable drivers or vehicles added mid‑term (may trigger additional "unacceptable" surcharge or cancellation). • No proof of prior insurance. • Vehicles with "Severe Problem" titles. • SR‑22 financial responsibility filings. • Premium financed policies. - Within 60 days after policy effective date, any change that results in an unacceptable risk may lead to cancellation instead of applying an unacceptable surcharge. SR‑22 / non‑owner - SR‑22: flat fully-earned charge per filing on Indiana risks; surcharge may also apply. GAINSCO will file SR‑22 only for the state of Indiana in the referenced manual. - Non-owner: liability coverage only for named insured (or named insured plus spouse) while using non‑owned vehicles not available for regular or frequent use and not owned by the insured or any household resident; discounted rating factor may apply. Cancellations, renewals, reinstatements - Policy may be voided if down payment is returned; agent must advise GAINSCO immediately on NSF notices. - Named insured must request cancellation (signed request or recorded statement). Effective date cannot be earlier than: date request given to agent/company, date of duplicate coverage, date vehicle is no longer owned, or date plates were returned to the state DMV (Indiana BMV in manual). - Earned premium on cancellation calculated pro rata; unearned premium refunded. - Renewals only if all amounts owed on current term are paid and first renewal installment is received before expiration; no grace period beyond expiration date. - Reinstatements for non‑payment allowed up to 30 days from cancellation date, potentially without lapse in coverage; inspections may be requested at underwriter discretion. - Rewrites available (e.g., after 30+ day lapse); processed online. Installment plans & payments - Multiple installment options are offered; down payment must be collected at binding. - Installment, late, and NSF fees may apply to billed installments and unsuccessful/returned payments. Agent / producer expectations - Agent must ensure strict compliance with underwriting rules, procedures, and documentation requirements; failure can lead to status changes including suspension or termination. - Agents must obtain all required signatures (or properly manage e‑signatures), verify the applicant is the named insured, provide FCRA letters generated when premiums change due to consumer reports, and retain/produce documentation for audits and claims. - Endorsements must be processed same day the agent is notified by the insured. Agents must also cooperate fully with claims, including providing documents and recorded statements when requested. Practical producer notes - Use GAINSCOconnect.com for all quoting, binding, endorsements, and e‑signature workflows. - Avoid binding when weather restrictions are posted. - Collect and retain proof of prior insurance and all discount evidence up front to avoid re‑rating and surcharges. - Carefully screen for unacceptable vehicles/drivers based on the state manual and discuss the impact of SR‑22 filings, severe title problems, and prior non‑pay cancellations with applicants. Note: Appetite and rules are state-specific. For other states, producers should obtain the corresponding state Personal Auto Program Rules / Underwriting Manual via GAINSCO’s agent portal and follow that manual’s unacceptable risk lists, discount structures, and state‑specific procedures.