The General insurance review 2024
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At a glance
Score breakdown
Auto
3.3
Cost & ratings
3.0
Coverage
3.5
Support
3.9
About Bankrate Score
Bankrate's take
The General may be a good fit for high-risk drivers who have trouble finding coverage elsewhere. However, The General has a high number of complaints from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), indicating that customers may have issues with the company’s customer service, billing or claim handling.
- Specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers
- Flexible payment plans and customer-selected payment date
- Offers SR-22s and non-owner car insurance
- Offers additional lines of insurance through partner companies
- Limited endorsement options
New
In 2023, The General launched a new campaign called “The Break,” featuring a refreshed logo and The General mascot. The campaign’s messaging speaks to drivers in a pinch, emphasizing the point that The General can be the “break” drivers need on their insurance when it matters most. Unlike many other nonstandard carriers, The General offers policyholders flexible payment plans and the ability to select their own due date.
The General car insurance review
The General offers standard car insurance coverage types, several discounts and an online chat option for more convenient customer service, but the carrier falls short when it comes to add-ons. Additionally, The General is not included in J.D. Power customer satisfaction studies and the carrier has a high National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, indicating that some customers are not satisfied with the level of service they receive.
The General may be a good provider for some high-risk drivers as it is a nonstandard carrier with more affordable rates and coverage options for drivers with poor credit, a lapse in coverage, license suspensions or a poor driving record. This carrier also offers SR-22 filing, non-owner insurance and roadside assistance in select states through Nation Safe Drivers.
Pros and cons of The General car insurance
Comparing the pros and cons of the various auto insurance companies you're considering may help you narrow down your choices. Here are some of the key perks and drawbacks we identified with The General auto insurance:
Pros
- Coverage and premiums geared toward high-risk drivers
- Various discounts available
- Available in all states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- Limited coverage options
- Not rated by J.D. Power for customer service or claims satisfaction studies
- High amount of customer complaints filed with NAIC
The General car insurance cost
Based on data provided by Quadrant Information Services, the average full coverage car insurance premium from The General is $2,567 per year. The average premium for a policy with minimum coverage is $1,294 per year. Compared to the U.S. national average, which is $2,314 per year, The General’s average full coverage rate is 11 percent more, but its minimum coverage rate is 101 percent more than the national minimum average of $644 per year.
How much is The General car insurance?
Car insurance costs vary from person to person based on individual rating factors, including your driving record. Insurance companies typically charge higher premiums for drivers with speeding ticket convictions and at-fault accidents on their record. Note that while not all carriers will underwrite policies for drivers with a DUI, The General specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers. It offers coverage for drivers with DUIs, suspended licenses and those that need an SR-22 filing, as long as they meet the company's other underwriting criteria. Contact a local agent for an insurance quote to verify that your driving record qualifies for a policy.
| Driver profile | The General full coverage premium | National full coverage premium |
|---|---|---|
|
Good driver, good credit
|
The General full coverage premium
$2,567
|
National full coverage premium
$2,314
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$4,825
|
National full coverage premium
$4,063
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$3,333
|
National full coverage premium
$2,802
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$3,956
|
National full coverage premium
$3,283
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$3,656
|
National full coverage premium
$4,408
|
The General car insurance quotes by age
In most states, another factor impacting your car insurance rate in most states is age. Young and newly licensed drivers typically pay higher rates because they have less experience and pose a higher insurance risk. In the table below, you can see the average cost of car insurance for a teen on their parents' policy, as well as average rates by age for drivers with their own policy.
| Age | The General full coverage premium | National full coverage premium |
|---|---|---|
|
The General full coverage premium
$6,113
|
National full coverage premium
$4,874
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$5,653
|
National full coverage premium
$4,258
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$5,321
|
National full coverage premium
$4,864
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$3,701
|
National full coverage premium
$2,854
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$3,076
|
National full coverage premium
$2,448
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$2,567
|
National full coverage premium
$2,314
|
|
|
The General full coverage premium
$2,425
|
National full coverage premium
$2,097
|
Compare The General car insurance rates
Premiums vary between car insurance companies based on several factors, such as the type of coverage a company offers, state guidelines and available discounts. Typically The General has rates that are slightly lower than other insurance carriers.
| Company | Avg. full coverage premium | Avg. min coverage premium |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,567
|
$1,294
|
|
|
$2,364
|
$702
|
|
|
$1,988
|
$571
|
|
|
$2,971
|
$677
|
|
|
$1,695
|
$434
|
|
|
$1,853
|
$752
|
|
|
$1,839
|
$593
|
|
|
$1,806
|
$567
|
|
|
$1,694
|
$558
|
|
|
$1,639
|
$420
|
The General customer satisfaction
When comparing insurance companies, looking at third-party ratings may help you learn more about a carrier's customer service, claims satisfaction and financial strength. Some of the most notable organizations that issue third-party ratings include AM Best for financial strength and J.D. Power for customer, claims and digital tools satisfaction. Due in part to The General’s small customer base, it does not receive as many ratings as some larger insurance companies with more significant market share.
The General auto insurance customer complaints
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints against insurance companies and assigns each carrier complaint indexes by product type based on its size. The baseline for these indexes is 1.0. Companies that index higher than 1.0 receive more complaints than expected for their size, while companies with an index under 1.0 have fewer complaints than expected.
The General auto complaints
The General has more complaints than expected lodged with the NAIC for its private passenger auto insurance product. In 2023 it had more than three times as many complaints as other carriers of similar size. Based on this and the lack of J.D. Power scores, you may want to speak with existing policyholders before purchasing a policy from The General.
The General car insurance discounts
The General offers a handful of discounts that may help you save money on car insurance. Here are some of the discounts available, keeping in mind that some discounts are not offered in all states.
- Defensive driving course discount: In eligible states, drivers may earn a discount for completing an approved defensive driving course.
- Good student discount: The General may extend a discount to students who maintain a high GPA.
- Multi-car discount: If you insure more than one vehicle on a policy with The General, you might earn a discount.
- Homeowners discount: If you own your home, you may earn a discount on your insurance policy.
The General home insurance review
The General does not underwrite its own home insurance policies. However, you may be able to purchase home insurance from several partner companies through The General Labs program. After submitting some information about yourself and your home, you’ll be matched with several home insurance providers in your area. You can also get personalized quotes to see how much you might pay for home insurance with a partner company.
Compare The General with other insurers
While The General could be a good insurance provider for some people, it will not be the best car insurance company for everyone. If you're not sure The General is right for your insurance needs, you could consider quotes from these companies:
The General vs. Good2Go
Like The General, Good2Go specializes in auto insurance for high-risk drivers. Good2Go offers a wide selection of discounts and advertises low minimum coverage rates, but the carrier doesn't write policies in every state. Like The General, Good2Go refers customers interested in homeowners insurance to a third party partner.
Learn more: Good2Go Insurance review
The General vs. SafeAuto
SafeAuto may be another good option for high-risk drivers, but the carrier only offers coverage in 20 states. SafeAuto offers homeowners insurance underwritten by Hippo Insurance as well as motorcycle, renters, watercraft and business insurance through other underwriting partners. While SafeAuto does not offer the most robust coverage options, it does have many discounts that could help you save money on your auto insurance.
Learn more: SafeAuto Insurance review
The General vs. DirectAuto
If you're a high-risk driver looking for policy customization, DirectAuto may be a good option. The carrier offers several endorsements including collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, towing coverage, rental reimbursement and roadside assistance. Compared to The General, DirectAuto offers more discounts as well as an app-based safe driver rewards program, called DynamicDrive, which uses telematics to track your driving habits for potential savings. DirectAuto is only available in 15 states, and like The General, has a high NAIC Complaint Index.
Learn more: DirectAuto Insurance review
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyOur insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth The General insurance review.
46
years of industry expertise
122
carriers reviewed
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
1.2M
quotes analyzed
Is The General a good insurance company?
Based on Bankrate insurance team's in-depth analysis, The General may be a good auto insurance provider for high-risk drivers looking for comprehensive digital tools and a variety of discounts. However, if you have a clean driving record, other car insurance companies may offer better customer service ratings and more options for policy customization.
What are real-life customers saying about The General?
When searching for new insurance, hearing from real-life customers can give you a more holistic view of the company you are considering. To help make this process a little easier, Bankrate reviewed several review sites and social discourse platforms to see what policyholders have to say about their recent experiences with The General. Overall, customers note that The General will offer an insurance policy to drivers with a challenging driving history and that the rates tend to be lower than other providers.
The common thread from most Reddit reviews is that drivers who could not secure insurance with other companies were able to purchase a policy with The General, but had trouble with the SR-22 filing process. One benefit of Reddit is that while there might not be several reviews, users can leave comment threads on an existing post, which can help you see trends in a particular company's weakness.
Trustpilot
Trustpilot has more individual reviews for The General than Reddit and the experience noted is on the more positive side. Overall, users are happy to have found a company to provide auto insurance and state that signing up for insurance was accessible and more affordable than anticipated.
The General company details
If you are thinking about signing up with The General or need to make changes to an existing policy, here is a list of the primary contact information:
- For sales or customer service visit thegeneral.com or call 1-844-328-0306
- Claims can be filed online or by calling 1-800-280-1466
- To chat with a live agent, visit the website homepage
- General correspondence can be mailed to 2636 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 510, Nashville, TN, 37214
- Claims correspondence can be mailed to 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783-0001
- To report an incidence of fraud, call 1-800-280-1466 ext 1115
State availability
The General offers auto insurance in all 50 and Washington D.C.
The General tools and benefits
In addition to auto and home insurance, The General also offers some unique perks and other insurance products:
- Mobile app: The General has a highly-rated mobile app which customers can use to start a new claim, download their ID cards, make payments, get a new insurance quote and more. The app receives 4.7 out of 5 stars from iOS users and 4.8 out of 5 stars from Google Play users.
- The General Labs: The General Labs tests out new insurance products and services and relies on customer feedback to improve its offerings. For example, health, renters, mobile phone and pet insurance are currently being tested through The General Labs programs.
- Motorcycle insurance: The General sells motorcycle insurance policies that are underwritten by Dairyland. There are a handful of coverages to choose from, as well as several discounts for potential savings.
Frequently asked questions about The General
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.
The rates for drivers ages 16-20 added to their parents' policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.
Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.
Bankrate Scores
Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
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Cost & ratings 50%
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Coverage & savings 30%
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Support 20%
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
- Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
- Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.
Shannon Martin is a licensed insurance agent and Bankrate analyst with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She enjoys helping others navigate the insurance world by cutting through complex jargon and empowering readers to make strong financial decisions independently.
