The General Car Insurance Review

Is The General Auto Insurance a Good Choice?

The General is a reputable car insurance company you can trust to provide solid coverage for your vehicle. However, while it’s a good company, The General auto insurance isn’t the best choice for every driver.

The General is one of the best insurance companies for high-risk auto insurance, though drivers with clean driving records will probably find cheaper rates elsewhere.

While The General offers affordable insurance to high-risk drivers, it lags behind competitors in key areas. For example, The General only sells car insurance — it doesn’t provide homeowners insurance or other popular policies.

However, you can use The General Labs to find provider options for various insurance products. The General won’t write the policies, but it can point you toward homeowners, motorcycle, and even pet insurance providers.

Auto insurance from The General is available in all states except Alaska, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Michigan. The General redirects you to Progressive if you enter a ZIP code from one of these states into the online quote form.

You have several options for filing claims with The General. The most popular choice is to use the mobile app, but you can also log into the website. If you prefer to speak with someone, you can call the 24/7 claims hotline and speak with a representative.

The General Customer Service

Unfortunately, The General doesn’t have a good reputation for its customer service.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks insurance companies by how many complaints it receives compared to its size. The national average for complaints is 1.0 — anything higher means it receives higher complaints than similarly sized companies.

The General’s NAIC rating for 2021 is 3.28, meaning it receives more than three times as many complaints as other companies. While that number is high, it’s an improvement — The General’s rating in 2020 was 5.63.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates companies’ ability to resolve customer complaints. The General has a rating of A+, but the BBB website lists hundreds of complaints.

Many customers complain that insurance representatives are rude, unknowledgeable, and unhelpful. A complaint commonly appearing in The General’s reviews is that representatives don’t return calls or follow up on inquiries.

The General’s Financial Strength

A company’s financial strength represents its ability to pay claims — you want to shop from a company with a solid strength rating.

The General auto insurance review from A.M. Best is an A-, signifying the company is financially healthy. It also received an A+ for its long-term issuer rating, which indicates that The General is in excellent shape to meet its financial obligations.

The General Auto Insurance Rates

Most insurance companies charge drivers with bad records, low credit scores, or coverage lapses more because they’re at higher risk. When an insurance company considers you high risk, your rates will be much higher, and you might get denied coverage altogether.

The General provides affordable coverage to drivers that other companies hesitate to insure. However, The General’s insurance quotes are much higher than its competitors because it insures many high-risk drivers.

Drivers with clean records and good credit scores should probably avoid The General because they’ll likely find more extensive coverage at a better price than other companies.

While The General is a solid choice for high-risk insurance, you should compare quotes with multiple companies if you’re a high-risk driver.

Average Car Insurance Rates by State

ZIP codes are one of the most significant factors insurance companies use to determine rates. Take a look below to see the average General insurance quote in your state.

Remember that these numbers are averages, and you might see higher or lower rates. Also, insurance companies keep track of claims filed by ZIP code, so some areas cost more than others.

Another factor that influences rates is the level of coverage you carry. Here's a look at how The General's average annual rates for full coverage compare to minimum coverage.

Now let's look at some specific factors that can affect your auto insurance rates.

The General Rates by Age

Another significant factor affecting insurance rates is your age. Finding cheap rates for teen drivers can be tricky since young drivers are statistically more likely to cause accidents and engage in reckless behavior. Older adults also tend to pay more for insurance due to an increased likelihood of driving problems.

Check the rates below to see how The General charges drivers by age.

Although The General is happy to offer insurance to young drivers, you’ll probably find cheaper rates for teens and young adults elsewhere.

Here's a look at The General's average annual auto insureance rates for teenagers.

The General Rates After an Accident

Many people looking for car insurance from The General have several accidents on their driving record. A single at-fault accident causes your rates to increase at any company, but insurers can mark you as a high-risk driver if you have several.

As you can see, The General has higher rates than competitors even after an accident. You’ll probably find cheaper insurance with a different company if your application doesn't get denied.

The General Rates After a DUI

DUIs are one of the worst indicators of riskiness to insurance companies, and many providers will drop you after your first. Car insurance after a DUI will always be expensive, but you can check how much The General charges below.

While The General’s auto insurance quotes are usually high, people with a DUI can rest assured they can still get the coverage they need to keep driving.

The General Rates for Drivers With Poor Credit

Insurance companies use your credit score to evaluate how risky you are to insure. Not every U.S. state allows the practice — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington prohibit credit checks for car insurance.

If you live in a state where companies can check your credit, you’ll pay more the lower your score is. 

Rates vary significantly based on your credit score. However, if a low credit score impacts your rates, you’re not stuck with that price forever — raising your credit score is an excellent way to lower your rates.

The General Auto Insurance Discounts Available

Taking advantage of discounts is one of the best ways to save on car insurance. Although some high-risk companies fail to deliver many opportunities for savings, The General does relatively well. 

For example, consider the following auto insurance discounts offered by The General:

• Double deductible. If you choose this option when initiating a policy, your comprehensive and collision deductible doubles for the first 45 days of your policy. In exchange, you earn a discount.
• New customer. You can earn this discount if you’ve had auto insurance with another company for the last five years.
• Pay in full. You’ll pay a little less for your policy if you pay for six months upfront rather than splitting it into monthly payments.
• Good student. Full-time students who maintain good academic standing earn this discount.
• Military. Active duty military members can earn a discount on their car insurance, but only in Louisiana.
• Homeowners. You can earn this discount simply by owning your home. Your homeowners insurance doesn’t have to be with The General since it only sells auto insurance.
• Multi-car. If you have more than one car in your household, you can earn a discount by including them on a single policy.
• Driver education. Drivers who take an approved driving course could earn this discount if the class wasn’t court-ordered.
• Safe driver. The General will discount your insurance if you maintain a clean driving record. While the length of time isn’t specified, most companies require no accidents or infractions for three years.
• Passive restraint. You can earn a small discount if your vehicle has passive restraint, like air bags.

Before signing up for insurance, check with a representative. Not all discounts are available in every state — for example, only Louisiana drivers are eligible for a military discount.

The General Car Insurance Perks

The General insurance reviews paint a picture of a bare-bones company, but that’s not entirely fair. The General doesn’t offer many perks, but it has a few worth checking out.

The first is an optional safety equipment deductible. You can choose a $0 deductible for your car’s safety equipment, including your windshield and other glass.

The deductible waiver adds about 15% to your monthly payment, but it might be worth it to people who frequently see windshield damage. You must have comprehensive and collision insurance to select this option.

Another perk is an optional roadside assistance plan with Nation Safe Drivers for about $10 a month. This membership is an upgrade to The General’s towing and labor option, covering battery changes, flat tires, and other mechanical problems.

The General Auto Insurance Coverage Options

The General Insurance company doesn’t offer as many products as competitors, so it can keep rates low. However, it provides everything you need to drive safely and legally.

The General’s car insurance options include the following:

• Liability. Liability insurance helps pay for damages or injuries you cause in an accident but doesn’t cover your vehicle. Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorists. Although most states require insurance, not all drivers follow the law. This coverage pays for damage to your car or yourself if a driver with inadequate insurance hits you.
• Collision. Collision insurance helps repair your car after an accident, regardless of fault. You’ll need collision insurance if you don’t own your vehicle outright.
• Comprehensive. Comprehensive insurance covers damage from weather, fire, theft, animal contact, and vandalism — you’ll need it if you don’t own your vehicle outright.
• Medical payments. Health care bills get expensive quickly, especially after a car accident. Medical payments coverage helps cover expenses for hospital stays, physical therapy, and lost wages.
• Custom equipment. You’ll need extra coverage if you have custom equipment like stereos, rims, or skirt kits because a standard plan won’t cover them. You need collision and comprehensive insurance to buy this add-on.
• Rental reimbursement. The General will reimburse you for a rental car if your vehicle gets stuck at the mechanic’s shop after an accident. Check your policy limits, so you don’t go over them.
• Towing and labor. Towing and labor — another add-on requiring comprehensive and collision insurance — tow your vehicle when you’re stuck on the side of the road.
• GAP coverage. If you get in an accident after buying a car, you might owe more on your loan than the car is worth. GAP coverage pays the difference but is only available in Washington and California.

While this list isn’t necessarily impressive, these coverages completely protect your vehicle.

Most states require liability insurance, and 14 require uninsured motorist coverage. If you own your car and can afford to replace it, getting your state’s minimum will help you save money.

You’ll probably need full coverage if you don’t own your car outright. Full coverage includes liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, and medical payments.

Whatever your situation, The General can ensure you have everything you need.