The General is a Nashville-based insurance company founded under a different name in 1963.1 The company now specializes in insuring high-risk drivers who have problems finding affordable coverage due to their poor credit history, bad driving record, or past insurance lapses.
While The General can be a great option for high-risk drivers, people with a clean driving record and a lower risk profile may find that the company has very expensive premiums. You should always compare quotes from multiple insurers before purchasing a new car insurance policy.
Here’s what you need to know about coverage options from The General.
The General has an impressive star rating on Trustpilot of 4.7 out of 5, based on more than 90,000 customer reviews.
You can purchase The General car insurance in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
The General earned an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best.
How The General compares to other insurance companies
The General vs GEICO, Allstate, and Progressive
Our editorial team spent 350 hours developing the IQ (Insurify Quality) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: We use data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the United States, as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer’s transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.
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How The General rates compare to competitors
Average rates from The General are much higher than the national average and premiums from many top insurers. But the company has similar rates to competitors also selling insurance to high-risk drivers.
Compare average full-coverage quotes from The General and a few of its competitors below.
Average cost of The General auto insurance
Your driving record and age affect your car insurance premiums.2
People with a clean driving record earn the cheapest rates, and drivers with one or more past speeding tickets, car accidents, or DUIs pay higher premiums on average. Based on driver age, teen drivers pay the highest premiums due to a lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of accidents. Rates tend to decrease with age, but senior drivers 70 and older may face slight upticks in cost.
Below, you can compare average liability insurance quotes by driver type from The General to the national averages.
The General car insurance cost by state
Car insurance rates and minimum coverage requirements vary by state. Some location-specific factors that can affect insurance premiums include the state’s percentage of uninsured drivers, weather risks, and vehicle theft rates.
The General has more expensive average premiums than many insurers operating in the same states. But the company specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers, so it makes sense that its average premiums exceed the state averages.
See how average monthly liability insurance costs from The General compare to state averages below.
The General car insurance discounts
The General offers several car insurance discounts that can help you save money on your auto insurance. But it offers fewer discounts than many of its competitors, which you should keep in mind when comparing The General to other insurers.
Here are the discounts that The General advertises on its website, though availability may vary by state.
How customers feel about The General
The General has positive customer reviews overall on online rating websites. The company has an average rating of 3.78 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot, based on more than 90,000 reviews.
The General also has a solid financial strength rating from AM Best, which indicates the company can meet policyholder obligations and pay car insurance claims.
But The General has many more complaints than expected for its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index.
The General customer reviews
Reviews of The General insurance from customers are generally positive. Many of the reviews mention good customer service, cheap premiums, and an excellent user experience for its online quote generator.
Here are some examples of recent customer reviews from verified users.
The General ratings
The General has a high financial strength rating with AM Best, but it receives a high number of customer complaints with the NAIC in relation to its size. Below, you can learn more about The General’s third-party ratings.
The General car insurance coverage options
The General offers several types of auto insurance. You can purchase liability insurance that meets your state’s minimum coverage requirements or purchase a full-coverage policy that includes collision and comprehensive insurance.
The General offers fewer coverage options than its competitors. Here are a few of the add-ons available:3
Other options for The General customers
The General offers a good selection of insurance products, which makes bundling a great option. The company sells some insurance policies through partner companies.
In addition to auto insurance, The General sells the following types of coverage:
Homeowners insurance: Home insurance covers the physical structure of your home and your personal belongings. It also covers third-party liability claims, guest medical expenses, and loss of use.
Life insurance: Life insurance provides financial support for your loved ones if you pass away. Some life insurance policies also include a cash value or investment component.
Boat insurance: The General sells boat insurance through Progressive. It covers third-party property damage, theft, and accidents involving boats and other personal watercraft.
Motorcycle insurance: Motorcycle insurance provides similar coverage to personal car insurance, like collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and liability coverage, but it’s specifically for motorcycles.
The General Insurance FAQs
If you’re thinking about purchasing car insurance from The General, the following information can help you decide if it’s a good option for your coverage needs.
Is The General legitimate?
Yes. The General is a legitimate car insurance company. It’s a subsidiary of PGC Holdings Corp., which is an affiliate of American Family Insurance. The General hasn’t had fraudulent business practices, and its customer reviews are mostly positive.
What is the average cost of The General car insurance?
The average cost of car insurance from The General is $182 per month for full-coverage insurance and $95 for minimum-coverage insurance.
Why is The General so cheap?
Compared to many other car insurance companies, The General doesn’t have cheap rates. But The General specializes in insuring high-risk drivers, who typically pay higher rates than low-risk drivers. The General might have competitive rates or even cheaper rates than other insurers for drivers who need non-standard auto insurance.
Is The General good at paying claims?
Yes. The General is good at paying claims. The General has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), which means it has an excellent ability to meet its financial obligations and settle auto insurance claim payments.
How do you cancel an insurance policy from The General?
To cancel a high-risk car insurance policy with The General, call customer service at 1 (844) 328-0306. In some states, you may have to pay a penalty fee equal to 10% of the unused premiums if you request to cancel before the policy period is over.
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