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The General Auto Insurance Review
After 800 hours of research on the car insurance industry, we’ve rated The General Insurance an 8.0 out of 10.0 in our industry-wide review. The General provides solid car insurance coverage options for high-risk drivers. However, it has somewhat high premiums for most drivers and a below-average customer service reputation.
Our Rating
8/10
In Brief:
The General is a good option for high-risk drivers looking for strong coverage and discount options.
The General Car Insurance Pros and Cons
Below are some specific pros and cons about The General car insurance:
Pros
Accepts most high-risk driversStrong online presenceWide-ranging coverage optionsDiscount opportunities
Cons
Below-average customer serviceSomewhat high premiumsSlow claims processPoor communication on policies and claims
The General Car Insurance Rating
Our score was aggregated according to our rating criteria — which evaluates providers on their costs, coverages, reputations, availability and customer experiences. See a breakdown of our overall rating in the table below:
| Rating Category | Score (Out of 10.0) |
|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 8.5 |
| Availability | 10.0 |
| Coverage | 7.9 |
| Cost and Discounts | 6.8 |
| Customer Experience | 8.2 |
| Overall Rating | 8.0 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
Is The General Insurance Good?
If you are a high risk driver, you can expect to get cheaper insurance rates and getting approval at The General, but if you have a good driving record, it is not the best option for affordability. Their customer service is considered top notch by customers and the company has some good benefits. However, you’ll typically be better off going with another company.
The General Insurance Ratings
On the bright side, The General and its insurance underwriters have earned close to the best ratings for financial strength from AM Best.
Below are the companies that cover claims for The General and their overall levels of financial health:
| The General Insurance Underwriter | AM Best Financial Strength Rating |
|---|---|
| Permanent General Assurance Corp. | A |
| Permanent General Assurance Corp. of Ohio | A |
| The General Automobile Insurance Co. Inc. | A |
American Family Insurance, the parent company of The General, also holds an A financial strength rating from AM Best.
Why Choose The General Insurance
If you are looking for car insurance for bad credit or just need approval for policy coverage, The General is a good option for cheaper coverage. The company also has an overall good reputation with customers and they praise the company for an easy quotes process and great service.
Where The General Falls Short
Since it is not a larger company, The General has a lack of coverage options, benefits, and discounts. They also lack a telematics insurance program which can give you discounts for good driving. Compared to the industry average, the company has much more expensive coverage overall, especially for good drivers..
The General Insurance Comparison
Below you can compare The General to other major insurers we’ve reviewed:
| Comparison | The General vs. Competitor Rating | Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|
| The General vs. Progressive | 8.0 vs. 9.0 | Progressive offers more coverage options at lower prices overall while The General offers lower pricing for high risk drivers. |
| The General vs. State Farm | 8.0 vs. 9.4 | State Farm is more affordable and has better customer service than The General. |
| The General vs. Liberty Mutual | 8.0 vs. 9.1 | Liberty Mutual has more add-ons, benefits, and cheaper overall coverage than The General. |
| The General vs. Geico | 8.0 vs. 9.1 | Geico is much cheaper option than The General and comes with more insurance options |
| The General vs. Travelers | 8.0 vs. 9.5 | Travelers has better choices for insurance, higher ratings, and more affordable coverage than The General. |
| The General vs. Allstate | 8.0 vs. 8.8 | Allstate has more discounts and Add-ons than The General, but you may find better coverage if you have a bad driving history. |
| The General vs. USAA | 8.0 vs. 9.2 | While USAA is the cheapest car insurance option, it lacks the availablility to the general public like The General insurance. |
| The General vs. AAA | 8.0 vs. 8.6 | AAA offers more coverage benefits and choice than The General, making it the better choice overall. |
| The General vs. The Hartford | 8.0 vs. 8.2 | Both companies are comparable, but The General offers better coverage for high risk drivers. |
| The General vs. Nationwide | 8.0 vs. 9.1 | Nationwide beats The General in every category, making it the better option for coverage. |
| The General vs. 21st Century | 8.0 vs. 7.5 | 21st Century is not a good option for insurance and you’re better off with The General. |
| The General vs. American Family | 8.0 vs. 9.1 | American family offers a larger variety of coverage options at a better price than The General |
| The General vs. Farmers | 8.0 vs. 8.6 | While customer experience is similar at both companies, Farmers has cheaper coverage with more discounts. |
The General Car Insurance Cost
Based on quotes we received online, the average cost of full coverage car insurance from the General is $3,154 per year or around $255.33 per month. For minimum liability insurance, expect to pay an average of $51.94 per month or $603.53 annually. However, this pricing you get vary depending on a variety of factors.
Is The General Insurance Cheap?
You’ll rarely find cheap car insurance through The General, but the provider claims to offer lower-cost coverage to high-risk drivers. When compared to the national average, getting a full coverage car insurance policy with the company costs $1,004 more, making it one of the most expensive providers out there. Even for high risk drivers, their quotes are in line with the average in the industry.
The General Car Insurance Quotes
Below we’ve provided sameple quotes from The General for various driver profiles and coverage plans for both full coverage and minimum liability insurance:
| Driver Profile | Coverage Type | Policy Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Young driver | Minimum liability | $58.75 per month or $682.58 per year |
| Young driver | Full coverage | $309.42 per month or $3,940.58 per year |
| Adult | Minimum liability | $45.12 per month or $524.48 per year |
| Adult | Full coverage | $201.23 per month or $2,369.20 per year |
*These rates were found for a 22 year old (young driver) and 35 year old driver (adult) for a 2022 Toyota Camry.
The General Insurance Discounts
There’s not much information online about the company’s car insurance discounts, but The General insurance reviews mention some. It’s worth reaching out to the company to learn more about these potential savings opportunities:
| The General Insurance Discount | Discount Description |
|---|---|
| Good student discount | Offers savings to students with at least a B average in their classes |
| Defensive driver discount | Reduces costs for drivers who go through an approved driver training course |
| Multi-car discount | Saves money for those who insure multiple vehicles through The General |
| Safety features discount | Lowers prices for cars that have air bags and passive restraint systems |
| Homeowners discount | Saves money for those who own a house |
| Double deductible discount | Reduces rates if you agree to double your deductible for the first 45 days of your policy |
| Safe driver discount | Reduces costs for drivers who have had a clean driving record for the past three to five years |
| Previous insurance discount | Saves money for drivers who’ve had insurance with a different company in the past five years |
| Pay in-full discount | Reduces costs for drivers who pay their entire premiums up front |
*Discounts may vary by location.
The best way to discover your best rates is to compare car insurance quotes from providers. Then, you’ll be able to consider your potential annual or monthly payments along with the quality of service provided by each company.
Read more: How to save money on your car insurance
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The General Insurance Quote
All insurance quotes from The General can only be received online through their website as the company has no agents. All you will need is some basic personal information on you and your car along with how many drivers you want on the policy. From there, you’ll be able to pick all of the coverage levels and limits on the last screen to compare different pricing.
What Affects Your The General Auto Insurance Quote?
The General insurance reviews make clear that the following factors nearly always affect auto insurance quotes:
- Coverage limits: If you choose full coverage car insurance, expect to pay higher rates than if you’d chosen less protection.
- Deductible amount: Motorists who choose a high deductible may receive lower rates, though they’ll have to pay more out of pocket after an accident.
- Age, gender and marital status: In most states, men who are young or single will likely receive the highest car insurance premiums.
- Driving record: Even with The General, you’ll pay higher rates after an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket or a DUI violation.
- Credit score: Anyone with poor credit will likely pay more for auto insurance.
- Vehicle make, model and age: Older cars are usually cheaper to cover, though that’s not always the case for models that lack safety features. Vehicles that are common targets for theft usually receive higher premiums.
- Location: Motorists could pay more if they live in densely populated cities, states with extensive coverage requirements or areas with higher rates of vehicle theft or uninsured motorists.
The General Insurance Coverage
Most drivers will find the auto insurance coverage they want through The General. That said, many car insurance companies offer far more extensive options for those who’d like added protection. Below are the main types of car insurance The General provides:
- Liability insurance
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
The General Car Insurance Policy Add-ons
Some of those who leave The General insurance reviews speak of the benefits that come from less common offerings, such as these types of optional coverage:
- Towing and labor benefits
- Roadside assistance plan
- Custom equipment coverage
- Rental reimbursem*nt for covered repairs
- Gap insurance
While The General offers bodily injury and property damage liability coverage to safe drivers, the company mainly caters to risky motorists. It may be a suitable option if you want auto insurance with bad credit or an outstanding driving record — or, if you need an SR-22. There’s no information online about usage-based insurance from The General, so it’s likely not the best provider if you’re seeking a similar program.
The General Insurance Claims
All auto insurance claims can be handled online by loggin in to your The General insurance account either on their website or app. If you need assistance with a claim or want to file with a representative, you can call 1-800-280-1466 for assistance.
The General Insurance Customer Reviews
In The General insurance reviews, motorists complain about the company’s costly premiums and the often poor communication between policyholders and company employees. You may be better off getting a quote from a different provider if excellent communication is what you crave from an insurance company.
However, it’s tricky to determine exactly how drivers feel from The General insurance reviews, as their ratings and comments are all across the board. We’ll take a look at the company’s customer review scores in further detail below.
The General Insurance Reviews BBB
On the Better Business Bureau (BBB), The General Insurance holds a 4.21-star rating out of 5.0 from over 500 customers, as well as an A+ rating. You’ll find a significant number of The General insurance reviews that criticize the company’s claims process. While most drivers receive payouts in the end, some say they waited an excessive amount of time to receive compensation.
The General Insurance Reviews: NAIC
Data from the Company Complaint Index by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) paints an entirely different picture, with drivers logging 3.6 times more customer complaints against The General than the average for car insurance providers in 2022.
The General Auto Insurance App Reviews
The General’s mobile app, drivers can receive auto insurance quotes, make payments or file car insurance claims. One of the top benefits mentioned in The General insurance reviews is the company’s online experience, with its app holding a 4.7-star average score on the App Store and a 4.7-star rating on Google Play.
Other The General Insurance Policies
The General offers further coverage options under its Labs division of the company, which works as an experimental insurance branch. They then collect information from customers to provide better services within each given area.
It partners with various companies to offer these products:
- Health insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Pet insurance
- Phone insurance
- Renters insurance
- Life insurance
- Commercial auto insurance
- Boat insurance
- RV insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
The General Commercial Auto Insurance
The General has an offering for commercial auto insurance which provides you with protection for vehicles used for business purposes. This can include vehicles used for rideshare services like Uber or ones used for your personal business (either owned or hired). All policies are offered through progressive and can include coverages for liability, vehicle damages, business coverage and more.
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The General Motorcycle Insurance
Dairyland offers the motorcycle insurance policy program for The General and can give you similar coverage to car insurance plan. The company offers both auto and motorcycle plans, so if you are trying to get an auto and motorcycle bundle, you can with the company. Otherwise, it is best to compare motorcycle insurance quotes before buying.
You can read more about Dairyland and other motorcycle insurance providers below:
- Progressive motorcycle insurance review
- Dairyland insurance review
- Geico motorcycle insurance review
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The General Home Insurance
Polcies for homeowners insurance are offered from a large variety of providers that are tailored to your specific location. The company offers basic liability and comprehensive coverages by default and it will typically offer you the cheapest home insurance in your area. However, cheap does not always mean the best, so it is important to compare home insurance rates and plans before choosing a provider:
- Progressive home insurance review
- Allstate home insurance review
- USAA home insurance review
- Liberty Mutual home insurance review
- Nationwide home insurance review
- Erie home insurance review
- State Farm home insurance review
- Farmers home insurance review
- Amica home insurance review
- American Family home insurance review
The General Renters Insurance
According to The General their policies will cover your rental home in the case of theft, weather damages, accidents in the home, and personal belongings. Their policies can be offered by a number of insurance providers as they try to match you with the best one for you. Typically, the suggested companies include Lemonade and Toggle which are some of our top picks.
You can compare them along with other top providers below and use our free tool to get renters insurance quotes.
- Lemonade renters insurance review
- Toggle renters insurance review
- Nationwide renters insurance review
- Allstate renters insurance review
- State Farm renters insurance review
- American Family renters insurance review
- USAA renters insurance review
The General RV Insurance
All RV insurance policies for The General are offered by Progressive and can cover all types of motorhome or trailers. According to our research, RV insurance costs from progressive are $502 on average for trailers and $848 for motorhomes annually, making them one of the cheapest rv insurance providers. They are also our top pick for RV insurance and earned our Editor’s Choice title.
While getting RV insurance from progressive can be a good choice, it is best to compare multiple companies to get the best deal for you. Below you can compare top providers in our comprehensive reviews or get a personalized quote:
- Progressive RV insurance reviews
- State Farm RV insurance reviews
- Allstate RV insurance reviews
- Geico RV insurance reviews
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The General Life Insurance
There are a large variety of life insurance options you can get plans from with The General. Regardless of which provider you choose, you’ll typically have these types of life insurance plans available to you: term and whole. Some providers offer other plans which include variable life insurance, burial/final expense insurance, and mortgage life insurance.
You can compare some of our top picks for life insurance or get personalized quotes below to start your research:
- Best Term Life Insurance
- Best Whole Life Insurance
- Cheapest Life Insurance Companies
- Best Life Insurance Companies
The General Health Insurance
Health insurance from the general is offered by a wide variety of providers tailored to your particular area and needs. Government health programs are also included in their matching service. Quotes are easily acessable online and all you need is your zip code.
The General Boat Insurance
Just like RV insurance, the provider for The General’s boat insurance is Progressive and their plans can cover boats, yachts, jet skis, and trailers for marine vehicles. Similar to our RV insurance rankings, Progressive is our top pick for boat insurance coverage due to their many discounts, options, and benefits. Their pricing for boat policies also makes it one of the cheapest boat insurance companies out there.
However, Progressive may not be the right options for you so it is best to compare your options before making a decision:
- Progressive boat insurance review
- State Farm boat insurance review
- Geico boat insurance review
- Allstate boat insurance review
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The General Pet Insurance
Hartville provides The General’s pet insurance program and comes in two varieties: accident only and complete coverage. All plans can have up to $15,000 in coverage, between $100-$500 for deductibles and up to 90% reimbursem*nt for costs. It is a good idea to know what exactly what pet insurance covers and know the answer to “Is pet insurance worth it?” for your situation before purchasing any plan.
If you decide it is right for you, we’ve provided reviews of top providers and a tool where you can compare pet insurance quotes easily online:
- Lemonade pet insurance review
- Spot pet insurance review
- Embrace pet insurance review
- ASPCA pet insurance review
- Healthy Paws pet insurance review
- Trupanion pet insurance review
- State Farm pet insurance review
- Allstate pet insurance review
- Fetch pet insurance review
- Figo pet insurance review
The General Phone Insurance
The General partners with Lori, a provider for phone insurance that offers 4 levels of coverage. Each level of coverage can range anywhere from mechancal breakdown protection to coverages for damages and unlimited phone screen repairs. If you’d like your phone to be covered you can compare plans on their website.
The General Car Insurance Reviews: The Bottom Line
We give The General insurance an overall score of 8.0 stars out of 10.0. While the company offers excellent coverage for high-risk drivers, most people can find similar auto insurance policies at better rates from other providers. In addition, the agency’s spotty customer service doesn’t instill much confidence in its willingness to meet drivers’ needs. We suggest considering other providers that offer better customer service and cheap car insurance rates.
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The General Insurance: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about The General car insurance:
In most cases, getting a car insurance policy from The General is not worth the money and you can find cheaper coverage elsewhere. However, if you are a high risk driver it is a serviceable option and should be considered in your search for coverage.
The General insurance is owned by PGC Holdings, which is an affiliate of American Family Insurance. PGC Holdings was acquired in 2012 and has been a subsidiary ever since.
Yes, The General is a real insurance company. It offers auto insurance policies, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A financial strength rating from AM Best.
While the company focuses on car coverage, The General insurance reviews and the provider’s website mention insurance policies for alternative vehicles like RVs and motorcycles, homeowners, renters, pet, health and life insurance.
The General has full coverage rates that on average cost $3,154 per year which is much higher than the 2023 average of $2,150. If you are a good driver that is over the age of 25, expect higher costs for your car insurance premium. Because the company specializes in offering high risk car insurance, those with good records typically won’t find affordable rates.
Since The General specializes in providing coverage for high risk drivers, you can expect cheaper rates if you fit that profile. The company also does not have agents and is able to cut overhead costs, making it possible for lower premiums and policy costs.
To cancel a policy from The General, you should call 844‑327‑9870 for a customer service representative. Be aware that the company can charge you up to 10% of your remaining policy balance for cancelling depending on your state.
To make a payment, you can pay online through your The General insurance account on their website or app.
You can call The General customer service at 1 (866) 519-7422.
How We Rated The General Insurance
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Daniel RobinsonWriter
Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team writer and has written for numerous automotive news sites and marketing firms across the U.S., U.K., and Australia, specializing in auto finance and car care topics. Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team authority on auto insurance, loans, warranty options, auto services and more.
Rashawn MitchnerManaging Editor
Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.
