The General Auto Insurance Review: Should you buy in 2024?

What You Should Know About the general auto insurance

The General is a good car insurance company offering reputable coverage you can trust to protect your car. Although it’s a good company, auto insurance from The General isn’t the best choice for everyone.

The General is ideal for high-risk drivers with a DUI charge or low credit score. However, you’ll most likely find more affordable rates with a standard company if you have a clean driving record.

What sets The General apart from other insurance companies is its willingness to work with and provide affordable quotes to high-risk drivers. Plus, The General doesn’t charge for lapses in payment. For more information, see cheap auto insurance companies that don’t charge you for a lapse in coverage. However, it lags behind standard insurance companies in many ways. For example, The General only sells car insurance — drivers don’t have the opportunity to bundle policies.

As for The General’s financial strength, A.M. Best gives the company an excellent score of A. So, The General is financially stable and can pay any claims you need to make in the future.

The General gives you several ways to manage your account and file claims, including a mobile app and website. Unfortunately, the General’s website isn’t the easiest to navigate, and it’s hard to find policy information. You can also call the customer service phone number to speak with a representative.

Does The General have good customer service?

While car insurance from The General is reliable, the company doesn’t have a good reputation for customer service.

A quick way to see how a company performs in customer service is to look at ratings from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC rates companies based on how many complaints they get compared to their size. 1.0 is the national average — anything lower means a company gets fewer complaints.

The NAIC gives The General a 3.28, meaning it gets more than triple the complaints that similar companies get. However, The General has improved — it had a 5.63 in 2020.

Another good place to look is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB rates companies on their ability to resolve customer complaints. The General currently has an A+, but customers have left hundreds of complaints on the BBB website.

You can also look at app reviews for The General. Take a look at the best auto insurance apps reviewed to see how well The General’s app stacks up with other apps on the market.

When you shop with The General, you’re not there for its customer service. Many The General insurance reviews say representatives are unknowledgeable, unhelpful, or rude. One of the most recurring complaints is that representatives are hard to get a hold of and don’t return calls.

the general auto insurance Insurance Coverage Options

All insurance companies sell enough coverage to meet state minimum insurance requirements. Most also sell everything you need to buy a full coverage policy.

Minimum insurance requirements vary by state, but all states that require insurance include liability. Other states also require uninsured motorist or personal injury protection insurance. So, minimum insurance is your cheapest option when you need to keep your budget low.

Full coverage consists of a suite of insurance products and is usually a requirement for car loans and leases. While no state legally requires full coverage, it’s a good idea for people with expensive cars they can’t afford to replace.

Keeping these needs in mind, The General offers the following insurance options:

• Liability. Liability insurance comes in two parts: bodily injury pays for injuries you cause to other drivers, while property damage pays for cars, buildings, and other property you damage in an at-fault accident. Liability insurance doesn’t cover your vehicle.
• Comprehensive. Comprehensive insurance pays for car repairs from non-collision damage, like fire, weather, theft, and vandalism.
• Collision. Collision insurance pays for repairs to your car after an accident, even if you cause it. It also covers you if you hit a stationary object like a traffic sign.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist. Uninsured motorist insurance protects you from expensive repair bills if a driver with inadequate coverage hits you. It also covers your repairs after a hit-and-run.
• Personal injury protection/medical payments. Medical bills can get expensive after a car accident. These insurance options pay medical expenses for you and your passengers.

While The General offers all the necessities for car insurance, it’s not a standard company. Instead, The General specializes in high-risk car insurance for people who can’t find coverage elsewhere.

What is high-risk car insurance?

Nobody wants to be labeled a high-risk driver, but it’s not always avoidable. Insurance companies consider drivers high risk if they have the following infractions on their driving record:

• DUIs
• Multiple at-fault accidents
• Reckless driving charges
• Multiple tickets

Many insurance companies also consider people with low credit scores as high-risk drivers.

When you’re a high-risk driver, you might struggle to find coverage. The General is there for you when standard insurance companies refuse to cover your car. Rates are more expensive, but you’ll at least have the coverage you need.

Does The General sell car insurance add-ons?

As a high-risk insurance company, The General doesn’t offer the longest list of add-ons to customize your policy. However, there are a few solid options to choose from, including:

• GAP coverage. If you total a recently purchased car, you might owe more on your loan than the vehicle is worth. GAP insurance covers the difference, so you don’t need to pay for a car you no longer own. The General’s GAP coverage is unavailable in Washington and California.
• Rental reimbursement. The General will cover the cost of a rental vehicle when your car gets stuck at the repair shop after a covered incident.
• Custom equipment. A standard plan doesn’t pay for damage to custom equipment like rims, skirt kits, or stereos. If you have collision and comprehensive insurance, you can add custom equipment coverage to pay for repairs to your modifications.
• Towing and labor. You can add towing and labor to your policy if you have collision and comprehensive insurance. This coverage ensures you get to a mechanic’s after a covered incident.
• Roadside assistance. The General offers 24/7 roadside assistance, including battery jump starts and gas delivery.
• Deductible waiver. The General waives deductibles for claims on windshields and window glass.

The General is vague about its offerings, so you might find other coverage options in your area. Regardless, adding these coverages can significantly increase your policy’s value, but you should only buy what you need. Add-ons can raise your rates quickly.

Does The General sell SR-22 insurance?

Although it’s often referred to as insurance, SR-22s are not a type of coverage. Instead, it’s a form drivers must submit to their local DMV after specific incidents.

Every state has its own laws, but drivers usually need to buy SR-22 insurance after the following incidents:

• DUI or DWI charge
• Driving without insurance
• Driving with a suspended license
• Multiple violations
• Unpaid child support

When you need SR-22 insurance, you’ll probably have to file it for three years. As a high-risk insurance company, The General can help with SR-22 insurance. Your rates will be higher, and you’ll likely need to pay a filing fee, but The General can keep you on the road.

What other types of car insurance does The General sell?

While The General doesn’t sell anything but car insurance, it partners with several companies to provide customers with quick quotes for other policies. 

The General customers can find quotes for the following coverages:

• Home/renters/motorhome
• Motorcycle
• Phone
• Boat
• Travel trailer
• Commercial
• Life
• Heath
• Pet

For some coverages, The General redirects you to The General Labs. At the Labs, The General collects a little information about your needs, then provides affordable options for your coverage choices.

Some ZIP codes redirect to The General’s partners. 

the general auto insurance Insurance Rates Breakdown

As a high-risk insurance company, The General’s car insurance quotes are higher than standard companies. The General charges higher rates for insurance because a significant portion of its customer base needs high-risk car insurance.

To get an idea of how much you might pay for insurance with The General, check the minimum coverage rates in this table. Don’t forget to check the minimum auto insurance required by state to make sure you’re fully covered legally.

For full coverage auto insurance rates, we’ve put together the chart below to compare the top insurance companies.

The General customers typically pay much more for car insurance. However, the high rates might be worth it if The General is one of your only options for car insurance.

The General Insurance Rates by Location

Due to differences in state laws, your location plays a vital role in how much you pay for car insurance. Location largely determines your rates, whether you need high-risk insurance or a standard policy.

Aside from state laws, your location also affects your rates due to overall traffic density, vehicle crime rates, extreme weather risks, and claims filed. Vehicle crime rates include vehicle theft, too. See what to do if your car is stolen for more details.

The General sells insurance in all 47 states and can help drivers in the other three states find affordable coverage with a partner company. Check below to see how much the average driver in your state pays for insurance from The General.

As you can see, some states have much higher rates than others. Some states have high insurance rates because they require more insurance — Michigan and Florida drivers pay more for insurance because they need personal injury protection on top of liability insurance. Drivers in Michigan and Florida can find other options for no-fault insurance.

Other states have high insurance rates for other reasons. For example, Delaware currently has high rates due to inflation, while Louisianans pay more because of extreme weather risks and a large population of uninsured drivers on the road.

The General Insurance Rates by Age and Gender

Other factors important to your car insurance rates are age and gender. Insurance companies carefully track claims numbers, and the data shows that young drivers and men are responsible for more claims.

Young drivers pay more for car insurance because they’re more likely to drive distracted. They also lack the experience to deal with tricky situations, like low visibility or tight construction zones.

Men, on the other hand, typically engage in reckless behaviors more often than women. Statistically speaking, men drive under the influence and succumb to road rage more than women. Young male drivers pay the most for car insurance, and the gap between genders and ages lessens with age. For information on insurance options for women, see buy cheap auto insurance for women.

Since The General sells high-risk insurance, its rates are usually some of the highest. As you’ll see in most demographics, it’s best to avoid getting insurance from The General if you have a clean driving record. The General should be a last resort when you can’t find coverage elsewhere.

For information on other providers, see buy cheap auto insurance for young adults.

The General Insurance Rates for Low Credit Scores

While factors like age and location are fairly obvious, one insurance rate factor that often surprises drivers is their credit score. People with low credit scores can pay up to 60% more for their insurance than those in higher brackets.

Insurance companies charge more for two reasons. The first is that companies assume people with higher scores will consistently pay their bills on time. The second reason is that claims data suggests that people with lower scores file more claims.

The General insurance company specializes in drivers with a less-than-perfect record, including low credit scores. While The General auto insurance rates are still higher than standard companies, it’s a little more competitive.

If you have a low credit score and high insurance rates, you don’t need to be stuck with those prices forever. You can lower your rates by improving your credit score. However, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii drivers don’t need to worry about credit scores — these states banned using credit checks to determine rates.

For other providers and additional information, see buy cheap auto insurance for drivers with bad credit.

The General Insurance Rates After Traffic Incidents

Car insurance companies examine your driving record to predict how likely you are to file future claims. Drivers with clean records pay the lowest rates because they’re less likely to cause accidents or get tickets.

People with incidents on their driving record tend to pay much more for car insurance. Even a single ticket can raise your rates, though the amount your rates increase depends on the infraction. For example, a ticket for racing can increase your rates by 73%, while failing to stop at a red light is usually a 23% increase.

Standard insurance companies often reject or drop drivers with too many accidents or tickets on their records. So if you’re a high-risk driver, it’s an ideal time to turn to The General insurance.

Unfortunately, you’ll pay high rates at any company if you have multiple tickets or accidents, The General included.

The good news is that you won’t be stuck with high prices forever. Driving incidents fall off your record after about three years, depending on state law and the severity of the ticket. Your rates will return to normal after your record clears if you don’t add any other infractions. For more information, see how auto insurance rates change after an accident.

The General Insurance Rates After a DUI

Does auto insurance cover DUI accidents? While The General sells various products to all sorts of drivers, it’s perhaps best known for its DUI insurance. The General offers drivers the coverage they need after DUIs, even when other companies refuse to insure them.

DUIs have one of the biggest impacts on car insurance costs, which can double or triple your rates. A DUI charge can also make quotes from some companies too expensive while others refuse to work with you.

The difference in rates after a DUI varies so wildly between companies that you should always compare quotes, even if you already have a policy. You can compare The General auto insurance quotes after a DUI with other companies below.

As you can see, car insurance rates after a DUI are high no matter what company you consider. Although The General is expensive, the price is worth it if you need high-risk insurance.

Like traffic violations, a DUI doesn’t stay on your record forever, and insurance companies only look so far back. Once the DUI falls off your record, your rates will return to normal. However, DUIs typically stay with you for seven years.

the general auto insurance Discounts Available

Insurance companies usually offer discounts to help their customers save money. The General is no different, but it doesn’t have the longest list. You might qualify for the following discounts when you shop at The General:

• New customer. The General offers new customers a small discount if they’ve had coverage for the last five years with another company.
• Good student. Full-time students under 25 can earn this discount by maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
• Military. Active-duty military personnel get a discount on their coverage, but only in Louisiana.
• Pay in full. You can save a small percentage on your insurance if you pay for the entire policy at once rather than in monthly payments.
• Double deductible. The General will discount your insurance if you elect to have your comprehensive and collision insurance deductible doubled for the first 45 days of your coverage.
• Homeowners. You’ll get a discount on your car insurance if you own a home and have insurance on it. Your home insurance can be with any company since The General only sells car insurance.
• Safe driver. The General rewards drivers who keep their records clean with a discount. The amount of time you need to go without an accident isn’t specified, but most companies require at least three years.
• Multi-car. If you have multiple cars in your household, The General will lower your rates if you insure them on the same policy.
• Driver education. The General will give you a discount if you pass an approved driving course. Only classes that weren’t court-ordered qualify for a discount.
• Passive restraint. The General discounts drivers whose cars have passive restraints, such as air bags.

As you can see, The General doesn’t offer the longest list of auto insurance discounts. However, there are a few ways to save. The General will look for every discount you’re eligible for when you apply, but you can call a representative to double-check your policy.