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The General car insurance review 2021
Last updated:
Find affordable coverage even if you need an SR-22 or have a spotty driving record
finder.com's rating: 3.5 / 5
★★★★★
Bottom line: The General is one of the best picks if you’ve had trouble getting coverage elsewhere, especially if you need SR-22 suppport. But if you have a clean record, you’ll find better coverage and quotes from other companies.
optional
Roadside assistance
New car protection
Accident forgiveness
Details
| States served | All states except Hawaii Massachusetts Michigan and New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Optional |
| Accident forgiveness | No |
| New car protection | No |
| Pay schedule | 12 months, monthly |
| Claims methods | Phone, App |
| Rideshare coverage | No |
| SR-22 support |
Yes |
Pros
- High-risk drivers welcome
- Instant online access
- SR-22 support
- Flexible payments
- Transparent quoting
Cons
- No-frills policies
- Claims by phone or app only
- Limited discounts
- Website lacks info
| Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| Defensive driving discount | No |
| Good student discount | Yes |
| Loyalty discount | No |
| Homeowner discount | Yes |
| Military discount | Yes |
| Safety device discount | Yes |
| Special employment discount | No |
| Usage-based discount | No |
Expert review
Review by
Roslyn McKenna
roslyn.mckenna@finder.comRoslyn McKenna is an insurance publisher for Finder, where she's driven to help people get a great deal on insurance to protect their families and finances. Roslyn earned a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College and has written professionally for more than a decade, showing up on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest.
Expert review
The General is ideal for basic, affordable coverage for high-risk drivers who have trouble getting coverage elsewhere.
If you have a less-than-perfect driving record or need an SR-22 and you live in a state that’s included in The General’s service area, The General might have the lowest rates you can qualify for.
However, if you’re a low-risk driver or are looking for comprehensive coverage, you may explore other companies tha offer wider or specialized coverage at a lower price.
This article was reviewed by Andrew Flueckiger, a member of the Finder Editorial Review Board and certified insurance counselor and licensed insurance agent in five states.
The General car insurance rates
Most drivers pay around $100 a month for car insurance with The General, close to the average that most drivers pay. Your cost may differ based on your car model, address, age and driving record.
Compare sample monthly car insurance rates for The General policyholders across the US.
| California | New York | Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 year old man | $136 | $442 | $309 |
| 18 year old woman | $152 | $413 | $273 |
| 25 year old man | $80 | $297 | $86 |
| 25 year old woman | $80 | $305 | $79 |
| 35 year old man | $49 | $197 | $55 |
| 35 year old woman | $54 | $248 | $58 |
| 45 year old man | $47 | $191 | $52 |
| 45 year old woman | $53 | $274 | $60 |
| 56 year old man | $59 | $179 | $47 |
| 56 year old woman | $66 | $197 | $47 |
How to get a car insurance quote with The General
To get car insurance coverage with The General, start by getting a quote online, calling to speak with a representative or connecting with an agent.
Online
- From The General’s website, enter your ZIP code and tap Get quote.
- Enter general details about your location, credit and prior insurance. Tap continue.
- Enter your driver information and select continue.
- Enter your vehicle details like year, make and model and continue.
- Review your coverage and policy details, then continue if you’re satisfied.
- Create a password and enter your contact information, then continue.
- Enter your parking address and any other application questions, then continue.
- Enter details for other cars or drivers, then review all policy details.
- Enter your payment information and buy your policy.
Phone. You can purchase coverage by contacting The General at 866-378-1042.
Agent. Use the agent locator on The General’s website to apply for coverage through an agent.
The General insurance locations near me
You can see if you live near one of the company’s agency locations. Agent availability can be hit or miss, especially if you live in a rural area. Search for an agent or location near you, using the agent locator.
- From the main website, scroll down to the bottom and click Find a Local Agent under About Us.
- Enter your ZIP code and tap Search.
- View the map or listed results. Choose the location to find that agent’s contact information.
- Call or visit the location in person.
What discounts can I get with The General?
Although The General specializes in no-frills auto insurance for high-risk drivers, it offers several standard auto insurance discounts.
- Airbag. Qualify for a discount if your car is equipped with factory-installed airbags.
- Antilock brakes. Get a discount if your car includes antilock brakes.
- Deductible doubling. Double your deductible for your policy’s first 45 days for a discount.
- Defensive driving. Those who complete an approved driving course may get a discount.
- Homeowner. Lower your premium because you own your home, which suggests financial stability.
- Lump-sum payment. Get a discount for paying in a single payment rather than monthly.
- Military. Active service members could get a discount if they qualify and live in specific areas.
- Multi-vehicle. Get a discount for insuring several vehicles on the same policy.
- Specified driver. You may get a discount if you only let drivers with over five years’ experience and a clean record drive your car.
- Switch and save. Save by switching to The General with six months of continuous coverage from another car insurance company.
What car insurance coverage does The General offer?
- Bodily injury liability protects you if you injure someone with your car, but it doesn’t cover damage to you or your car.
- Collision pays for your car’s damage when you hit another car or object like a fence.
- Comprehensive covers damage to your car unrelated to a collision, such as hail, theft or fire.
- Medical payments. For an added fee, this pays medical bills if anyone is injured in your car.
- Property damage liability covers damage you cause to someone’s property like their car.
- SR-22. This certificate of insurance helps those with driving violations prove their coverage.
- Towing and roadside assistance helps if your car breaks down and you need services like a flat tire change, tow or battery jumpstart.
- Underinsured motorist covers your car damage or injuries caused by a driver without enough insurance to pay.
Does The General accept all drivers?
Yes. The General claims that most drivers qualify, including those with past accidents or filing an SR-22. We tested the limits with The General’s online quotes, finding that you’re denied if you have four or more major at-fault accidents or claims within three years.
You can have up to 10 minor incidents on record and still get offered a quote. These parameters are pretty flexible, even for a high-risk insurance company.
But if you have any incidents like speeding or failing to stop, expect your rates to hike up. With each minor incident we added to the sample quote, the quote went up by $500–$1,000 per year.
How does The General bundling work?
The General doesn’t give specifics on whether you can get discounts when buying multiple policies. It’s typical for companies specializing in high-risk drivers to offer fewer discounts compared to standard insurers.
The General partners with other companies to offer several types of policies for your convenience:
- Motorcycle
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Condo
- Motor home, RV or trailer
- Boat
- Life
- Health
- Business
The General car insurance reviews and complaints
The General boasts an impressive A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), as of October 2020. It also holds a composite score of 4.5 of a possible 5 stars, based on customer reviews.
Despite its ratings, over 200 customer have filed BBB complaints, citing issues with billing, unauthorized payments and denied claims.
Keep in mind that customer reviews don’t tell the entire story. Most customers only go online if they have a negative experience, which is why you don’t see as many positive reviews.
Ready to get insured?
Snag affordable coverage for high-risk drivers, a marketing claim backed by our rate analysis which showed premiums less than $80 a month.
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Frequently asked questions about The General
Car insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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