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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
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 |
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 |
Review by
Roslyn 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.
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.
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 |
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
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.
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.
Although The General specializes in no-frills auto insurance for high-risk drivers, it offers several standard auto insurance discounts.
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.
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:
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.
Check the Compare box to see how The General stacks up to other companies.
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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We rank insurers from one to five stars based on key factors including customer satisfaction, policy options, price, billing, claims, and support. We create these rankings to help you narrow down an insurance provider that best suits your budget and coverage needs.