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National General
full-coverage auto insurance adds collision and comprehensive coverage to the basic liability requirements as mandated by your state. It’s a great option for drivers with poor driving records who don’t want to risk paying out-of-pocket for expensive car damages, but low-risk drivers should look elsewhere for their car insurance
needs.- National General’s full-coverage auto insurance is a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages.
- The liability portion of a full-coverage policy will vary depending on the requirements of your state.
- A liability-only policy will not pay for damages to your car—you’ll need to add collision and comprehensive coverage for that.
- Full-coverage doesn’t actually cover everything, so you may still want to add extra coverage, like UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP, or roadside assistance.
- National General offers competitive rates for high-risk drivers, but drivers with a good driving record may find better prices with another insurer.
- National General’s full-coverage auto insurance is a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages.
- The liability portion of a full-coverage policy will vary depending on the requirements of your state.
- A liability-only policy will not pay for damages to your car—you’ll need to add collision and comprehensive coverage for that.
- Full-coverage doesn’t actually cover everything, so you may still want to add extra coverage, like UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP, or roadside assistance.
- National General offers competitive rates for high-risk drivers, but drivers with a good driving record may find better prices with another insurer.
What does National General full coverage insurance cover?
The term “
full coverage
” refers to a type of insurance policy—not just one specific type of coverage. The exact definition and inclusions of full-coverage insurance vary from provider to provider, but if you’re ever they always include at least the three following types of coverage:- Liability insurance:This covers the medical bills and repair costs for other drivers in accidents that you cause. Almost every state requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance.
- Collision insurance:This pays towards vehicle repairs or replacement after a collision with another vehicle or stationary object. Collision insurance is not required by any state laws but may be required by a lender.
- Comprehensive insurance:Also called “Other than collision coverage”, this pays towards vehicle repairs or replacement for certain non-collision events like fire, flooding, theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and more. Like collision insurance, this is not legally required but could be required by a lender.
While some providers may include other types of coverage in their full-coverage policies, these are the coverages you’ll need to fulfill full-coverage requirements for a
car loan
.A full-coverage policy from National General sticks to these three basic tenements, fulfilling all the legal requirements of a basic liability-only policy—usually including certain limits of
bodily injury liability coverage
and property damage liability coverage
, depending on your state’s requirements—and providing additional protections for your vehicle with collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. RECOMMENDED
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Does full coverage really cover everything?
Contrary to its name, full coverage insurance does not actually cover everything. It covers a full spectrum of unexpected vehicle damages, but there are many other types of insurance to consider for a well-rounded policy.
The “full coverage” label is an easy way for insurance providers and lenders to distinguish certain policies from basic liability-only policies—the key difference being that full coverage allows you to
file a car insurance claim
for your own vehicle. That’s why this is such a good idea for newer cars with higher values and often required for leased or financed cars.However, a full-coverage insurance policy does not allow drivers to file claims for their own medical bills, and there are certain situations where full coverage alone might not be enough. Here are some other coverage options that National General customers should consider.
Other types of National General auto insurance coverage
Type of coverage | Description |
|---|---|
If you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t carry enough—or any—liability insurance, National General’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will pay for the gap between your medical costs and the at-fault driver’s coverage. This will be included in your full-coverage insurance if your state requires it. | |
Also known as MedPay, this type of coverage from National General covers the medical costs of you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. | |
PIP is similar to National General’s medical expenses coverage but is specifically required (and will be included in your full coverage policy) in no-fault states . | |
While technically not insurance coverage, National General’s Motor Club is a worthwhile membership program for access to 24/7 unlimited towing services and up to $750 in emergency expense reimbursement if you experience car troubles far from home. |
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National General also offers other insurance products, including
motorcycle insurance
, home insurance
, renters insurance
, and more. Is full coverage car insurance from National General worth it?
National General’s full coverage car insurance is a worthwhile policy upgrade for
high-risk drivers
who want to protect their vehicle from accidents and other unforeseen circumstances. However, drivers with good records and strong credit should look elsewhere to find more affordable full-coverage rates.Even though full coverage isn’t legally required in any state, lenders will often require you to carry
full coverage insurance on a financed car
. Even if you’re not required to buy full overage, the cost is typically worth it compared to the cost of replacing a totaled car
out of pocket, unless you have an older car that’s only worth a few thousand dollars.Benefits of full coverage National General car insurance
National General full coverage insurance comes with the following benefits:
- It fulfills all common requirements mandated by both state laws and lenders.
- Drivers in areas with high crime rates, dangerous traffic, and severe weather patterns have more guaranteed protection for their vehicles.
- You can claim to replace a vehicle that’s declared a total loss.
- National General proves $500 in emergency expense allowance for food, travel, and lodging costs after a covered claim far from home.
Full coverage is almost always worth it for the peace of mind it provides for anyone who owns a high-value vehicle (whatever that means to you), especially if you live in an area with a lot of risk factors.
Drawbacks to full coverage National General car insurance
That said, National General full coverage insurance has its fair share of drawbacks:
- Full coverage is more expensive than liability-only.
- Making any claims through your full-coverage add-ons will increase your premiums.
- You’ll have to pay acar insurance deductiblebefore you can claim through your collision or comprehensive coverage.
National General isn’t for everyone, but you may be able to lower the cost with
car insurance discounts
if National General full coverage is the best option for you. You could get a discounted rate from National General if you bundle home and auto insurance
, if you qualify for a safe driver discount
, and more. Does National General have the best full coverage auto insurance?
National General’s full coverage insurance isn’t very different from any other provider’s full coverage insurance. However, they do have their own approach for
calculating car insurance quotes
compared to other providers—and it rarely works out in the average driver’s favor.National General offers favorable car insurance rates for drivers in high-risk categories, such as those with previous violations on their record or poor credit scores. Compared to other providers, National General’s algorithm does not reward drivers who have
clean driving records
or good credit scores
with competitive rates.That doesn’t mean that high-risk drivers are out here getting better rates from the National General than their low-risk counterparts. Rather, it means that it’s easier for drivers to find more
affordable high-risk car insurance
from National General as compared to standard cheap car insurance
. However, those premiums are likely to be higher than average, and they’ll be even more expensive for a full-coverage policy.Low-risk drivers would likely have much better luck looking for full coverage insurance with
Allstate
, GEICO
, or State Farm
, who are all more likely to reward these drivers with competitive premiums. But no matter what your driver profile looks like, the only way to know you’ve gotten the best rate is to compare three to five offers from multiple providers before committing to a policy.The bottom line
National General’s full-coverage insurance is a good option for high-risk drivers who need it to fulfill a loan requirement or who want it for a high-value car. However, drivers with clean records and high credit would be better off shopping for full coverage from a different provider, since National General’s premiums tend to be more expensive, on average.
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FAQs
At what point is full coverage not worth it?
Full coverage may not be worth it for older vehicles with a lot of mileage depending on their value. Generally, it’s up to you, but you can likely skip full coverage if the cost of your deductible or premium outweighs the
actual cash value
of your car.What is the difference between full coverage and liability coverage?
Liability coverage is required by most states and pays for the medical bills and property damage that you might cause to others in an accident. Full coverage is not required by any state’s laws and includes additional coverage in the form of collision and comprehensive insurance that allows you to file claims for damages to your own vehicle in certain situations.
What is a deductible?
The deductible on your comprehensive or collision insurance is the amount that you would have to pay out of pocket before your insurance benefits would kick in. For example, if you want to file a claim for $11,000 in collision damage but you have a $1000 deductible, you would have to pay $1000 towards the repairs before your insurance would cover the remaining $10,000.
By Pat Roache
Expert Insurance Writer
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger.
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