In a study of real insurance policyholders’ experiences, the Jerry research team ranked The General 10th overall compared to companies of a similar size.

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Updated on Dec 1, 2023

R.E. Fulton

Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer

Reviewed by Josh Damico, Vice President Insurance Operations

Edited by Lina Zhang, Licensed Insurance Agent, VP of Operations

What's on this page?

Comprehensive The General Car Insurance Review
So, is The General a good insurance company?
The General pros and cons
Is The General the right insurance company for you?
Is The General car insurance expensive?
Will The General raise your rates?
Does The General resolve claims fast?
Does The General have good customer service?
The General car insurance discounts
The General coverage options
FAQs
Methodology
Meet Our Experts

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Comprehensive The General Car Insurance Review

The General is an auto insurance agency based in Nashville, Tennessee specializing in nonstandard car insurance for

high-risk drivers

or people with a history of driving violations, poor credit, or a

coverage lapse

Jerry’s experts surveyed verified customers from The General. Here’s a breakdown of how real policyholders ranked their insurance provider.

4.3

770 Reviews

5 Stars

59.74%

4 Stars

18.44%

3 Stars

13.25%

2 Stars

4.55%

1 Star

4.03%

So, is The General a good insurance company?

The General may not be as popular as some bigger insurance providers, but for high-risk drivers looking for

cheap car insurance

, they’re a good option to consider.

Our experts analyzed more than 400 real customer reviews from The General customers. They found that of those reviews, 73.85% of respondents had positive things to say about The General, while just 12.7% were negative.

Compared to the national average of 64% positive and 18.54% negative reviews, The General is doing slightly better, suggesting that most customers are satisfied with their service and auto insurance policies.

The good: Positive reviews of The General auto insurance reviews focused on fast and easy insurance, good approval rates, and affordable policies. Customers also enjoyed:

Great customer service

App/website accessibility and convenience

The other side: Negative reviews, however, mentioned rate increases upon renewal, expensive policies, and so-so customer service.

We asked policyholders to rate The General on its affordability, claims experience, customer service, and renewal process.

See how The General’s ratings compared to the national average of all companies surveyed below:

Criteria	The General's Rating	Industry Average
Overall	4.1	4.1
Cost / Price	3.7	3.8
Claim Experience	4.2	3.5
Customer Service	4.2	4
Renewal Experience	4	4

When evaluating The General’s strengths and weaknesses, we wanted to check out how other industry leaders, like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and Better Business Bureau (BBB), rated them.

Here’s how The General ranks against the national average for other insurance companies in the US:

Critera	The General	Score Out Of
BBB Rating	A+	A+
NAIC Rating	5.86	6
Clearsurance	3.58	5
A.M. Best Rating	A-	A++
IOS App Store Rating	4.7	5
Google Play Store Rating	4.8	5

Please note* that a greater NAIC score indicates increased risk.

The General pros and cons

Based on our analysis of both our national insurance customer satisfaction survey and the public third-party ratings available for The General, here’s a rundown of some of the pros and cons of buying a car insurance policy through this provider:

Pros

Offers high-risk coverage

Wide range of coverage options

Easy-to-use, well-reviewed Allstate Mobile app

Plenty of insurance discounts

Offers coverage for drivers with

SR-22s

Functional mobile app and online customer portal

Cons

Below-average customer service

Slow claims processing

Pricey Policies

Large number of customer complaints

No usage-based insurance program

Fewer car insurance discounts

Underwritten by three companies (Permanent General Assurance Corp., Permanent General Assurance Corp. of Ohio, and The General Automobile Insurance Co. Inc.)

Also, keep in mind that The General doesn’t service every state in the US. Auto insurance policies are not available in the following states:

Alaska

Hawaii

Maryland

Michigan

New Jersey

Rhode Island

Washington D.C.

Progressive

has an agreement with The General to offer auto insurance to drivers in these states. If you live in one of the states above and

request a quote

through The General, you’ll be taken to a page that promotes Progressive's coverage instead.

Is The General the right insurance company for you?

When it comes to finding the right insurance policy, drivers in the following situations may want to consider a policy through the General:

High-risk drivers who can’t find coverage elsewhere

Drivers with

poor credit scores

Drivers who are required to file an SR-22

Remember: If you’re not looking for high-risk car insurance, policies from The General may be pricey, so you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you have a severe driving violation and can’t find affordable insurance elsewhere, The General might offer a reasonably-priced policy.

Click on the buttons below to see the breakdown of our analysis of The General’s car insurance services.

MORE:

9 questions to ask when comparing car insurance quotes

Is The General car insurance expensive?

Car insurance policies from The General tend to be more expensive because they focus on offering insurance to high-risk drivers who can’t get insured elsewhere.

According to our survey results, 23.4% of all surveyed The General reviews mentioned cost. Of those reviews, 65.6% had positive sentiments toward policy costs, while 23.4% were negative. Based on this, some drivers find that insurance costs with The General are reasonable, while others find them expensive.

Compared to other insurance companies of a similar size, The General ranked 8th overall in terms of policy cost satisfaction and scored 3.7 stars out of 5.0—just below the national average of 3.81. Here’s how The General compared to the other companies in our study:

The General Policy Cost Rating	Ranking	Industry Average
3.7	8	3.8

Remember: Car insurance rates will vary based on the individual driver, so every quote from The General will differ. As with any other insurance provider, The General

calculates insurance premiums

based on some of the following:

Age

Gender

Driving record and insurance history

Zip code

Driving experience

Type of insurance and

coverage requirements

Deductible

Vehicle make, model, and year

Mileage

Although states allow auto insurance companies to use different rating factors when calculating insurance rates, you can find general cost trends within each state. According to our data, here’s how The General trends:

Will The General raise your rates?

Like all insurance providers, The General can only increase your car insurance premium when it’s

up for renewal

Some reasons you may see an increase in your insurance rates with The General include the following:

New driving violations or tickets

New at-fault accidents

New location

New vehicle on a policy

New driver on a policy

Inflation

Age

According to our survey, 59.5% of drivers with an auto insurance policy through The General chose to renew at the end of their term.

Remember: Policy costs won’t remain the same for as long as you’re with a carrier. Providers can change how they price their policies, so it’s normal to see some variation over time—even if your driver profile hasn’t changed.

Does The General resolve claims fast?

Although The General doesn’t specify how long it takes to process and resolve a claim, reviews suggest that claims processing isn’t an area where they excel.

Many customers who have filed a claim with The General criticize the company’s claims process, stating that while they eventually received a payout, they waited an excessive amount of time to receive compensation.

Of the respondents in our survey who answered, 59.5% reported having filed a claim with The General. While they were ranked 6th for claims processing compared to other insurance companies of similar size, they earned a 4.15 out of 5.0 rating for claims and resolutions, suggesting most customers are ultimately satisfied with the company’s claims processing.

Simply put, if you have an auto insurance policy with The General, you may have to wait longer to receive compensation, which could mean spending more money to get back on the road. That said, you can feel confident about The General’s ability to pay claims, as they have an A rating for financial strength from AM Best and are owned by American Family Insurance, one of the largest auto insurance companies in the US.

Check out some of the reviews below to see how customers described their experience with The General’s claims process:

The General Claims Resolution Rating	Ranking	Industry Average
4.2	6	3.5

Does The General have good customer service?

The reviews are mixed—some customers are thrilled with The General’s customer service, while others believe it’s lacking.

Survey respondents scored The General’s customer service with a 4.2 out of 5.0 and ranked them 7th compared to other insurance companies of similar size. In comparison to the national average of 3.9 for customer service, it appears as though The General is doing something right.

Highly-rated reviews about The General’s customer service mentioned the process was easy and fast, excellent customer service that’s timely, and quick problem resolution times. That said, other reviewers mentioned that they wouldn’t work with them on anything they needed, and wait times to speak to an agent were lengthy.

Keep reading to see how survey respondents rated The General’s customer service:

The General Customer Service Rating	Ranking	Industry Average
4.2	7	4

The General car insurance discounts

Car insurance discounts

are one of the easiest ways for drivers to save on monthly car insurance payments. Although The General may not have as many discounts as larger providers, they offer some good options for drivers to reduce their rates.

Here’s a breakdown of the available discounts from The General:

Good student discount

: Students who maintain at least a B average can save money on their car insurance.

Defensive driver discount: Complete a state-approved

defensive driver course

and qualify for a reduced rate.

Multi-car discount: If you have more than one vehicle registered to the same address, insure it under the same The General policy for a discount.

Safety features discount: Cars equipped with airbags and a passive restraint system may be eligible for a lower insurance rate.

Homeowners discount: If you own a home or condo, you could save money on your auto insurance.

Double deductible discount: You may be eligible for a reduced auto insurance rate if you agree to double your deductible for the first 45 days of your policy.

Safe driver discount: Save money on your auto insurance if you’ve maintained a

clean driving record

for the past three to five years.

Previous insurance discount: You could save money on your auto insurance with The General if you’ve had insurance with a different company in the past five years.

Paid-in-full discount

: Pay your entire 12-month premium upfront for a reduced rate.

Remember: Not all discounts may be available in your state, so contact your local The General sales representative to ask about which are available in your area.

The General coverage options

As with any insurer, The General sells a wide selection of auto insurance coverage options ranging from basic liability insurance that meets the

minimum car insurance requirements in your state

, to rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance. However, many other car insurance companies offer a wider selection of coverage for drivers who want added protection.

Here’s a breakdown of The General’s offerings to fulfill state minimum coverages:

Liability car insurance

: Liability insurance consists of

bodily injury liability

and

property damage liability

. These insurances will cover the cost of injuries to others or damage to personal property in an at-fault accident up to your policy’s limit. Liability coverage is

legally required in most states

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

: Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance, while underinsured motorist coverage protects you if the other driver doesn’t have sufficient insurance to pay for your damages. UM/UIM is required in some states.

Medical Payments (MedPay)

: Pays for medical expenses or funeral costs for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault.

Personal injury protection (PIP)

: Similar to MedPay, PIP covers medical expenses associated with an accident and additional costs like rehab bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages. PIP is required coverage in

no-fault states

For drivers who want more protection, The General also offers the following

full coverage car insurance

options:

Collision insurance

: Collision coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle if you hit another car or stationary object.

Comprehensive insurance

: Covers the cost of repairs for damage resulting from severe weather events, theft, wildlife, fire, flooding, and more. Comprehensive coverage usually covers most events collision does not.

Rental reimbursement

: If your car is in the shop for repairs after an approved claim, this coverage helps cover the cost of a rental vehicle up to certain limits.

Roadside assistance: Having

towing and labor coverage

helps pay for the costs of vehicle troubles, such as tire changes, towing, and more.

Custom equipment coverage: This coverage will replace any special features in your vehicle, such as mods or aftermarket parts.

In addition to these coverages, you may find other options that can help pay your bills if you're injured in an accident:

Accidental death

Combination first-party benefits

Extraordinary medical benefits

Funeral benefit

Income loss

Although you can find bodily injury and property damage liability coverage for safe drivers through The General, the company mainly caters to high-risk drivers. It’s good for drivers with a poor credit score or a bad driving record—or are required to file an SR-22.

FAQs

How do you cancel The General car insurance?

If you have an existing policy with The General that you want to cancel, you must submit a cancellation request to the company's headquarters in writing. You can mail it to 2636 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 100, Nashville, TN, 37214. You may be subject to an early cancellation fee.

How do you add a car to The General car insurance?

You can add another vehicle to your auto insurance policy through the MyPolicy user portal. On The General website, click on the "Make Policy Changes" button, enter your driver's license or Social Security Number, and then click "Begin Quote." You will then see an option to add or remove a vehicle from your policy.

What kind of insurance does The General have?

The General focuses on car insurance for high-risk drivers and includes coverages like liability, collision, comprehensive, MedPay, and PIP, along with several add-on coverages. They also have policies for homeowners insurance, renters insurance, pet, health, and life insurance.

Why is The General so expensive?

The General specializes in providing auto insurance for high-risk drivers, who come with a bigger liability. These drivers are more likely to make claims, which means insurance tends to be more expensive than safe drivers with a clean record.

Does The General have full coverage?

Yes—you can find comprehensive and collision car insurance coverage with The General, in addition to optional coverages like gap insurance, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, income loss coverage, and accidental death coverage.

Methodology

The Insurance Research Team analyzes insurance products and services to drive insights and help consumers make informed purchase decisions. Insurance research: We analyzed over 25 million car insurance quotes; conducted the largest insurance shopping survey (over 18,000 customers surveyed and 120 carriers reviewed in the past 18 months). We surveyed insurance policyholders for their experience with their insurers in the following areas: (1) insurance cost (2) customer service (3) insurance buying experience (4) insurance renewal experience (5) claim experience. In addition, we asked people what they like about their insurers and what areas in which their insurers could improve. The driver characteristics used in calculating average rates for auto insurance include: single driver, single car, currently insured, clean driving record. For the quotes and sold policies included in this article, please note that personal information has been hidden. Not all customers find savings. Team: The team consists of licensed insurance agents, insurance industry veterans, and data scientists.

Meet Our Experts

R.E. Fulton

Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer

R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views.

As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.

Lina Zhang

Licensed Insurance Agent

Licensed in 50 states and Washington DC

Lina Zhang is Vice President of Operations at Jerry. She helped to found Jerry in order to take the confusion and mystery expenses out of car ownership and help drivers achieve financial success. Leading a global team responsible for operations, talent acquisition, legal, and content, Lina has been a key contributor to the AllCar™ app’s 10x growth in its first year of operation. Prior to Jerry, Lina and her Jerry co-founders, Art Agrawal and Musawir Shah, created YourMechanic, the largest on-demand car repair services provider. In one year, Lina built and scaled YourMechanic operations from just five markets to more than 50. The trio left YourMechanic to incubate Jerry at Y Combinator in 2017. Lina’s previous roles include intellectual property attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a biomedical researcher at Stanford University.

Josh Damico

Head Of Insurance Operations

18+ Years Experience in Insurance

Josh Damico is Jerry’s vice president of insurance operations and a licensed insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College, and has appeared on news channels including FOX and CBS to offer insurance expertise and tips to drivers across the country. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Kelley Blue Book, and Digital Insurance and been quoted in The Balance, GOBankingRates, and Inspiring Workplaces.

*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.