Key Takeaways
- Based on its reputation, coverage, cost, availability and customer experience, we’ve rated The General 63rd out of 133 providers.
- The General car insurance can cost anywhere from $45 to $309 per month depending on your selected coverage plan, vehicle history, and more.
- The General insurance is a good idea if you have a bad driving record, but otherwise you’ll find cheaper and better coverage options elsewhere.
The General is a Nashville, Tenn.-based insurance agency that’s been offering coverage since 1963 and is owned by PGC Holdings, a subsidiary of American Family Insurance. The company offers insurance in 47 states excluding Hawaii, Michigan and New Jersey.
We at the MarketWatch Guides team have considered the best car insurance providers across the nation to determine which ones fit drivers’ needs. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at The General insurance reviews to reveal how the company compares to leading auto coverage options.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
The General Auto Insurance Review
After 800 hours of research on the car insurance industry, we’ve rated The General Insurance a 7.9 out of 10 in our industry-wide review. The General provides solid car insurance coverage options for high-risk drivers. However, it has somewhat high premiums for most drivers and a below-average customer service reputation.
The General Car Insurance Pros and Cons
Below are some specific pros and cons about The General car insurance:
The General Car Insurance Rating
Our score was aggregated according to our rating criteria — which evaluates providers on their costs, coverages, reputations, availability and customer experiences. See a breakdown of our overall rating in the table below:
| Rating Category | Score (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 8.5 |
| Availability | 10 |
| Coverage | 7.7 |
| Cost and Discounts | 6.8 |
| Customer Experience | 8 |
| Overall Rating | 7.9 |
Is The General Insurance Good?
If you are a high risk driver, you can expect to get approval at The General for cheaper insurance rates. Their customer service is considered top notch by customers and the company has some good benefits. However, if you fall outside the high-risk driver category you may find a more affordable option with another company.
The General Insurance Ratings
On the bright side, The General and its insurance underwriters have earned close to the best ratings for financial strength from AM Best.
Below are the companies that cover claims for The General and their overall levels of financial health:
| The General Insurance Underwriter | AM Best Financial Strength Rating |
|---|---|
| Permanent General Assurance Corp. | A |
| Permanent General Assurance Corp. of Ohio | A |
| The General Automobile Insurance Co. Inc. | A |
American Family Insurance, the parent company of The General, also holds an A financial strength rating from AM Best.
Why Choose The General Insurance
If you are looking for car insurance for bad credit or just need approval for policy coverage, The General is a good option for cheaper coverage. The company also has an overall good reputation with customers who praise the company for an easy quotes process and great service.
Where The General Falls Short
Since it is not a large company, The General has a lack of coverage options, benefits, and discounts. They also lack a telematics insurance program which can give you discounts for good driving. Compared to the industry average, the company has much more expensive coverage overall, especially for good drivers.
The General Insurance Comparison
Below you can compare The General to other major insurers we’ve reviewed:
| Comparison | The General vs. Competitor Rating |
Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|
| The General vs. Progressive | 7.9 vs. 9.4 | Progressive offers more coverage options at lower prices overall while The General offers lower pricing for high-risk drivers. |
| The General vs. State Farm | 7.9 vs. 9.2 | State Farm is more affordable and has better customer service than The General. |
| The General vs. Liberty Mutual | 7.9 vs. 9.1 | Liberty Mutual has more add-ons, benefits, and cheaper overall coverage than The General. |
| The General vs. Geico | 7.9 vs. 9.3 | Geico is a much cheaper option than The General and comes with more insurance options |
| The General vs. Travelers | 7.9 vs. 9.5 | Travelers has better choices for insurance, higher ratings and more affordable coverage than The General. |
| The General vs. Allstate | 7.9 vs. 9.1 | Allstate has more discounts and add-ons than The General, but you may find better coverage elsewhere if you have a bad driving history. |
| The General vs. USAA | 7.9 vs. 9.3 | While USAA is the cheapest car insurance option, it lacks the availability to the general public unlike The General insurance. |
| The General vs. AAA | 7.9 vs. 7.3 | AAA offers more coverage benefits and choice than The General, making it the better choice for that category. |
| The General vs. The Hartford | 7.9 vs. 8.2 | Both companies are comparable, but The General offers better coverage for high-risk drivers. |
| The General vs. Nationwide | 7.9 vs. 9.2 | Nationwide beats The General in every category, making it better overall. |
| The General vs. 21st Century | 7.9 vs. 5.7 | 21st Century is not an ideal option as it is our lowest rated company out of over 130 insurance providers. You’re therefore better off with The General. |
| The General vs. American Family | 7.9 vs. 9 | American Family offers a larger variety of coverage options at a better price than The General |
| The General vs. Farmers | 7.9 vs. 8.5 | While both companies have similar customer experience, Farmers has cheaper coverage with more discounts. |
The General Car Insurance Cost
Based on quotes we received online, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance from The General is $3,154 per year. For minimum-liability insurance, expect to pay an average of $604 annually. However, the rates you get will vary depending on a variety of factors.
Is The General Insurance Cheap?
You’ll rarely find cheap car insurance through The General, but the provider claims to offer lower-cost coverage to high-risk drivers. Our sample quote of $3,154 per year for full coverage shows The General is more expensive than the national average of $2,681.
The General Car Insurance Quotes
Below we’ve provided sample quotes from The General for various driver profiles and coverage plans for both full coverage and minimum-liability insurance:
| Driver Profile | Coverage Type | Annual Policy Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Young driver | Minimum liability | $683 |
| Young driver | Full coverage | $3,941 |
| Adult | Minimum liability | $524 |
| Adult | Full coverage | $2,369 |
The General Insurance Discounts
There’s not much information online about the company’s car insurance discounts, but The General insurance reviews mention some. It’s worth reaching out to the company to learn more about these potential savings opportunities:
| The General Insurance Discount | Discount Description |
|---|---|
| Good student discount | Offers savings to students with at least a B average in their classes |
| Defensive driver discount | Reduces costs for drivers who go through an approved driver training course |
| Multi-car discount | Saves money for those who insure multiple vehicles through The General |
| Safety features discount | Lowers prices for cars that have air bags and passive restraint systems |
| Homeowners discount | Saves money for those who own a house |
| Double deductible discount | Reduces rates if you agree to double your deductible for the first 45 days of your policy |
| Safe driver discount | Reduces costs for drivers who have had a clean driving record for the past three to five years |
| Previous insurance discount | Saves money for drivers who’ve had insurance with a different company in the past five years |
| Pay-in-full discount | Reduces costs for drivers who pay their entire premiums up front |
The best way to discover your best rates is to compare car insurance quotes from providers. Then, you’ll be able to consider your potential annual or monthly payments along with the quality of service provided by each company.
The General Insurance Quote
All insurance quotes from The General can only be received online through their website as the company has no agents. All you will need is some basic personal information, your car details and how many drivers you want on the policy. From there, you’ll be able to pick all of the coverage levels and limits on the last screen to compare different pricing.
What Affects Your Auto Insurance Quote From The General?
The General insurance reviews make clear that the following factors nearly always affect auto insurance quotes:
- Coverage limits: If you choose full-coverage car insurance, expect to pay higher rates than if you’d chosen less protection.
- Deductible amount: Motorists who choose a high deductible may receive lower rates, though they’ll have to pay more out of pocket after an accident.
- Age, gender and marital status: In most states, men who are young and/or single will likely receive the highest car insurance premiums.
- Driving record: Even with The General, you’ll pay higher rates after an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket or a DUI violation.
- Credit score: Anyone with poor credit will likely pay more for auto insurance.
- Vehicle make, model and age: Older cars are usually cheaper to cover, though that’s not always the case for models that lack safety features. Vehicles that are common targets for theft usually receive higher premiums.
- Location: Motorists could pay more if they live in densely populated cities, states with extensive coverage requirements or areas with higher rates of vehicle theft or uninsured motorists.
The General Insurance Coverage
Most drivers will find the auto insurance coverage they want through The General. That said, many car insurance companies offer far more extensive options for those who’d like added protection. Below are the main types of car insurance The General provides:
The General Car Insurance Policy Add-ons
Some customers who leave reviews about The General speak of the benefits that come from less common offerings, such as these types of optional coverages:
While The General offers bodily injury and property damage liability coverage to safe drivers, the company mainly caters to risky motorists. It may be a suitable option if you want auto insurance with bad credit or an outstanding driving record — or, if you need an SR-22. There’s no information online about usage-based insurance from The General, so it’s likely not the best provider if you’re seeking a similar program.
The General Insurance Claims
All auto insurance claims can be handled online by logging in to your The General insurance account either on their website or app. If you need assistance with a claim or want to file with a representative, you can call 1-800-280-1466 for assistance.
The General Insurance Customer Reviews
In insurance reviews about The General, motorists complain about the company’s costly premiums and the often poor communication between policyholders and company employees. You may be better off getting a quote from a different provider if excellent communication is what you crave from an insurance company.
However, it’s tricky to determine exactly how drivers feel based on insurance reviews of The General, as their ratings and comments are mixed. We’ll take a look at the company’s customer review scores in further detail below.
The General Insurance Reviews BBB
On the Better Business Bureau (BBB), The General Insurance holds a 3.7-star rating out of 5 from over 500 customers, as well as an A+ rating. You’ll find a significant number of The General insurance reviews that criticize the company’s claims process. While most drivers receive payouts in the end, some say they waited an excessive amount of time to receive compensation.
The General Insurance Reviews: NAIC
Data from the Company Complaint Index by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) paints an entirely different picture, with drivers logging about eight times more customer complaints against The General than the average for car insurance providers in 2023.
The General Auto Insurance App Reviews
On The General’s mobile app drivers can receive auto insurance quotes, make payments or file car insurance claims. The General has an app with high customer satisfaction, holding a 4.7-star average score on the App Store and a 4.8-star rating on Google Play.
Other The General Insurance Policies
The General offers further coverage options under its Labs division of the company, which works as an experimental insurance branch. They collect information from customers to provide better services within each given area.
It partners with various companies to offer these products:
The General Commercial Auto Insurance
The General has an offering for commercial auto insurance which provides you with protection for vehicles used for business purposes. This can include vehicles used for rideshare services like Uber or ones used for your personal business (either owned or hired). All policies are offered through Progressive and can include coverages for liability, vehicle damages, business coverage and more.
The General Motorcycle Insurance
The motorcycle insurance policy program for The General is offered by Dairyland and can give you similar coverage to a car insurance plan. The company offers both auto and motorcycle plans, so if you are trying to get an auto and motorcycle bundle, you can with the company. Otherwise, it is best to compare motorcycle insurance quotes before buying.
You can read more about Dairyland and other motorcycle insurance providers below:
The General Home Insurance
Policies for homeowners insurance are offered from a large variety of providers that are tailored to your specific location. The company offers basic liability and comprehensive coverages by default and it will typically offer you the cheapest home insurance in your area. However, cheap does not always mean the best, so it is important to compare home insurance rates and plans before choosing a provider:
The General Renters Insurance
According to The General, its policies will cover your rental home in the case of theft, weather damages, accidents in the home and personal belongings. Its policies can be offered by a number of insurance providers as they try to match you with the best one. Typically, the suggested companies include Lemonade and Toggle which are some of our top picks.
You can compare them along with other top providers below and use our free tool to get renters insurance quotes.
The General RV Insurance
All RV insurance policies for The General are offered by Progressive and can cover all types of motorhome or trailers. According to our research, RV insurance costs from Progressive are $502 on average for trailers and $848 for motorhomes annually, making them one of the cheapest RV insurance providers. They are also our top pick for RV insurance and earned our Editor’s Choice title.
While getting RV insurance from Progressive can be a good choice, it is best to compare multiple companies to get the best deal for you. Below you can compare top providers in our comprehensive reviews or get a personalized quote:
The General Life Insurance
There are a large variety of life insurance options you can get from The General. Regardless of which provider you choose, you’ll typically have these types of life insurance plans available to you: term and whole. Some providers offer other plans which include variable life insurance, burial/final expense insurance and mortgage life insurance.
You can compare some of our top picks for life insurance or get personalized quotes below to start your research:
The General Health Insurance
Health insurance from The General is offered by a wide variety of providers tailored to your particular needs. Government health programs are also included in their matching service. Quotes are easily accessible online, all you need is your ZIP code.
The General Boat Insurance
Just like RV insurance, the provider for The General’s boat insurance is Progressive and its plans can cover boats, yachts, jet skis, and trailers for marine vehicles. Similar to our RV insurance rankings, Progressive is our top pick for boat insurance coverage due to their many discounts, options and benefits. Its pricing for boat policies also make it one of the cheapest boat insurance companies out there.
However, Progressive may not be the right options for you so it is best to compare your options before making a decision:
The General Pet Insurance
The General’s pet insurance program is provided by Hartville and comes in two varieties: accident only and complete coverage. All plans can have up to $15,000 in coverage, between $100 to $500 for deductibles and up to 90% reimbursement for costs. It is a good idea to know exactly what pet insurance covers and know your answer to “Is pet insurance worth it?” before purchasing any plan.
If you decide it is right for you, we’ve provided reviews of top providers and a tool where you can compare pet insurance quotes easily online:
The General Phone Insurance
The General partners with a provider, Lori, for phone insurance that offers four levels of coverage. Each level of coverage can range anywhere from mechanical breakdown protection to coverages for damages and unlimited phone screen repairs. If you’d like your phone to be covered you can compare plans on their website.
Frequently Asked Questions About The General Insurance Review
Below are frequently asked questions about The General car insurance:
In most cases, getting a car insurance policy from The General is not worth the money and you can find cheaper coverage elsewhere. However, if you are a high risk driver it is a serviceable option and should be considered in your search for coverage.
The General insurance is owned by PGC Holdings, which is an affiliate of American Family Insurance. PGC Holdings was acquired in 2012 and has been a subsidiary ever since.
Yes, The General is a real insurance company. It offers auto insurance policies, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A financial strength rating from AM Best.
While the company focuses on car coverage, The General insurance reviews and the provider’s website mention insurance policies for alternative vehicles like RVs and motorcycles, homeowners, renters, pet, health and life insurance.
The General has full–coverage rates that on average cost $3,154 per year which is much higher than the 2024 average of $2,681. If you are a good driver that is over the age of 25, expect higher costs for your car insurance premium. Because the company specializes in offering high risk car insurance, those with good records typically won’t find affordable rates.
Since The General specializes in providing coverage for high risk drivers, you can expect cheaper rates if you fit that profile. The company also does not have agents and is able to cut overhead costs, making it possible for lower premiums and policy costs.
To cancel a policy from The General, you should call 844‑327‑9870 for a customer service representative. Be aware that the company can charge you up to 10% of your remaining policy balance for canceling depending on your state.
To make a payment, you can pay online through your The General insurance account on their website or app.
You can call The General customer service at 1-866-519-7422.
Our Methodology: How We Rated The General Insurance
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800+ hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
Studies and Ratings We Cite
-
Our provider reviews cite several key industry studies and ratings, including:
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study
- NAIC Complaint Index
The annual J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping Study measures customer satisfaction and purchase experience with auto insurance providers based on five categories: brand, price, distribution channel, quote process and policy offerings. The study average score is 676/1,000.
The annual J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study rates the claims experience customers have with different providers based on eight categories: trust, fairness of settlement, time to settle a claim, people, communication, ease of resolving a claim, ease of starting a claim and digital channels. Car insurance providers are assessed at the national level. The study average score is 697/1,000.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index is a representation of the number of complaints auto insurance providers receive relative to the average number of complaints for the industry based on their size. A score of 1 represents the average number of complaints for the industry.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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