The General insurance review 2025
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At a glance
Auto
3.3
Cost & ratings
3.0
Coverage
3.5
Support
3.9
About Bankrate Score
Bankrate's take
The General specializes in car insurance for high-risk drivers, including offering SR-22 insurance, so it may be a good fit for drivers who may find it difficult to secure coverage with other standard carriers. But The General has a complaint index over five times higher than companies of similar size, indicating that customers may have issues with the company’s customer service, billing or claim handling.
- Specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers
- Flexible payment plans and customer-selected payment date
- Offers SR-22s and non-owner car insurance
- Offers additional lines of insurance through partner companies
- Limited endorsement options
New
Sentry Insurance completed its acquisition of The General from American Family Insurance in January 2025. The General will now be Sentry’s primary brand to create a stronger presence in the non-standard auto insurance market.The General’s headquarters will remain in Nashville, Tennessee, to ensure a seamless transition for customers and employees.
The General car insurance review
The General offers standard car insurance coverage types, several discounts and an online chat option for more convenient customer service, but the carrier falls short when it comes to add-ons. Additionally, The General car insurance has a much higher-than-average National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, indicating that some customers are not satisfied with the level of service they receive.
As a nonstandard car insurance provider, The General may be a good fit for high-risk drivers and those needing an SR-22 filing looking for affordable rates. The General car insurance is available in 47 states and quotes are fast and easy, as the process takes two minutes or less on its website.
Pros and cons of The General car insurance
Comparing the pros and cons of the various auto insurance companies you're considering may help you narrow down your choices. Here are some of the key perks and drawbacks we identified with The General auto insurance:
Pros
- Coverage and premiums geared toward high-risk drivers
- Various discounts available
- Available in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- Limited coverage options
- Not rated by J.D. Power for customer service or claims satisfaction studies
- High amount of customer complaints filed with NAIC
The General car insurance cost
Based on data provided by Quadrant Information Services, the average full coverage car insurance premium from The General is $2,538 per year. The average premium for a policy with minimum coverage is $1,338 per year. Compared to the U.S. national average, which is $2,678 per year, The General’s average full coverage rate is 5 percent less, but its minimum coverage rate is 68 percent more than the national minimum average of $799 per year.
How much is The General car insurance?
Car insurance costs vary from person to person based on individual rating factors, including your driving record. Insurance companies typically charge higher premiums for drivers with speeding ticket convictions and at-fault accidents on their record. Note that while not all carriers will underwrite policies for drivers with a DUI, The General specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers. It offers coverage for drivers with DUIs, suspended licenses and those that need an SR-22 filing, as long as they meet the company's other underwriting criteria. Contact a local agent for an insurance quote to verify that your driving record qualifies for a policy.
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Good driver, good credit
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The General full coverage premium
$2,538
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National full coverage premium
$2,678
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The General full coverage premium
$4,766
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National full coverage premium
$4,708
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The General full coverage premium
$3,283
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National full coverage premium
$3,270
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The General full coverage premium
$3,850
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National full coverage premium
$3,857
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The General full coverage premium
$3,534
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National full coverage premium
$5,182
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The General car insurance quotes by age
In most states, another factor impacting your car insurance rate in most states is age. Young and newly licensed drivers typically pay higher rates because they have less experience and pose a higher insurance risk. In the table below, you can see the average cost of car insurance for a teen on their parents' policy, as well as average rates by age for drivers with their own policy.
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The General full coverage premium
$6,034
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National full coverage premium
$5,757
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The General full coverage premium
$5,581
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National full coverage premium
$4,968
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The General full coverage premium
$5,253
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National full coverage premium
$5,458
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The General full coverage premium
$3,655
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National full coverage premium
$3,308
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The General full coverage premium
$3,040
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National full coverage premium
$2,862
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The General full coverage premium
$2,538
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National full coverage premium
$2,678
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The General full coverage premium
$2,398
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National full coverage premium
$2,411
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Compare The General car insurance rates
Premiums vary between car insurance companies based on several factors, such as the type of coverage a company offers, state guidelines and available discounts. As a nonstandard insurer specializing in high-risk driving profiles, The General insurance may not be as competitive as other companies catering to the standard market.
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$2,538
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$1,338
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$2,846
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$914
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$2,385
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$747
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$3,312
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$939
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$2,059
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$594
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$2,016
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$768
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$2,825
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$907
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$2,120
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$657
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$2,191
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$722
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$1,808
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$496
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The General customer satisfaction
When comparing insurance companies, looking at third-party ratings may help you learn more about a carrier's customer service, claims satisfaction and financial strength. Some of the most notable organizations that issue third-party ratings include AM Best for financial strength and J.D. Power for customer, claims and digital tools satisfaction. Due in part to The General’s small customer base, it does not receive as many ratings as some larger insurance companies with more significant market share.
The General auto insurance customer complaints
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints against insurance companies and assigns each carrier complaint indexes by product type based on its size. The baseline for these indexes is 1.0. Companies that index higher than 1.0 receive more complaints than expected for their size, while companies with an index under 1.0 have fewer complaints than expected.
The General auto complaints
The General has more complaints than expected lodged with the NAIC for its private passenger auto insurance product. In 2024, it had more than five times as many complaints as other carriers of similar size. Based on this and the lack of J.D. Power scores, you may want to speak with existing policyholders before purchasing a policy from The General.
The General car insurance discounts
The General offers a handful of discounts that may help you save money on car insurance. Here are some of the discounts available, keeping in mind that some discounts are not offered in all states.
- Defensive driving course discount: In eligible states, drivers may earn a discount for completing an approved defensive driving course.
- Good student discount: The General may extend a discount to students who maintain a high GPA.
- Multi-car discount: If you insure more than one vehicle on a policy with The General, you might earn a discount.
- Homeowners discount: If you own your home, you may earn a discount on your insurance policy.
- Pay in full discount: Customers who pay their bill quarterly or in a lump sum (depending on the state) may earn a discount.
- Vehicle safety features discount: If your vehicle has factory-installed passive restraint systems like automatic seatbelts and airbags, you may qualify for a discount.
- Safe driver discount: Maintaining a clean driving record for three to five years could make you eligible for a discount.
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Get personalized auto insurance quotes
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
The General home insurance review
Though The General lists homeowners insurance as an option on its website, it only offers coverage through partner companies. After submitting some information about yourself and your home, you’ll be matched with several home insurance providers in your area. You can also get personalized quotes to see how much you might pay for home insurance with a partner company.
Compare The General with other insurers
While The General could be a good insurance provider for some people, it will not be the best car insurance company for everyone. Here is how The General compares to other insurers.
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Featured
The General
3.3
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
Cost & ratings 3.0Coverage 3.5Support 3.9 |
Good2Go
Not scored
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
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Direct Auto
Not scored
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
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OVERVIEW
Bankrate identified key carrier features, coverage offerings, discounts and more
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The General may be a good fit for drivers who have a spotty driving record, poor credit or a recent lapse in coverage. It may not be the best fit for drivers who qualify for coverage in the standard market.
Read More
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Good2Go also specializes in high-risk drivers and advertises low minimum coverage rates, but may outsource coverage to different companies depending on driving profile and state.
Read More
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DirectAuto offers more robust coverage options than The General, including a telematics program, but is only available in 15 states.
Read More
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STANDOUT FEATURES
These features are some of the carrier’s most impressive
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Highly-rated mobile app
Fast online quotes
SR-22 availability
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Long list of discounts
Online quotes available
SR-22 availability
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DynamicDrive telematics program
Local stores available
24/7 claims support
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AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy
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| $2,538 | No rates available |
$6,243 |
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J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE
J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
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Not Scored |
Not Scored | Not Scored |
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AVG HOME RATE
Average national annual cost of a home insurance policy with $300K in dwelling coverage
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| No rates available | No rates available | No rates available |
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J.D. POWER HOME SCORE
J.D. Power’s Property Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
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| Not Scored | Not Scored |
Not Scored |
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AM BEST RATING
AM Best ratings assess companies’ financial strength based on historical ability to pay out claims, among other financial obligations
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A(Excellent) |
Not Scored | Not Scored |
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyThe insurance market can be complicated, but Bankrate's insurance editorial team used our unique perspective to bring readers the information they need to make educated decisions when shopping for a policy.
78
years of industry experience
9
licensed staff
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
120
carriers reviewed
Is The General a good insurance company?
Based on Bankrate insurance team's in-depth analysis, The General may be a good auto insurance provider for high-risk drivers looking for comprehensive digital tools and a variety of discounts. However, if you have a clean driving record, other car insurance companies may offer better customer service ratings and more options for policy customization.
What are real-life customers saying about The General?
When searching for new insurance, hearing from real-life customers can give you a more holistic view of the company you are considering. To help make this process a little easier, Bankrate reviewed several review sites and social discourse platforms to see what policyholders have to say about their recent experiences with The General. Overall, customers note that The General will offer an insurance policy to drivers with a challenging driving history and that the rates tend to be lower than other providers.
The common thread from most of The General insurance reviews on Reddit is that drivers who could not secure insurance with other companies were able to purchase a policy with The General, but express frustration with The General’s cancellation and billing processes. One benefit of Reddit is that while there might not be several reviews, users can leave comment threads on an existing post, which can help you see trends in a particular company's weakness.
Trustpilot
Trustpilot has more individual reviews for The General than Reddit and the experience noted is on the more positive side. Overall, users are happy to have found a company to provide auto insurance and state that signing up for insurance was accessible and more affordable than anticipated.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
The General company details
The General offers multiple ways to contact the company, including chat support.
- The General phone number: 1-844-327-9870
- Customer service: 1-844-328-0306
- Claims: 1-800-280-1466
- Online contact form: https://www.thegeneral.com/about/contact/
- Mailing address: 2636 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 510, Nashville, TN 37214
State availability
The General car insurance is available in all states and Washington, D.C., except CO, MA, RI and UT.
The General tools and benefits
Some additional offerings by The General include:
- Mobile app
- Liability insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Boat insurance
- Personal watercraft insurance
- Motor home insurance
- Travel trailer insurance
- Commercial auto insurance
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Pet insurance
Methodology
Auto
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze March 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
Bodily injury liability
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$50,000 per accidentPersonal injury protection
$100,000 per accidentUninsured motorist bodily injury
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Collision deductible
$500Comprehensive deductible
$500Other profiles
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Bankrate Scores
Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
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Cost & ratings 50%
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Coverage & savings 30%
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Support 20%
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
- Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
- Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.
What policyholders are saying about The General
The General has 25 reviews
Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about The General.
To help serve you with relevant information, the customer reviews shown are limited to only those that this advertiser has received during the past 12 months.
recommend this insurer
In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with market research firm SliceMR to survey over 1,500 insurance customers nationwide, asking policyholders to rate their insurer’s cost, coverage, customer support and overall experience on a five-point scale. Bankrate and SliceMR collected and analyzed these customer ratings, along with website analytics and responses to three open-ended questions regarding customer experience. Responses are based on individual policyholders’ policy details and personal experience, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. All ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by insurance carriers. User-generated ratings are separate from carrier Bankrate Scores — which are calculated based on our proprietary methodology — and may not match.
