The General Auto Insurance Review: Quotes and Service (2024)

Being a subsidiary of the American Family Insurance, The General does not appear independently in most rankings performed by third-party rating agencies like J.D. Power. Nonetheless, it can still be considered one of the best car insurance providers for drivers who cannot obtain insurance policies through other providers.

MoneyGeek gathered auto insurance quote data from the states where The General offers auto insurance and averaged them for sample drivers. Based on MoneyGeek’s available data for The General, it is expensive for all drivers, costing an average of $3,404 per year.

MoneyGeek examined The General’s auto insurance rates based on four core driver profiles. MoneyGeek found that The General is expensive across each: full coverage, minimum coverage, with a speeding ticket and a teen driver.

When looking for the cheapest auto insurance provider, MoneyGeek recommends that you shop around and compare quotes from at least three insurers. However, pricing should not be your only concern; you should also analyze the provider's stability, customer satisfaction rate and other factors.

The General is expensive for all types of drivers, from young drivers to those with a traffic ticket and who want full coverage or minimum coverage.

Insurance companies aren't transparent about how they rate drivers and decide on a premium. However, factors such as residing in a high-risk area, having poor credit, a speeding ticket, being a young, inexperienced driver and owning a car that requires high coverage limits can make insurance through The General more expensive. Any insurance company may charge more in these instances.

The General, like other insurers, offers standard coverages such as liability insurance, comprehensive and collision insurance. The General also offers very common add-on coverages, such as roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. But, it does not offer accident forgiveness, new car replacement, gap insurance, deductible modification or better car replacement as other insurers do.

Regardless, The General provides custom parts coverage, which is uncommon amongst auto insurance companies. Custom parts coverage is distinct in that it covers anything extra that you add to the car: custom parts or equipment, gadgets, accessories, custom paint and other upgrades not installed by the original manufacturer that modifies the performance or looks of your vehicle.

The General has an online portal and mobile app to make policy management easier for its customers. The online portal, MyPolicy, allows customers to make payments and track their policy details. Creating an account on the company’s MyPolicy portal grants you access to various on-demand support features such as email, chat and FAQs. You can reach out to an agent to manage your policy through the online portal, over the phone or through The General’s mobile app.

The General specializes in car insurance services for high-risk drivers. Its policyholders receive all basic coverage options available in most national insurance companies, as well as a limited number of optional coverage.

Individuals seeking other forms of insurance such as life, medical and home insurance can access them through the parent company, American Family Insurance.

AM Best assesses insurance companies’ financial health to evaluate how well they can fulfill their financial obligations to their customers. Currently, The General auto insurance company has an A ranking, indicating financial strength and reliability.