National General is one of the top homeowners insurance companies in the United States. MoneyGeek utilized a unique ranking system to rate insurers on affordability, financial stability and customer satisfaction. National General had an overall score of 85 out of 100. It also had high customer satisfaction scores, a low complaint ratio and excellent financial stability.
National General Home Insurance Review: Service, Cost, & More (2024)
National General is one of the top homeowners insurance companies in the U.S. and earned a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 thanks to its excellent financial strength and customer satisfaction ratings.
Updated: November 1, 2024
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Verdict
National General homeowners insurance can be an excellent option for homeowners who do not wish to bundle more than one policy. Policyholders can customize their coverage to include various add-on options, including specialty coverage rarely available from other insurers. You can also take advantage of many unique discounts to save on your premiums.
National General offers several tools and features that facilitate account management. Policyholders can easily file claims online through the claims center. With an A- rating from AM Best, the insurer is in good financial standing to process customer claims.
Does National General Have Good Customer Service?
Customer Satisfaction Rating
When choosing a homeowners insurance provider, its customer satisfaction score is a critical factor because it points to the quality of service you’ll receive. Based on MoneyGeek’s scoring system, National General had a customer satisfaction score of 4.78 out of 5.
Customer Complaint Index
MoneyGeek also analyzed National General’s customer complaint ratio based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) index. The insurer had a score of 0.35, considerably lower than the national median of 1.00, meaning National General receives fewer complaints than average.
Financial Stability Rating
National General received an A- rating from AM Best, indicating that the insurer has excellent financial stability. That means policyholders can be assured the company can fulfill its financial obligations and is capable of settling claims quickly.
What to Expect From National General Homeowners Insurance
MoneyGeek reviewed National General homeowners insurance to help you determine what to expect when purchasing a policy from this insurer. We outlined several of National General’s helpful features and services.
- 1
Getting a quote
National General’s online tool allows customers to get personalized homeowners insurance quotes. You can also obtain a quick quote by calling 1-800-462-2123.
- 2
Customer support
If you have any questions or comments about National General homeowners insurance, you can call 1-888-325-1190 and speak to a company representative.
- 3
Filing a claim
National General allows you to file claims in various ways. You can chat with customer support online, call 1-800-325-1088 or email claims@NGIC.com. You may also file a claim via the claim center on the company’s website.
- 4
Canceling your policy
You can cancel your homeowners insurance policy by contacting 1-888-325-1190 or visiting a local agent.
National General allows homeowners insurance policyholders to file claims using various methods — through the online claim center, by chatting online with customer support, by calling 1-800-325-1088 or emailing claims@NGIC.com.
National General homeowners insurance coverage is widely available in all 50 U.S. states.
How Much Does National General Homeowners Insurance Cost?
Homeowners insurance costs an average of $1,979 per year. However, your rates may vary depending on your age, home’s location, type of construction and other factors. MoneyGeek recommends speaking to a National General agent to find how much you are likely to pay for homeowners insurance based on your profile.
To determine your homeowners insurance rate, insurance companies consider factors like your location, plus policy attributes like personal coverage, replacement cost coverage and deductible amounts.
A policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage can offer adequate protection for most. However, it’s advisable to assess your home’s value and calculate the ideal coverage amount for your needs.
You can use MoneyGeek’s home insurance calculator to compute cost estimates for different coverage limits.
Homeowners insurance policies with lower coverage limits and deductibles are often cheaper in the short term. However, such policies require you to pay more out-of-pocket if your home is damaged.
What Discounts Does National General Offer?
National General offers several homeowners insurance discounts. Some are quite common, such as claims free and protective device discounts. Others are unique and include gated community and homeowners association discounts.
Discount | Description |
---|---|
Protective Device | Policyholders can save on their premiums if they have protective devices installed in their homes. These include security systems, smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and deadbolt locks. |
Gated Community | You can save on your premiums if your home is located in a gated community. |
Claims Free | National General offers discounts to those who haven’t made claims in the past. |
Home Buyer | A recent home buyer may qualify for cheaper homeowners insurance coverage. |
Homeowners Association | You may get a discount if you belong to a homeowners association. |
Age of Home | Policyholders may receive discounts depending on the age of their home. |
National General’s various discounts allow you to save on premiums. For instance, you can increase the security of your home by installing protective devices, while also lowering your homeowners insurance costs.
Which Coverage Types Does National General Offer?
You can purchase additional coverage options for your National General homeowners insurance. The insurer offers four different endorsements, one less than the industry average.
National General offers various popular coverage add-ons, including specialty vehicle coverage, a rare option that protects watercraft, trailers and other specialty vehicles.
National General does not have optional coverage for damage caused by wind, hail, or freezing temperatures. The insurer also doesn’t provide coverage for flood, earthquake and insect damage. If you live in a location prone to these occurrences, you may need to arrange for separate coverage.
Policyholders can add several coverage endorsements to their National General homeowners insurance, as outlined in the following table:
- 1
Extended Reimbursement
Reimburses the cost of rebuilding your home after damages, even if the repairs cost more than the original value of the home.
- 2
Scheduled Personal Property
Offers coverage for personal property, including watches, jewelry, furs and fine art.
- 3
Specialty Vehicle
Protects specialty vehicles, including watercraft and trailers.
- 4
Cyber Event/ID Theft
Offers reimbursement for certain costs associated with identity theft, up to $15,000.
While shopping for the best homeowners insurance, it’s critical to compare quotes across multiple providers for a policy that best meets your needs.
If your area is prone to earthquakes, floods and insect damage, it may be important to check the policy’s fine print. Most companies often exclude flood, earthquake and pest coverage from their policies or offer these as endorsements.
How much homeowners insurance coverage you need depends on your unique needs. National General offers various standard coverage options to its customers.
Replacement value
Covers the cost of replacing the actual structure of your home. It also covers any additional property attached to your home, such as your garage.
Personal Property
Helps pay to replace your damaged personal possessions, such as appliances, furniture and clothing.
Personal Liability
Offers coverage against personal liability claims sustained by third-party individuals within your home. Protection includes bodily injury liability and personal property damage claims.
Other structures
Covers structures within your property that aren’t attached to your main house.
Open perils
Protects against lightning, fire, wind and other related causes of loss and damage.
Loss of use
Pays for additional expenses if the home is destroyed in a covered loss and the owner has to move temporarily.
What Online Homeowners Insurance Tools Does National General Offer?
National General provides several tools to simplify the home insurance purchase and management process. Some tools and features are only available to policyholders, although non-policyholders can still obtain quotes and estimate their rates online.
Some of these free tools and features are as follows.
Online Quote Tool
Allows you to get an estimate of your homeowners insurance costs. All you have to provide is your ZIP code.
Online Account Management
Policyholders can manage payments, review coverage options and obtain necessary policy documents online.
Claims Center
Policyholders can file claims online via live chat or by email.
Other National General Insurance Products
Aside from homeowners insurance, National General provides various other types of insurance. Policyholders who wish to purchase all their policies from one insurer can explore auto, RV, accident and health insurance options.
The following table outlines the various insurance products available at National General.
Type of Product | Description |
---|---|
Auto Insurance | National General’s car insurance policies provide bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision and comprehensive damage, medical costs, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection coverage. |
Condo Insurance | For those who live in condominiums, National General provides specialized coverage for priced items, personal liability coverage and help in covering living expenses in case the condo is damaged and becomes uninhabitable. |
RV Insurance | RV insurance from National General offers personal belongings coverage, full replacement cost coverage, permanent attachment coverage, general liability coverage and storage savings. |
Motorcycle Insurance | National General offers coverage for a wide array of motorcycles, including dual sport bikes, cruisers, touring, dirt bikes, scooters and trikes. |
Accident and Health Insurance | National General offers accident and health coverage options to individuals, seniors and businesses. Options include short-term insurance, supplemental insurance and dental insurance. |
Methodology
To evaluate National General as a homeowners insurance company, MoneyGeek analyzed the National General website, manually collected quotes and consulted consumer intelligence organizations such as J.D. Power, the NAIC and AM Best.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
sources
- Atlas Magazine. "AM Best Rating Scale." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and Renters Insurance." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- J.D. Power. "Home Insurers Struggle with Customer Loyalty as Boomers Flock to Rental Market, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- NAIC. "Consumer Insurance Search Results." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- National General. "Contact Us." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- National General. "Comprehensive Coverage at a Superior Level." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- National General. "Frequent Questions about Homeowners Insurance." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- National General. "Homeowners, renters and more." Accessed May 1, 2022.
- National General. "My Auto Insurance Coverage." Accessed May 2, 2022.
- National General. "Personalized RV Coverage Designed for You." Accessed May 2, 2022.