National General Car Insurance Review: Costs and Ratings (2024)
National General Insurance gets an Insurify Composite Score of 58. See customer reviews of National General’s car insurance, ratings, discounts, and quotes.
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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If you spend time searching online for car insurance, you’ll find many different providers, including National General — a company that’s known for offering nonstandard policies for high-risk drivers.
The company provides many different ways to save on car insurance. And if you have a DUI charge, the company will file an SR-22 for you. But National General has a poor reputation when it comes to customer service and won’t be the best choice for everyone.
Quick Facts
National General is a subsidiary of Allstate, one of the largest insurers in the U.S.
National General provides many discounts and ways to save on car insurance.
The company is financially stable but has a poor customer service reputation.
What is National General car insurance?
In business since 1920 and one of the largest insurers in the U.S., National General was acquired by Allstate in a $4 billion deal in 2021. The company now has more than 55,000 agents representing it across the country.
The company provides many different types of insurance, including personal and commercial auto, homeowners, and renters insurance. As of February 2023, National General earned an A+ rating from A.M. Best, which means the company is financially stable enough to pay out its claims.
User Reviews
3.3
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
6.8 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$80/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$166/mo
3.3
A solid optionBased on 382 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about National General
Drivers appreciate the initial affordability and good starter options but dislike the frequent and significant price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
SR-22 insurance
Bundling discounts
Hard-to-insure drivers
How drivers feel about National General
Drivers appreciate the initial affordability and good starter options but dislike the frequent and significant price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
SR-22 insurance
Bundling discounts
Hard-to-insure drivers
Reviews (200)
Ricky
November 2, 2024
Verified Review
Good Insurance Company
They are a good insurance company. Just a little too expensive.
Kathy
November 1, 2024
Verified Review
My experience with them has been horrible
They're okay, but they sneakily increase your rates. I've been with them for 7 years.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
829
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
4.01
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+
Why we picked this company
In business for more than 100 years, National General is part of Allstate. The company offers personal and commercial car insurance, homeowners insurance, renters coverage, and more, through a network of independent agents across the country. In addition to liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, National General also offers accidental death and dismemberment, roadside assistance, and auto protection coverage. A.M. Best rates the company’s financial strength as excellent, meaning National General should be able to pay policyholder claims. However, the company has nearly seven times the expected number of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.
Pros
Non-standard policies for high-risk drivers
Multiple add-on choices
Cons
Numerous online complaints
Quotes may be higher than some competitors
How does National General auto insurance work?
National General specializes in offering affordable car insurance to all different types of drivers. The company provides multiple ways to save on your auto insurance and even gives lower rates to drivers who download the company’s app. And National General offers payment plans to fit a variety of budgets.
National General car insurance coverage
National General offers the following coverage to protect you in the event of an accident. The exact coverage you need will vary depending on your vehicle and circumstances.
Bodily injury liability
If you cause an auto accident, this coverage pays the medical bills for the other people involved. It also helps cover your legal expenses if someone sues you.
Property damage liability
This type of coverage pays for any damages you cause to another person’s property by hitting their vehicle or running into fences, buildings, or another structure.
Collision
Collision insurance pays for damages to your vehicle if you experience an accident, even if you carry the responsibility. However, you’ll have to pay an out-of-pocket deductible before coverage applies.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage reimburses you for losses due to anything other than a collision. For instance, this coverage will kick in if someone breaks into your vehicle and damages your car window.
Medical payments
This coverage pays the medical expenses for you and any passengers involved in an accident, regardless of fault. You can choose the level of coverage for this optional add-on coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist
If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, this coverage protects you and pays the gaps in the other driver’s insurance, up to your coverage limit.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Though only available in certain states, personal injury protection covers the medical costs for you and any passengers, regardless of who caused the accident.
National General also offers accidental death and dismemberment, roadside assistance, and an auto protection plan. You can speak to an agent to see how much coverage you need to comply with the laws in your state.
How to get a National General car insurance quote
You can use National General’s website to quickly receive an online quote on car insurance. You can also use a quote-comparison platform to compare National General with other insurance companies. That way, you can see rates from multiple insurers in one place.
National General car insurance cost by state
National General costs an average of $240 per month for full-coverage insurance, but car insurance requirements and prices vary depending on the state you live in. The following table shows the average monthly cost of National General in 15 states.
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
National General auto insurance rates by driving history
Car insurance rates also depend on your driving history, including any past speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUIs.[1] For instance, if you have a history of reckless driving, you’ll pay more for auto insurance.
The following table outlines the average monthly costs for drivers with different types of driving records. As you can see below, drivers with a history of DUIs can expect to pay the highest monthly costs.
Quote Price by Driving Record
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
National General car insurance cost by age
Age represents another factor that influences how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Teenagers and drivers younger than 25 usually pay higher rates for auto insurance than older drivers with more experience. The following table shows what National General charges for different ages.
Quote Price by Age Group
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
National General car insurance discounts
Taking advantage of discounts presents one way to reduce the cost of your auto insurance policy. Learn more about the different types of discounts offered by National General below:
Bundling with home: National General offers a discount to anyone who bundles their homeowners and auto insurance together.
Pay in full: You can earn a discount if you pay your annual premium in full instead of monthly.
Low mileage: Drivers who don’t spend a lot of time driving may earn a low-mileage discount.
Security device: If you install a security alarm or another device in your vehicle to reduce the likelihood of theft, you may qualify for a discount.
Multi-vehicle: Similar to bundling home and auto, this discount lets you save when you insure multiple cars with a single auto insurer.
Safe driver: You can qualify for a discount if you have a history of safe driving.
Paperless: National General also offers a discount to anyone who signs up for paperless statements.
Bundling your car insurance with other policies, like home or renters insurance, can help you save money. As a policyholder, it can make it easier for you to keep track of your coverage and costs. The best way to earn a discount from National General is by bundling your auto and home policies. You can also earn a multi-vehicle discount if you have more than one vehicle to insure. Insurance companies usually offer multi-policy discounts since it increases customer loyalty and reduces administrative costs.
National General Insurance reviews and ratings
National General customers have left a mix of both positive and negative reviews. The company received more than 1,300 complaints in the last three years, according to the Better Business Bureau. However, National General has responded to 100% of the complaints filed.[2]
National General Insurance customer reviews
Read reviews from verified National General customers.
Ricky - November 2, 2024
Verified
Good Insurance Company
They are a good insurance company. Just a little too expensive.
Kathy - November 1, 2024
Verified
My experience with them has been horrible
They're okay, but they sneakily increase your rates. I've been with them for 7 years.
Teri - October 31, 2024
Verified
Terrible
The price is too high.
Hungwah - October 29, 2024
Verified
Try a few other companies, but the prices quoted were not competitive
J.D. Power: 829 (for Southeast, based on 1,000-point scale)
National General Insurance vs. other insurance providers
Because of the highly saturated car insurance market, it’s a good idea to see how National General compares to other providers.
National General vs. GEICO
GEICO, a well-known insurance provider, offers many different types of insurance, including auto, home, renters, business, boat, and motorcycle/ATV coverage. Like National General, GEICO offers coverage in all 50 states. The company claims the average driver can save $500 annually by switching to GEICO.
Generally, GEICO provides lower rates than National General. Drivers with GEICO pay average monthly rates of $158 for full-coverage insurance and $101 for liability-only insurance.
National General vs. AAA
You can purchase car insurance from AAA, a company known for its roadside assistance program. The AAA Onboard program allows you to save up to 15% per vehicle registered and up to 30% upon your next renewal. You can also take advantage of multi-vehicle discounts and save money by bundling your home and auto insurance together.
National General vs. State Farm
State Farm, one of the most trusted names in the industry, provides customizable solutions for auto insurance. A unique factor about State Farm is that it provides different types of coverage for different drivers and vehicles.
For instance, the company provides insurance specifically designed for teens, rideshare drivers, sports cars, and more. State Farm costs an average of $175 for full coverage and $125 for liability coverage, making it a cheaper option on average than National General.
More about National General Insurance
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, National General earned a certification from Great Place to Work. Of the nearly 10,000 employees, 82% of employees say it’s a great place to work. And the company offers customers ample opportunity to earn savings on auto insurance.
What is National General DynamicDrive?
National General policyholders can earn a discount by participating in the DynamicDrive program. This program uses the Routely app to monitor your driving behavior. If you demonstrate good driving habits, you’ll receive better insurance rates.
National General pros and cons
Pros
Offers nonstandard insurance policies for high-risk drivers
Can file an SR-22 on your behalf if necessary
Offers many different types of add-on coverage
Cons
Doesn’t offer gap insurance
A large number of online complaints
Premiums may be higher than other insurance companies
Filing an auto insurance claim with National General Insurance
To receive a reimbursement from your insurance company for damages caused by a theft or auto accident, you’ll need to file an auto insurance claim. You can either call an agent or report a claim online with National General, as long as you have your policy number ready.
Depending on the type of claim you file, it could take just 24 hours to process. National General recommends taking the following steps to speed up the process:
Have your driver’s license and insurance information ready.
Keep your policy information updated.
Provide any necessary names, license plate numbers, and insurance information for other drivers.
Take photos of the location and vehicles involved.
If you’re still wondering if National General is a good choice for auto insurance, the following answers to these frequently asked questions may help.
What company owns National General Insurance?
Allstate acquired National General in 2021 for $4 billion. Allstate is currently one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.
Is National General Insurance legitimate?
National General is a legitimate insurance company and a subsidiary of Allstate, one of the largest insurers in the U.S. National General does have a history of poor customer service and has received a large number of online complaints.
What is the average cost of National General car insurance?
National General costs an average of $240 per month for full coverage and $132 per month for liability-only coverage.
Is National General good with claims?
As of February 2023, National General earned an A+ rating with A.M. Best, which indicates it has the financial stability to pay its claims.[4]
Is National General car insurance right for you?
National General doesn’t have a great customer service reputation, thanks to a large number of online complaints. The company may be a good option if you’re struggling to find insurance due to a poor driving history.
Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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In business since 1920 and one of the largest insurers in the U.S., National General was acquired by Allstate in a $4 billion deal in 2021. The company now has more than 55,000 agents representing it across the country.
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