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The General Auto Insurance Review: A Household Name for High-Risk Drivers

Review Updated
Dana George
By: Dana George
Dana George
Dana George
Writer

Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.

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Our Insurance Expert

Ashley Maready
Check IconFact Checked Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Writer and Editor

Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.

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The General auto insurance is designed for drivers who may be unable to secure affordable coverage through another insurer. Keep reading this in-depth review of The General to learn if it's the right insurer for you or if you would be better off seeking coverage elsewhere.

Logo for The General
Best for drivers with an accident history or lapse in coverageThe General
Rating image, 2.50 out of 5 stars.
2.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
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Bottom Line

Drivers with a poor driving record, lapsed coverage, or those who might otherwise have trouble getting coverage may benefit by applying for an auto insurance policy from The General.

Pros

  • A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Financially secure
  • Coverage for hard-to-insure drivers
  • High customer satisfaction
  • Well-designed smartphone app
  • Easy-to-use website
  • Low down payment

Cons

  • Rates can be expensive
  • Not available in every state
  • Early cancellation penalty

Full The General auto insurance review

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Monthly premium costs

The General auto insurance is designed for policyholders with poor driving records, and that fact is reflected in higher-than-average auto insurance rates. While there are discounts available from this insurer, drivers can still expect to pay more with The General.

Discounts

The General offers a wide range of discounts, including:

  • Bundling
  • Double deductible
  • Good student discount
  • Multi-car
  • Pay premium in full (rather than monthly payments)
  • Switch from another insurer

One of the best ways for drivers to reduce rates is to take advantage of any discounts they qualify for.

Coverage

Policy types

  • Auto
  • Commercial auto
  • Motorcycle

Fortunately, The General writes policies for the most common modes of transportation. In addition to these three, the company provides coverage for RVs.

Coverage types

  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Custom equipment coverage
  • Gap insurance
  • Liability
  • Medical payments
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Roadside assistance
  • SR-22 filings
  • Underinsured motorist
  • Uninsured motorist

The General has covered all the basics, with SR-22 filings being especially important to drivers who've been ordered to carry vehicle liability insurance.

Customer service and ratings

In addition to a rating of 3.72 recorded on the BBB site, more than 91,000 customers on the global review site Trustpilot gave the company 4.7 out of 5 stars.

One thing to keep in mind when reading reviews for The General is how many might have been written by drivers who purchase coverage through The General due to limited options. Given that fact, the number of relatively high customer ratings is quite impressive.

Other insurance available

  • Boat
  • Health
  • Homeowners
  • Life
  • Motor home
  • Pet
  • RV
  • Travel trailer

Consumers looking for these insurance coverages through The General are referred to insurance companies The General has partnered with.

Alternatives to consider

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for State Farm
Best for bundling coverageState Farm
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Read our State Farm review

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for Progressive
Best for coverage options and discountsProgressive
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Read our Progressive review

When looking for an auto insurer with extremely high customer satisfaction ratings: State Farm shines where The General does not. However, The General also boasts high customer satisfaction ratings and coverage for those who may not qualify for coverage through other insurers.

When looking for an auto insurer with lower rates: Progressive blows most of its competitors out of the water. However, high-risk drivers may have a better chance of landing a rate they can afford through The General.

The General auto insurance summary

The General auto insurance may be a good fit for drivers who:

  • Have a history of accidents, tickets, or a lapse in coverage.

The General may not be the best choice for drivers with clean driving records, but is a viable option for higher-risk drivers. Regardless of a driver's circumstances, it pays to check out a wide range of the best car insurance companies before making a final decision on coverage.

Our auto insurance rating methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, insurers are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on pricing, coverage options, and customer satisfaction; however, we also take into account features like unique discounts, online and app-based experiences, and branch access. Our highest-rated auto insurances generally include low costs, solid coverage, and high customer satisfaction.