Pros Explained
Cons Explained
First-time DUI offenders are often unable to get car insurance from most major companies, but National General will insure you as long as you complete a Safe Driving and Substance Abuse therapy program. Show
National General Car Insurance Coverage OptionsNational General offers basic auto insurance that fulfills state minimum requirements. It also has some optional coverages you can add to your policy for additional protection. CollisionCollision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from accidents with another car or object. Even if you are at fault in the accident, collision covers the cost of repairing your vehicle. ComprehensiveIf your car is damaged resulting from something other than an accident, such as a storm or flood, comprehensive coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle. LiabilityLiability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others. There are two parts:
Medical PaymentsMedical payments coverage helps pay for the medical and funeral expenses when a covered person is hurt or killed in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)PIP, also known as “no-fault insurance,” covers your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Some states require you to have PIP insurance, including Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey. Roadside AssistanceIf your car breaks down, you can use roadside assistance to get help. Roadside assistance is an optional benefit you can add to your policy. It allows you to get towing services, battery jump starts, and flat tire changes within your policy’s limits. Uninsured/Underinsured MotoristIf you are in an accident with a driver who is uninsured, underinsured, or who flees the scene of the accident, uninsured motorist insurance and underinsured motorist insurance will cover your losses. National General Car Insurance DiscountsNational General has a few discounts that can lower your insurance premiums. Their availability can vary by state.
Factors That Affect Your Cost With National GeneralLike other car insurance companies, National General bases your insurance premiums on several factors, including your age, gender, and driving record. Because National General caters to customers with less-than-perfect driving records, its rates tend to be much higher than the industry average. We got quotes for two different drivers, both 35-year-old women living in Florida. One had an excellent driving record, and one needed an SR-22 form. We requested state minimum coverage for a mid-sized sedan, meaning $10,000 in property damage liability and basic PIP. Due to SR-22 requirements, we also got quotes for $10,000/$20,000 bodily injury liability.
As of 2020, the industry-wide average cost to insure a medium sedan was $1,245. The average policy cost was for a plan with $100,000/$300,000 personal liability, $25,000 medical, $100,000 property and $25,000/$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, with a $500 deductible for collision and comprehensive claims. National General Car Insurance AvailabilityNational General is licensed to issue car insurance to residents in all 50 states. However, pricing, coverages, and discounts can vary by location, so contact a National General agent to see what insurance options are available in your area. National General Customer ServiceIf you have issues or questions about your insurance policy, contact your National General agent. For more general inquiries, you can call customer service at 888-293-5108. Unfortunately, National General received poor marks in the J.D. Power 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. The study evaluated 24 car insurance companies based on their product offerings, pricing, communications, and customer interactions. National General was ranked last in the study, with a rating well below the industry average. AM Best is a credit rating agency that issues opinions on the financial stability of insurance companies and their likelihood of honoring their policy obligations. As of 2021 National General has a Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best. Complaint IndexEvery year, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) collects all the complaints it receives about insurance companies and uses them to create company complaint ratios. The complaint ratios are a number that reflects how many complaints customers lodged against a company relative to its market share. The national complaint index is 1.0. If a company’s complaint ratio is more than 1.0, it received more complaints than typical for its size. A ratio below 1.0 means the reverse. In 2021 National General’s complaint ratio just for private passenger auto insurance was 5.57, more than five times higher than expected in the market. Complaints For the past three years National General’s complaint ratios have been significantly higher than is typical for its market share, indicating that it receives far more complaints than its competitors. Other Insurance Provided by National GeneralNational General offers multiple insurance products, including:
How to Make a Car Insurance Claim With National GeneralWhile other insurance companies allow you to file a claim online, National General doesn’t have that functionality. To begin the claims process, you must contact the claims department at 800-468-3466. The claims department is available 24/7. When you call, make sure you have your policy number handy and be prepared to share what happened. If you have other information, such as a police report number or the other driver’s information, give it to the representative, who will open a claim and explain the next steps to get your vehicle repaired. National General Car Insurance Cancellation PolicyWith National General, you typically have to pay a cancellation fee if you choose to cancel your policy before its expiration date. To do so, contact your National General insurance agent or call 888-293-5108. Get a National General Car Insurance QuoteYou can get a quote for car insurance from National General online, and you can even buy your policy through the website in some states. While other insurance companies require you to provide personal information, such as your driver’s license number and Social Security number, National General allows you to skip entering that information when getting a quote. Instead, only the following information about you and your car is required:
Compare Other Car Insurance ReviewsIf you have a history of driving violations or credit issues and struggle to get car insurance, National General can be a useful option. However, it’s always wise to shop around and get quotes from multiple insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best rates. Particularly if you have good credit and a clean driving history, you can likely get a less expensive policy with another car insurance company. Final Verdict If you have been unable to get car insurance because of your driving history or credit, National General can be a viable solution. You can get a quote and purchase your insurance online in some areas, and National General will even handle filing the SR-22 form with your state licensing authority, if needed. However, the company has a poor reputation for customer service and is much more expensive than other insurance companies. If you have a good driving record and fair to excellent credit, you can find cheaper insurance elsewhere. How We Review Car Insurance ProvidersInvestopedia is dedicated to furnishing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of car insurance providers. We reviewed each insurance provider’s coverage options, available discounts, customer services, and satisfaction ratings to ensure that our content helps users make the right insurance decision for their needs. Is National General Insurance the same as direct general?Direct Auto is part of the Direct General Group. Companies in that family are subsidiaries of National General Holdings Corp., a specialty personal lines insurance holding company based in New York City.
Who bought out National General Insurance?National General's acquisition by Allstate promises to bring new and meaningful solutions to your insurance needs. You should continue working with your independent agent and interacting with us as you normally would.
Is National General a real insurance company?National General, an Allstate company, offers coverage to help protect your home, vehicle, and more. With a network of over 55,000 independent agents nationwide, you're never far away from the help and advice you need.
What kind of insurance is the general?Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, The General provides car insurance for high-risk drivers and can issue SR-22 forms in most states. But it has far more customer complaints than other auto insurance companies of similar size.
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