The General Auto Insurance Reviews And Ratings

Best Auto Insurance Companies 2021: How The General compares

The General received an InsureScore of three out of five stars in our annual Best Car Insurance Companies review. Their highest-scoring categories were website & apps and customer service, while their lowest were claims and price.  

When we asked The General customers if they planned to renew their policies, 82% said yes and 68% said they’d recommend The General to a friend.

Gauging an insurance company

Before buying with a company it is wise to check on a company's financial strength and complaint record. The A.M. Best rating listed above gives you an idea of The General's financial strength to pay claims. A complaint ratio can be found on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) site. The median complaint ratio from the NAIC is always 1.00. This means half of the insurers have a complaint ratio of under 1.00 and half have a ratio above. Basically, numbers lower than 1.00 are better with fewer complaints than the median and a number higher than 1.00 has more complaints than the median.

Company Background

You’ve probably seen the commercials...

In 1963, The General began selling insurance as Permanent General Agency, and in 1997, became known simply as The General. Compared to other insurers, that’s a relatively short history, but in that brief time, The General has earned a financial stability rating of “excellent” from A.M. Best and has successfully branded itself with fun – if not a bit goofy – television commercials and a memorable jingle.

Consider the General for a less-than-stellar driving record

The General is able to write policies for most drivers, including new drivers,  those with accidents, driving violations, gaps in coverage or lower credit scores, which makes it is a great option for those looking to reestablish insurance.

The insurer allows you to buy a policy if you have a suspended or revoked driver’s license, as long as you have been licensed at some point and have a driver’s license number to put on your application. The company is authorized to file an SR-22, a form for high-risk drivers submitted to your state’s DMV or traffic authority that shows you carry your state’s minimum liability requirements, in any state where you are applying for insurance.

The General tries to offer a low down-payment option for every policyholder and offers immediate proof of insurance once you have made your down payment and electronically signed your application.

Contact information

Corporate Headquarters

2636 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 510
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

Customer service: 866-519-7422

Claims: 800-280-1466