The General Insurance Review

• Car Insurance

The General is a Nashville-based car insurance provider that was purchased by The American Family Insurance group in 2012 but still exists as a separate entity. It has a history that dates back to the 1960s and it currently offers car insurance in 47 states, with the exception of Michigan, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

In this General Auto Insurance Review, we will see how this provider compares to other insurance companies in terms of coverage options, customer satisfaction, insurance rates, and more.

The General Insurance Products

The General offers a selection of auto insurance products, but that’s all. There are no homeowners insurance or renters insurance policies here, and while that may not seem like a big issue if you only need car insurance, it does rule out multi-policy discounts.

Also known as “bundling“, these discounts are offered to policyholders who purchase multiple policies with the same provider. It’s something you will find with many big names, including GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, but not with The General.

On the plus side, The General is geared towards drivers with poor credit and poor driving histories, which means this is where you turn if you’re struggling to get what you need elsewhere. The General has SR-22 forms as required, and you can use the brand’s website to purchase a policy and submit proof of insurance in a matter of minutes.

The General Coverage

You can get all the following insurance coverage from The General:

• Bodily Injury Liability: A basic requirement for all but two states, bodily injury liability is required on a per person and per accident basis. It covers the other person for damage that occurs during an accident.
• Property Damage Liability: Another basic requirement in most states, property damage coverage focuses on the damage to the other driver’s vehicle.
• Collision Coverage: This coverage option works like property damage liability, only it covers your vehicle. If you hit a tree or a car, you’ll be covered.
• Comprehensive Coverage: With this option, you will receive a payout if your car is damaged by floods, winds, hail, vandalism, and other non-collision incidents. It will also ensure you get a payout in the event of an animal collision.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): With PIP, you’ll be covered for personal injury and damages, including lost wages and childcare costs.
• Medical Payments: Works like PIP, only without many of the extra benefits. For instance, it will cover medical bills but will not cover you for lost wages.
• Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist: If the motorist at-fault for the accident is uninsured or underinsured, this option will cover you. It will payout the liability insurance cover required if they are uninsured and will cover the excess if they are underinsured.

The limits on The General liability coverage are not as high as they are elsewhere and are typically fixed at $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. This, however, should be more than enough.

The General also offers all the following features:

• Roadside Assistance: Available 24/7, as and when needed, you can get services such as jump-starts and tire changes. They will even bring some gas out to you if you find yourself short.
• Towing: The General offers all policyholders with towing coverage up to a value of $50.
• Deductible Waiver: Applies only to damage caused to windshields.
• Custom Equipment Coverage: You can add expensive, custom parts to your policy to a value of $5,000.
• Rental Car Reimbursement: If your vehicle is in the shop or has been stolen, you can get a rental car for up to 20 days.

The General Insurance Rates

The General is not one of the cheapest providers of car insurance in the United States. However, this is to be expected, as it focuses on high-risk drivers, who will always be charged a higher rate for even the most basic coverage.

If price is your main focus and you have a good credit score and driving record, we recommend looking into some alternative car insurance companies, including GEICO, Esurance, State Farm, and Nationwide.

The General Car Insurance Discounts

Although it doesn’t offer a multi-policy discount, The General still has a multitude of other car insurance discounts available, including:

• Homeowners: As a homeowner, you are considerably less likely to be involved in a car accident and to make a claim. Homeowners are also deemed to be more financially responsible, which is why companies like The General are keen to get them on board.
• Multi-Car: The Multi-Vehicle discount is provided to policyholders who purchase cover for more than one car.
• Double Deductible: You can choose to add this option to your policy in order to save some money on your insurance premiums. The Double Deductible feature will literally double the deductible on your collision and comprehensive coverage for the first 45 days, after which you can benefit from a reduced price.
• Paid Premiums Upfront: Pay for your premiums in one go, as opposed to monthly payments, and you’ll get a discount.
• Switching: Simply switching to The General after using another auto insurance company will give you a small discount.

The General Reviews and Customer Satisfaction

The General has a very high rating from AM Best, which indicates financial strength and suggests that it has all of the money needed to pay out claims. However, it has a “Below Average” rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which stems from the fact they have received more complaints than the national average.

The General also has a number of negative reviews and complaints from customers, but again, this is to be expected from all insurance companies. Most customers don’t leave reviews for insurers unless they had a bad experience and want to get something off their chest. 

On the plus side, the claims process seems to be smooth and simple, and The General has a strong BBB rating.

Bottom Line: The General Insurance Review Summary

The General is worth considering if you have a DUI or a multitude of moving violations and parking tickets on your record. It can also help if you have been rejected elsewhere and face a number of obstacles every time you try to apply for auto insurance coverage.

Source: pocketyourdollars.com