If you’ve ever watched daytime TV, you’ve probably heard of The General. The company is famous for its free, quick and anonymous quotes. It caters to motorists who have difficulty finding coverage or competitive rates because of checkered driving histories or other reasons.
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The General was founded in 1963 and is now owned by American Family Insurance. Anyone can apply for coverage through the company, but it’s best suited to those who need proof of insurance quickly, have poor credit or have blemished records — such as at-fault crashes, moving violations or a lack of continuous auto insurance coverage.
Here are some pros and cons of The General:
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» COMPARE: Get auto insurance quotes
The General auto insurance
A quote from The General includes the minimum level of car insurance required to legally drive in your state. In many states, this means only liability insurance. In some states, additional coverages — such as personal injury protection and uninsured motorist insurance — are required.
Unlike most of its competitors, The General doesn’t include information about optional coverages on its website. You’ll likely have to get a quote to find out those details.
The General provides SR-22 insurance forms. An SR-22 is a document that proves you have sufficient car insurance. Your state might require you to file one if you’ve been convicted of a DUI or another serious traffic offense, such as driving without insurance, or recently had your license suspended or revoked.
Car insurance discounts
In most states, The General gives discounts to customers who pay six or 12 months of premiums in full. In some states, it also discounts the bills of customers who pay in quarterly installments.
One of the company’s biggest selling points is that customers can buy an auto policy with a $59 down payment. However, this amount varies depending on your ZIP code, vehicle, driving record and other factors, so you may pay more than what’s advertised.
Customer reviews and ratings
The General sells auto insurance from three insurers, all of which have an A- (excellent) financial strength rating from A.M. Best. They all also received high levels of consumer complaints in 2015.
Complaint ratios compiled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners show the number of complaints each company receives relative to its market share. The industry median is 1, and anything higher indicates more complaints.
The General’s insurance companies’ ratios are as follows:
- Permanent General Assurance Corp.: 4.4.
- Permanent General Assurance Corp. of Ohio: 1.48.
- The General Automobile Insurance Co.: 1.54.
Most complaints against Permanent General Assurance Corp. involved delayed claim payments, claim denials and unsatisfactory settlement offers.
Website and apps
The General’s website lacks many of the extras its competitors offer, such as instructional videos and personalized coverage tips.
Its MyPolicy Self Service platform does allow customers to manage basic aspects of their policies online, including:
- Making payments.
- Getting an insurance ID card.
- Making policy changes.
- Viewing policy contracts, applications and other documents.
The General’s mobile app offers the same functions as the MyPolicy platform. The app’s biggest draw may be that it lets users view the company’s TV commercials, which have gained a surprising following.
Next steps
Getting auto insurance from The General is fast and easy, but it’s not for everyone. If you have a clean driving record, you can find more plentiful coverage options and discounts, as well as better customer service, elsewhere.
If you’re having trouble finding affordable coverage because of past driving mistakes or other issues, or you’re simply looking for minimum coverage to satisfy your state’s car insurance requirements, The General may warrant consideration.
Alex Glenn is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance site. Email: aglenn@nerdwallet.com.
Image via iStock.
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