National General Auto Insurance

Key Points:

• National General has been in business for over 100 years and serves all 50 states.
• The provider has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Strong customer service is a common theme in National General online reviews.

In our review of the best car insurance companies, we looked at many factors, including coverage options, premiums, discounts, and customer service ratings. In this article, we analyze National General reviews, cost, coverage options, and more to help you determine if the provider is worth pursuing.

Always make sure to request car insurance quotes from multiple providers so that you can compare and see who offers you the best rates.

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National General Insurance Review

After reviewing National General, we gave the company 4.1 out of 5.0 stars. It offers numerous discounts as well as a wide range of coverage options. National General reviews are somewhat mixed, but the company has been around for some time and has a great reputation. National General’s website highlights its efficient claims service and its guarantee for repairs performed at its Gold Medal repair shops.

Overall, we think that National General has a solid reputation and good insurance options. While there are some dissatisfied customers, most report positive service–confirming the company’s solid reputation.

National General Insurance Rating

National General was given an A+ rating by the BBB and an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best. It also has a 4.53 complaint index score from the NAIC, which means it has more customer complaints than average for an insurer of its size.

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What Is National General Insurance?

National General is an Allstate company and insurance provider with over 100 years in the business. The company offers auto insurance, health insurance, home insurance, and flood insurance coverage. They also offer other options such as motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, and renters insurance.

The company has sold car insurance policies across the U.S. since 1939. According to its website, National General prides itself on listening to its customers and providing affordable coverage and outstanding service.

National General also offers several money-saving discounts and rewards its policyholders for driving safely and making smart choices off the road.

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National General Insurance Customer Reviews

Many reviews from customers are mixed. With how large the company is and the many policy offerings it has, National General has a fair share of positive and negative reviews. However, most customers talk about a positive customer experience and have received complaints mainly about their claims service. Most complaints are addressed quickly.

To see what some customers say, below are a few positive reviews and complaints about National General and its services.

Positive National General Insurance Reviews

Customers who are pleased with National General tend to praise its customer service. Agents are reported to be helpful, friendly, and kind–characteristics you want from the company you talk to after getting into an accident. One customer wrote:

“Absolutely the best, most friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable customer service reps ever. I can always get through to someone immediately, they always help and are always very friendly and professional! They make it personal and make me feel valued.”

– Aisha J. via BBB

National General Insurance Complaints

Not every customer is satisfied with National General insurance. Customers have reported frustrations with canceling policies and poor claims servicing. There are several drivers who have complained about low payouts. One frustrated customer wrote:

“[T]hey do not want to pay for the damage that is done to your vehicle. […] [T]hey quote the damage to your vehicle at one price and when you go to get it fixed it’s more. [T]hen they tell you they’re sending you a check for a certain amount and it’s way less than what they say[,] and they won’t let you get a second quote.”

– Doris N. via BBB

There have been over 1,800 complaints filed against the company in the past three years, which is relatively low considering the size of the company.

National General Insurance Claims Reviews

National General has mediocre claims reviews with most complaints stemming from frustration over its poor service. Generally, the company processes claims quickly and pays most small claims within 48 hours after they are filed. With how large the company is, there are bound to be complaints about their claims service.

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National General Car Insurance Coverage

Car insurance companies typically offer several types of coverage. National General offers the standard coverages explained below:

• Liability Auto Insurance: This coverage is required in most states. It will pay for medical bills and/or property damage suffered by others if you’re found at fault for an accident. Bodily Injury Liability will cover another person’s medical bills and Property Damage Liability will cover damage to someone else’s property.
• Medical Payments: This coverage will pay for medical bills if you, another covered driver, or a passenger are injured in an accident. Some states require Medical Payments coverage, while it’s optional in other locations.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This can cover your medical expenses resulting from injuries sustained in a car accident, as well as other associated costs you may incur due to your injuries–such as lost income. PIP coverage is only available in some states.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: This coverage will pay for your medical bills and/or repairs to your vehicle if you are hit by another driver who doesn’t have insurance or  has insurance but can’t cover the full costs of your medical and/or repair bills.
• Collision: Pays for damage to your vehicle if you are involved in an accident, regardless of who is at fault, after you have met your deductible. Collision coverage is particularly important if you live in an area that tends to get a lot of snow and ice in the winter, since it will cover you if you hit another vehicle, a tree, a sign, or anything else.
• Comprehensive: Sometimes referred to as “Other Than Collision” coverage, will pay for damage to your vehicle caused by something other than an accident, such as severe weather, fire, theft, vandalism, a falling object, or an animal.

National General Car Insurance: Additional Coverage

Below are additional add-on coverage options for a National General auto insurance policy which includes roadside assistance, accidental death and dismemberment, and other auto protection plans.

• Roadside Assistance: The National General Motor Club provides access to 24/7 roadside assistance, unlimited towing benefits, and emergency expense reimbursements for when your car breaks down far from home.
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Provides coverage for medical expenses, benefits for dismemberment or loss of sight, a hospital indemnity benefit, and daily benefit for loss of time.
• Auto Protection Plans: Similar to an extended warranty, these plans help pay for the cost of unexpected breakdowns.

Some forms of coverage are required, while others are optional. In many cases, rules depend on state law. In most cases, collision and comprehensive coverage are optional. If you have a vehicle loan or lease, however, you may be required to carry these types of coverage. 

After you have paid off your auto loan, you will be able to decide whether to keep collision and/or comprehensive coverage or to remove them from your policy to save money on your premium.

National General RV Insurance

Other than regular car insurance, National General has RV insurance coverage plans. Basic RV policies come with liability coverage and options for collision and/or comprehensive coverage. Other than basic coverage, other recreational vehicle insurance policies include:

• Personal Belongings coverage
• Specialized Equipment coverage
• Mechanical Breakdown coverage
• Permanent Attachment coverage
• Complete General Liability coverage

RV insurance policies from National General can cover five main types of recreational vehicles including: Class A, B, or C motorhomes, Airstream/Drivable Airstreams, Fifth-wheel RVs, and travel trailers.

National General Insurance Full Coverage

National General’s full-coverage insurance policy includes car collision coverage and comprehensive insurance for your vehicle. This will also include any coverage enforced by your state’s minimum requirements. These car insurance policies typically are much more expensive since they cover more than liability-only policies.

National General Insurance Claims

National General allows customers to file claims and purchase policies online, as is standard practice for the industry these days. The company touts its ability to process claims quickly and pay most small claims within two days. It also guarantees customer satisfaction when it comes to claims service and will waive your deductible up to $250 if you are dissatisfied. This is not available in Texas, however.

How To Cancel National General Insurance

You can cancel your National General insurance policy online simply by emailing your cancellation to service@ngic.com. However, be aware that you may be charged a fee of $50. If you have a prepaid car insurance policy you will also most likely qualify for a prorated refund.

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National General Car Insurance Cost

If you’re trying to figure out how much National General car insurance will cost, understand that auto insurers consider many factors to assess risks and set rates. Since each company has its own policies and assigns a different amount of weight to each of these factors, it’s important to compare quotes from several insurers to find the best price.

• Driving record: Accidents, tickets, and previous claims can affect rates. The amount depends on the number of accidents or tickets, the seriousness of each accident or offense, and how long ago those events occurred.
• Age and gender: Rates are higher for teens than for older, more experienced drivers. Premiums are usually higher for teenage males than for teenage females. Auto insurance rates tend to go down when drivers reach their mid-20s, stay low through middle age, and increase around age 70.
• Marital status: Married people tend to be involved in fewer accidents than single drivers. Couples can also qualify for discounts if they purchase a multi-car policy or bundle other policies–such as homeowner’s insurance–with auto coverage.
• Credit history: Auto insurers base rates, in part, on a customer’s insurance score, which is calculated based on information included in credit reports. That information helps insurers predict which drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents and to file claims. People with lower credit scores tend to submit more accident claims and are therefore often charged higher premiums.
• Vehicle safety and features: Policyholders who drive cars with high safety ratings, air bags, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and other safety features typically have lower rates.
• Location: Urban areas have more congestion, higher rates of accidents and theft, and often more uninsured drivers than suburban and rural areas. Drivers in cities are therefore often charged higher insurance premiums.

National General Auto Insurance Discounts

National General auto insurance customers have several opportunities to receive low rates on their policies by taking advantage of the following potential discounts:

• Safe driver discount: In some states, drivers who complete a defensive driving course can qualify for lower premiums.
• Teen driver discounts: This is available for teenagers who complete an approved driver’s education course, drive a safe vehicle, don’t have any accidents or get any tickets, or earn good grades.
• Low mileage discount: Drivers who use an electronic device to record the number of miles they drive may be eligible for savings.
• Paid-in-full discount: Customers who pay their entire premium at the start of a policy term receive reduced rates.
• Auto-pay discount: This offers savings to policyholders who make automatic payments.
• Paperless discount: Customers who receive their bills electronically can benefit from reduced premiums.
• Multi-vehicle discount: These savings are for customers who insure two or more vehicles.
• Multi-policy discount: This is available to customers with multiple policies, such as auto, RV, and homeowners, issued by National General.
• Motorcycle discount: These are savings for safe riders and for customers who insure multiple motorcycles.
• Anti-theft discount: This discount is for customers who insure vehicles with anti-theft features installed by the manufacturer or by the owner after purchase.
• Affinity discount: These are offered to members of various organizations.
• General Motors discount: If you use GM/GMAC products and services or have OnStar^®, you may qualify for more discounts.

National General Insurance Payment

You can make policy payments on the phone at 888-293-5108 for car insurance, or online with National General quick pay. If you use the National General website, make sure you have your policy number and login information ready to make a payment quickly and without an issue.

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National General Insurance: Additional Coverage Options

National General can provide you with many health, home, and flood insurance options in addition to its car insurance. Below we will go into more detail about the coverage plans for health insurance, flood insurance, and home insurance:

National General Health Insurance

National General has short-term health insurance plans that cover basic medical care needs and can be purchased at any time. The short-term health plans only provide limited coverage for benefits like doctor visits, preventive care, hospital care, ambulance coverage, and surgery. 

These health insurance plans do not cover expenses for normal pregnancies, prescription medications, or pre-existing conditions. It also does not cover some of the required benefits under the Affordable Care Act. With this in mind, these policies are typically the most beneficial for those who are healthy and looking for temporary coverage.

National General Home Insurance

National General offers basic policies for your home insurance and some coverage options for condo owners and renters. The home insurance can be used for damage to your home caused by covered risks such as a fire, fallen trees, and theft. Home insurance policies will also cover medical expenses for guests that get hurt in your home or if their property is damaged on your property. 

For those living in condos, the home insurance plans will cover belongings and extra living expenses, should your unit or building need repairs from included situations in the policy. Home insurance plans are affordable and National General offers flexible home payment plans.

National General Flood Insurance

National General offers two types of flood insurance: building and contents coverage. Building coverage comes with the protection of up to $250,000 for damages caused by flooding and contents coverage covers damaged belongings for up to $100,000. National General works with the National Flood Insurance Program to determine premiums and make personalized policies for your situation.

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National General Insurance Apps

National General also allows you to make payments and manage your policy on their Direct Auto App. Their app has a 3.6 out of 5.0 rating on Google Play and a 2.5 out of 5.0-star rating on the App Store.

National General Insurance Smart Drive App

The Smart Drive app is a telematics program by National General that monitors your driving habits and gives you tips to improve your driving. If you download the app and enroll in its program you can save up to five percent on your insurance policy for good driving.

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National General Car Insurance: Our Take

Overall, our team gave National General 4.1 out of 5.0 stars for their wide coverage selection, great discounts, and good customer service. The company provides great coverage for vehicles for very affordable rates. While customer reviews are mixed, it generally has good customer sentiment around its services. Though National General insurance can be a good option, we recommend looking around and comparing rates and terms before committing to any provider.

If you want to start comparing car insurance quotes, use the tool below:

National General Car Insurance Competitors: Top Picks

Before you purchase a car insurance policy, you should get in touch with several carriers to compare rates. We’ve looked at the coverage options, claims and customer service records, premiums, and discounts offered by many of the top auto insurance companies in the U.S. 

These are two of our top picks:

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State Farm: 4.7 Stars

We gave State Farm auto insurance an overall rating of 4.7 stars. It’s the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and is known for providing outstanding customer service. State Farm offers several apps that allow customers to easily manage their policies, file claims, and earn discounts.

Read more in our State Farm insurance review.

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USAA: 4.5 Stars

We gave USAA car insurance 4.5 stars overall. In addition to excellent customer service ratings, USAA’s premiums are affordable in many states. The company earned AM Best’s highest rating, A++, and consistently scored well in J.D. Power consumer studies. USAA is often the best auto insurance option for current and former members of the military and their families.

Read more in our USAA insurance review.

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National General Auto Insurance Reviews: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about National General:

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How We Rate National General

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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