National General Insurance Review (2025)
- Overall rating: fair (2.4/5 stars)
- Average cost: $1,058 for a 6-month policy
- 80.7% of customers recommend National General
Read more below to get a quote directly from National General.
National General Insurance: A fair choice for non-standard drivers
Owned by Allstate, National General focuses on non-standard drivers and sells policies through licensed agents. Its below-average prices appeal to those with a checkered driving history — a group that typically sees higher rates. A wide range of discounts can help reduce premiums even further.
However, customer service is a common pain point. Many drivers report steep rate increases after an accident and a frustrating claims process. For these reasons, The Zebra gives National General a fair rating.
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Financial Strength Ratings: Strong ratings indicate the carrier can pay claims during major events.
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Ease of Filing a Claim: Multiple filing options make submitting claims simple and quick.
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Agent Knowledge and Helpfulness: Staff may be unable to provide answers and require multiple contacts.
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Integration with Other Platforms: No integration means managing insurance separately from other accounts.
How The Zebra evaluates insurance companies
| Rating | Explanation | Star rating equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Subpar | Lowest ranking, suggesting instability or high risk | 0-1.9 |
| Fair | Somewhat stable but not consistently reliable | 2-2.9 |
| Good | Generally dependable with moderate stability | 3-3.9 |
| Solid | Strong, reliable and dependable with minor risks | 4-4.4 |
| Exceptional | Highest rating, indicating outstanding stability and reliability | 4.5-5 |
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra evaluates companies by focusing on customer experience first, with an emphasis on service quality, reliability, and ease of interaction. Unlike previous models, pricing is not scored but is instead presented separately as context for comparison.
Each category has been scored using a combination of our internal customer satisfaction survey results and published scores from reputable organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power.
- Service Accessibility & Support Quality (25%): This category measures how easy it is to get help when needed, evaluating factors such as support channel availability (phone, chat, in-person, app), response times, agent knowledge, service hours, and language accessibility.
- Claims Experience (25%): This category assesses how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
- Digital Experience & Policy Management (25%): This category evaluates the convenience of managing your policy: this includes mobile app usability, website experience, account management, digital document access, self-service options, and platform integrations
- Trust & Reliability (25%): This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.
Price context: Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and risk factors. Customers can evaluate cost-effectiveness based on their specific situation and the service quality scores provided.
How much is National General car insurance?
Currently, the national average for a 6-month car insurance policy is $1,084, whereas National General is about $1,058.[1]
Updating data...
| Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| National General | $385 | $1,058 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
See how National General stacks up against competitors →
Discounts offered at National General: comparable with competitors
National General offers several discounts that can potentially lower your premium. Discount availablity varies by state.
With Nation General, your overall premium is lower if you pay for your policy up front
Driving less can help lower your premium with this discount
Having anti-theft devices in your vehicle can help you save on your premiums
| Bundle with home | Multi-vehicle |
| Pay in-full | Safe driver discount |
| Low mileage discount | Paperless discount |
| Security device discount |
To learn more about each discount National General has to offer, see their discounts page.
Compare with other companies
See how National General stacks up against similar companies
Cost: $1,058 average cost for a six month policy
Customer satisfaction: Medium
Our take:
- Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a stable outlook
- Below average claims satisfaction
- Robust and wide ranges of coverage options
Cost: $1,411 for a six month auto policy
Customer satisfaction: Medium
Our take:
- Higher prices than National General
- Better customer service scores than National General
- Better trust and reliability scores than National General
Cost: $1,180 average cost for a six-month policy
Customer satisfaction: High
Our take:
- Similar prices to National General
- Better customer service scores than National General
- Better bundling options than National General
National General's customer service & claims experience: Underwhelming
While National General's digital tools are efficient for managing basic policy tasks, customer satisfaction ratings are below average, particularly for complex claims. Issues include a lack of communication and transparency during claims investigations and a perceived lack of knowledge or helpfulness among agents when policyholders face disputes.
Thinking about National General?
See what other drivers are asking
My claim was denied because I didn’t list my daughter
Who really handles my claim, my agent or National General?
National General Customer Survey results
80.7% of customers recommend National General
The Zebra conducted a survey across 4,000+ users to gather ratings on major carriers' customer service, claims process, ease of use, and more. See how National General was rated in individual categories by expanding the section below.[2]
Source: The Zebra
How much will your rates climb after filing a claim with National General?
No one wants to file a claim, but sometimes it's impossible to avoid. See the table below for some examples of what you could be facing after filing a claim.
Updating data...
| Accident/Violation | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| None | $1,036 |
| Two comp claims | $1,036 |
| One comp claim | $1,036 |
| At-fault accident - greater than $2000 | $1,916 |
| At-fault accident - $1000-$2000 | $1,916 |
Source: The Zebra
There is a notable disparity between the convenience of National General's digital claims portal and the customer service experience for complex cases. Customers report challenges with communication, transparency, and the fairness of dispute resolution. This aligns with satisfaction surveys that consistently rank the company in the bottom tier.
Coverage options: Flexible and customizable
National General offers standard coverage options, including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. Additionally, they offer:
✔️ Transportation expense
✔️ Auto replacement
✔️ Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Carrier pulse: Recent news from National General
- California Appellate Court Certifies Class Action Against National General Insurance for Alleged Bad Faith Practices.[3]
Final thoughts: Is National General right for you?
National General's customizable coverage options, telematics program and mutiple insurance products make the company a formidable competitor in the insurance space, especially for high-risk drivers. The provider has modernized its website and mobile capabilities to offer handier, more accessible policy management. Policyholders who enjoy a personalized approach will benefit from the independent agent network, but keep National General's high complaint index and low customer satisfaction scores in mind. Regardless, National General is worth looking into for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions about National General
Get quotes from National General and other top companies
Data Methodology. The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool
Anonymized User Survey. The Zebra
California Appellate Court Certifies Class Action Against National General Insurance for Alleged Bad Faith Practices. CBS 42 News
About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.