The General Insurance Review (2026)
- Overall rating: fair (2.7/5 stars)
- Average cost: $2,067 for a 6-month policy
- 90% of customers recommend The General
Read more below to get a quote directly from The General.
The General Insurance: A fair choice for high risk drivers
The General specializes in non-standard auto insurance, catering to high-risk drivers who often struggle to find coverage elsewhere. Rates are high — as expected in this market — and claims satisfaction falls below average. Still, a surprising number of customers say they’d recommend The General. For that reason, The Zebra gives it a fair overall rating.
Availability of Support Channels: Get help through your preferred method—phone, chat, app, or in-person.
Mobile App Functionality and Usability: Manage claims, payments, and documents from your phone.
Consistency in Policy Terms: Frequent changes create confusion and coverage uncertainty.
Market Stability and Longevity: Unstable carriers may exit your market or face financial issues.
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 The General car insurance?
Currently, the national average for a 6-month car insurance policy is $1,084, whereas The General is about .[1]
Updating data...
| Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|
| $660 | $2,067 |
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 The General stacks up against competitors →
Discounts offered at The General: more options than competitors
You should always look for ways to save money on your premium when shopping for new car insurance. Detailed below are some discounts offered by The General that may help you save on your insurance rate. Keep in mind that these may vary by state.
This will double your deductible for the first 45 days of your policy in exchange for a discount on your premium.
Insure multiple cars on one policy from The General to receive this discount.
If you meet The General's academic requirements, the company will reward your efforts in school with a student discount.
| Pay in full | Multi-car |
| Homeowner’s discount | Academic achievement discounts |
| Factory-installed passive restraints discount | Defensive driving discount |
| Safe driver discount | Double Deductible discount |
To learn more about each discount The General has to offer, see their discounts page.
Compare with other companies
See how The General stacks up against similar companies
Cost: $2,067 for a six month policy
Customer satisfaction: High
Our take:
- Higher prices than average
- Below average claims satisfaction
- Has a long history of providing coverage for high-risk drivers
Cost: $2,820 for a six month auto policy
Customer satisfaction: High
Our take:
- Higher prices than The General
- Better customer service scores than The General
- Better digital experience scores than The General
Cost: $1,133 for a six-month policy
Customer satisfaction: High
Our take:
- Lower prices to The General
- Better customer service scores than The General
- Better bundling options than The General
The General's customer service & claims experience: Uneven performance
Customers who rely on The General's online and mobile platforms for routine tasks report an easy and efficient experience. However, the service level for more complex issues, particularly those requiring direct agent intervention for disputes, is often inconsistent and can be more prolonged.
Thinking about The General?
See what other drivers are asking
Why did The General cancel my car insurance?
The General Customer Survey results
90% of customers recommend The 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 The 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 The 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 | $2,110 |
| Not-at-fault accident | $2,144 |
| One comp claim | $2,151 |
| Two comp claims | $2,219 |
| At-fault accident - less than $1000 | $2,558 |
| At-fault accident - $1000-$2000 | $3,135 |
| At-fault accident - greater than $2000 | $3,533 |
Source: The Zebra
A key strength of The General's claims process is its convenient digital accessibility for straightforward cases. However, a primary weakness, indicated by mid-tier customer satisfaction scores, is a longer resolution time for complex claims. This suggests that while the company offers a reliable baseline service, it could improve its handling of more intricate issues.
Coverage options: Some extras available
Standard coverage options like collision, comprehensive coverage and liability insurance — along with personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage can be expected from The General. For the most part, this insurance company offers many of the traditional coverage options you can expect when you're looking for a new policy. Additional coverage options include:
Carrier pulse: Recent news from The General
- Sentry acquires The General for $1.7 billion[3]
Final thoughts: Is The General right for you?
Because of the higher risks posed by The General's clientele, the company may not offer the most extensive coverage options and discounts. However, The General's coverages are sufficient and will cover your bases. Even if you have a good driving record and decent credit score, The Zebra considers The General worth looking into if you're shopping around for rates.
Frequently Asked Questions about The General
Get quotes from The General and other top companies
Data Methodology. The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool
Anonymized User Survey. The Zebra
Sentry acquires The General for $1.7 billion. Insurance Business Mag
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.