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National General Insurance, a subsidiary of Allstate, offers affordable car insurance through independent insurance agents across the country. It provides all the standard coverages you may need, such as liability, collision, comprehensive, medical expenses, personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured/underinsured motorists. It also provides optional coverage for its Elite tier policyholders, like accident forgiveness, auto replacement, and roadside assistance.
One of National General's best perks is its lifetime guarantee on collision repairs made at its partner repair shops. Its $500 emergency expense coverage is also nice if your car ever breaks down when you are far from home. National General is a good choice for drivers who've had speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUIs — its rates are below the national average, even for these higher-risk drivers.
But while National General does have its advantages, there are several other insurers that provide better, more affordable coverage, especially for teen drivers.
How we evaluate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
National General pros and cons
- A+ rating for superior financial stability from AM Best
- Covers up to $500 in food, lodging, and travel expenses due to a covered claim
- Offers a lifetime guarantee on collision repairs made at partner repair shops
- Ranked 19th out of 21 for claims satisfaction by J.D. Power
- Has higher than average customer complaints with NAIC
- High premiums for teen drivers
How much does National General cost?
National General offers car insurance that is cheaper than the national average: While the national average monthly premium for full coverage is $193, full coverage with National General will cost you about $179 monthly. Liability-only coverage is also less expensive, at $95 per month for National General versus the national average of $102 monthly.
The lower-than-average premiums offered by National General may be useful if you've gotten a ticket, been at fault in an accident, or have a DUI on your record. For example, the national average monthly cost of full coverage for drivers with a DUI is about $311, while at National General, that cost is $290 per month.
| Driver type | National General liability-only monthly premium | National General full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $95 | $179 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $114 | $215 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $117 | $220 |
| DUI on driving record | $154 | $290 |
| Teen driver | $210 | $396 |
| Senior driver (60s) | $66 | $124 |
| Senior driver (70s) | $70 | $131 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
To get an idea of how much money you may be able to save with National General auto insurance, here are the national average monthly premiums for liability-only and full coverage:
| Driver type | National average liability-only monthly premium | National average full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $105 | $192 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $141 | $265 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $146 | $274 |
| DUI on driving record | $166 | $313 |
| Teen driver | $194 | $364 |
| Senior driver | $85 | $160 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
Is National General car insurance good?
Company ratings:
- AM Best: A+ (Superior)
- J.D. Power claims satisfaction: 672/1,000 (study average of 697)
- BBB: Not Rated
- NAIC complaints: 3.45
National General offers fairly affordable car insurance, which may be attractive if you are looking to save money on car insurance. However, it may not be the best car insurance available when compared to other insurers like Liberty Mutual and Nationwide, which rank higher for claims satisfaction.
According to the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, National General ranked 19th out of 21 for overall claims satisfaction. The insurance company also had an above-average amount of customer complaints in the years 2022 - 2024, but the number of complaints it receives has declined each year.
Where National General does shine is in its financial stability. A.M. Best, which grades insurance companies on their financial strength and creditworthiness, gives National General an A+ Superior rating. The insurer has held this high rating since 2021, after it was purchased by Allstate.
Although National General is a financially strong insurer, its high customer dissatisfaction may give you pause when shopping around. Other insurers may offer similar premiums with better customer service and satisfaction ratings.
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Discounts
Besides its relatively low premiums, National General also offers several discounts that provide ways to save money on car insurance. These discounts apply if you:
- Haven't had any accidents or violations in 5 years
- Bundle your car insurance with homeowners, condo, or renters insurance
- Go paperless with your account
- Pay your biannual or annual premium in full
- Use the company's DynamicDrive telematics app
| Discount | Does National General have it? | Does Progressive have it? | Does State Farm have it? |
| Loyalty | No | No | Yes |
| Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple vehicle | Yes | Yes | No |
| Airbag | No | No | Yes |
| Anti-lock brakes | No | No | Yes |
| Anti-theft | Yes | No | Yes |
| Safe driver | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Away-from-home student | No | Yes | Yes |
| New car | No | No | No |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic payments | Yes | Yes | No |
| GAP insurance | Yes (for Custom360 Elite customers) | Yes | No |
| Senior | No | No | No |
| Military | No | No | No |
| Defensive driving course | No | Yes | Yes |
DynamicDrive
Additional ways to lower car insurance include telematics. National General offers DynamicDrive, a telematics program that uses technology to monitor your driving habits. It does this through an app that you download onto your phone. The app can detect when you are speeding, braking, or using your phone while driving. Users of the app need to track their driving for 60 days before their insurance renewal date to continue to receive the discount.
Average rate:
Coverage
National General offers different tiers of car insurance coverage that cater to different needs. Its Custom360 Signature Auto tier provides you with standard coverages and also gives you the ability to choose your liability limits and deductibles. The standard coverage includes:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Medical payments
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
For drivers who need more "robust" extensive insurance coverage, National General has its Custom360 Elite Auto coverage. This tier includes standard coverage with the ability to add optional coverages such as:
- Accident forgiveness
- Auto replacement
- Rideshare
- Full safety glass
- Roadside assistance
- Diminishing deductible
- Portable electronics
- Transportation expense
National General vs. competitors
When compared to other car insurance companies, National General offers less coverage than the national average, but it isn't the least expensive. Larger insurers like GEICO, State Farm, and American Family offer better monthly rates for full and liability-only coverage.
Even National General's parent company, Allstate, has lower average monthly premiums. Allstate's average monthly premiums are $59 for liability-only coverage and $128 for full coverage, compared to National General's average monthly premiums of $95 for liability-only and $179 for full coverage.
| Company name | Average monthly full coverage | Average monthly liability-only coverage |
| USAA | $99 | $46 |
| GEICO | $118 | $55 |
| State Farm | $119 | $55 |
| Allstate | $132 | $62 |
| Progressive | $148 | $101 |
| American Family | $157 | $72 |
| Nationwide | $181 | $85 |
| Travelers | $191 | $90 |
| National average | $199 | $105 |
| Farmers | $236 | $110 |
| Liberty Mutual | $250 | $169 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
National General vs. Progressive
Progressive is pretty comparable to National General when you look at company ratings and cost. Both insurers have high ratings for financial stability but lack overall customer satisfaction. According to NAIC, Progressive has fewer customer complaints than National General.
In terms of cost, Progressive's monthly premiums for drivers with clean records are cheaper than National General for full coverage but slightly more expensive for liability-only coverage. Where Progressive excels is in coverage for teen drivers. At Progressive, you'll pay about $176 monthly for liability-only coverage and $273 for full coverage for teen drivers. National General's premiums for teen drivers are $210 for liability only and $396 for full coverage.
Read our Progressive review.
National General vs. State Farm
If you're looking for good, affordable car insurance, State Farm may be a better option for you than National General. State Farm's average monthly premiums are less expensive, and it offers many discounts that you won't get at National General.
State Farm also has a better rating for financial stability and overall customer satisfaction, as well as lower-than-average customer complaints than National General. However, one thing to be cautious about is State Farm's "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Read our State Farm auto insurance review.
FAQs
How do I contact National General?
National General car insurance coverage is available through independent insurance agents across the country. To get a quote, you can contact an independent agent near you. You can also get a quote online or by calling (800) 462-2123.
To talk to someone about a claim, you can chat online with an agent, send an email to claims@ngic.com, or call (800) 468-3466.
How long does it take for National General Insurance to pay?
National General Insurance says that it can process claims in as little as 24 hours, depending on the nature of the claim. Most minor claims may be paid within 48 hours. Disputed or complicated claims could take longer. The National General claims department is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Is National General owned by Allstate?
Yes, National General is owned by Allstate. The $4 billion acquisition went through in January 2021. Since the acquisition, National General's financial strength as a company has improved, going from an A- rating in 2020 to an A+ in February 2021, per A.M. Best.
Bottom line
If you're looking for affordable coverage and don't mind working through an independent agent (someone who offers policies from different insurers), National General could be a solid option — especially if you've had past driving infractions like a DUI or an at-fault accident. National General provides lower-than-average premiums and unique perks like lifetime repair guarantees and emergency expense coverage. But if high-quality customer service and reasonable teen driver rates matter most to you, it may be worth shopping around at different insurers.
Average rate:
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