National General auto insurance review: Flexible coverage
National General offers basic car insurance with some add-ons benefits, but has higher-than-average rates and more customer complaints than competitors.
By
Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
3.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
Owned by parent company Allstate since 2021, National General has a strong financial rating with A.M Best and offers some unique benefits, like an emergency expense allowance after a covered accident (for things like food or a hotel room) and a lifetime guarantee for collision repairs made at any of its “Gold Medal Repair Shops.”
National General is also known for offering coverage to high-risk drivers and drivers who need an SR-22 after a violation like a DUI, so it may be a good option for specific needs. But when it comes to price, National General has higher-than average rates, at an average cost of $158 a month for a full-coverage car insurance policy.
National General also has significantly more customer complaints than its competitors, earning it less-than-stellar customer service ratings with J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Liability coverage: Covers the costs if you damage someone else's car or injure another driver in an at-fault accident. Liability insurance is required in almost every state.
Personal injury protection: Also known as PIP or no-fault coverage, this helps cover medical expenses and associated costs if you or your passengers are injured in an accident, no matter who is at fault.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision damage to your car, like flood, fire, vandalism, theft, and animal-related damages.
Collision coverage: Covers the cost of the damage to your car in an accident, no matter who is at fault.
Additional coverages offered
Accidental death and dismemberment: Covers the cost of certain injuries, like the loss of a foot or hand or complete loss of sight, or the death of the named insured or a family member that was the direct result of a covered accident. Also covers an ambulance expense benefit and up to 5 days of hospital indemnity benefits.
Roadside assistance: Covers fuel delivery, towing, locksmith services, battery jumpstarts, winching, and flat tires if your vehicle breaks down.
National General does not offer gap coverage, so drivers who are required to purchase gap coverage as part of a loan or lease will need to purchase it directly through their lender or choose a different car insurance company.
Ratings methodology
Price
3.4/5
We used Quadrant data to compare the average cost of a full coverage policy from National General, with 50/100/50 coverage limits and $500 comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles, to competitor rates for the same coverage with the same driver profile (single drivers aged 30, 35, and 45 driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE about 10,000 miles per year.)
Customer experience
2.0/5
National General scored 838 out of 1,000 on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which is less-than-average for the industry, and did not earn a score in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study. And according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) National Complaint Index Report, National General also had significantly more customer complaints than average in 2021.
Coverage options
2.7/5
National General offers 10 different types of auto insurance coverage, giving it a low score when it comes to coverage options. Beyond the standard auto insurance coverage types, including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, National General offers add-ons like roadside assistance and auto protection plan.
Financial strength
4.3/5
National General has a good financial rating, scoring an A+ with AM Best. This means National General is in a good financial position to pay out claims, but the company does not have a financial rating with S&P or Moody’s.
How much does National General auto insurance cost?
National General auto insurance costs an average of $1,898 per year, or $158 a month. That makes National General car insurance more expensive than the national average for a full-coverage policy with bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
Annual car insurance rate
Monthly insurance rate
National General
$1,898
$158
National average
$1,638
$136
But average rates don’t necessarily reflect what you’ll pay, so it may still be worth getting a National General quote when you’re shopping for car insurance — there’s always the chance you’ll be able to get lower rates.
What discounts does National General offer?
Bundling discount: Purchasing multiple policies through National General, like home and auto insurance or renters and auto insurance, can earn you a discount.
Pay in full discount: National General offers a discount if you pay your premium in full at the beginning of your policy instead of making smaller monthly payments.
Low mileage discount: You could earn a discount on your auto insurance if you don’t spend much time behind the wheel.
Security device discount: Certain anti-theft devices can save you money on your comprehensive coverage.
Multi-vehicle discount: Save money when you insure two or more vehicles on the same auto policy.
Safe driving discount: Maintain a clean driving record to earn a discount on your National General auto insurance.
Paperless discount: Get a discount if you’re willing to forgo paper billing and get notices from National General electronically.
DynamicDrive
DynamicDrive is a tracking program from National General, similar to other usage-based discounts like SnapShot or Drivewise. DynamicDrive uses a smartphone app to monitor your behavior behind the wheel, and awards discounts for safe driving.
Customers who sign up for DynamicDrive and download the Routely app can get a 10% discount on their coverage just for signing up.
National General combines the information it gathers through DynamicDrive with an overall profile to determine your performance rating score. The app collects lots of information while you’re driving, including the time of day you’re on the road, how fast you drive, how quickly you stop, and whether or not you’re using your phone while driving.
Drivers who make safe, responsible decisions while driving can earn a discount through DynamicDrive, but unsafe driving habits, like using your phone while driving, sudden braking, or going 80 miles per hour or more, can reduce your discount.
National General auto insurance state availability
National General auto insurance is available in all 50 states.
What to expect with National General auto insurance
How to get a quote: Drivers can get a National General auto insurance quote by working with an agent or calling 800-462-2123.
Customer service options: The best way to take care of most of your customer service needs is to access your National General policy online or call800-462-2123 to speak with a representative.
How to file a claim: Customers can file a claim through their agent, by calling 800-468-3466, or by emailing National General at claims@ngic.com.
How to cancel your policy: National General customers can cancel their policy through their agent or by calling 888-293-5108.
National General vs other auto insurance companies
National General has good financial ratings, but it has an abnormally high number of customer complaints. National General has an NAIC Complaint Index score of 5.57, which is significantly higher than other insurance companies.
Is National General Insurance owned by Allstate?
Yes, National General was purchased by Allstate in 2021, it still sells car insurance but National General policies are backed by Allstate.
Is National General Insurance expensive?
National General has an average annual rate of $1,898 for full coverage auto insurance, which is $260 higher than the national average of $1,638.
What type of insurance is National General?
National General sells property and casualty insurance, including auto insurance, RV insurance, motorcycle insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and private collections insurance.
Rachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
