The General

The Car Insurance Guide

Overall Personalized Rating: 4.5/5 (Very Good)

Summary

The General is a reputable insurance carrier offering car insurance to nonstandard drivers across the U.S. Uninsured drivers, drivers with tickets or other incidents on their record, and young drivers may have luck getting quality coverage at a fair rate with this carrier.

Key Benefits

Unlike the majority of major insurance carriers, The General is a reputable insurer that caters to drivers who fall into the nonstandard category.
Young or new drivers, recently uninsured drivers, and drivers with tickets, DUIs, or other incidents on record can get cheap insurance with The General, without having to sacrifice coverage quality.

Ratings Summary

Ratings Highlights

Overall Rating

Taken altogether, we feel comfortable recommending The General to drivers struggling to find affordable insurance elsewhere, as this is exactly what their business is designed for. For drivers within this category, their pricing is fair to slightly high, and coverage options tend to be consistent with the industry as a whole. Regarding claims, customer support and the speed of service could be improved, though it is important to note that these are complaints commonly found throughout the insurance industry.

Pricing

When compared with the auto insurance industry overall, The General's pricing is on the higher end. However, it's important to keep in mind that this a carrier providing coverage to nonstandard drivers, who are often either rejected or significantly overcharged for coverage through other carriers. Their spot in their market in mind, The General's pricing is more on the average end of things.

Handling Claims

The General's claims processing system is easy to find and simple to navigate -- users can file claims via their app, online, or over the phone. They also make their phone number, fax number, email address, and mailing address easily available online for those looking for other modes of contact. We found their video tutorial on filing a claim particularly helpful. As far as servicing claims go, customer reviews are divided; while many say their claims were handled smoothly and relatively quickly, others complain that the process is anything but fast, and that customer service can feel nonexistent.

Uninsured Drivers

While being uninsured for a long period of time is viewed negatively by most major auto insurers, this is not the case with The General. Currently or recently uninsured drivers are still likely to find affordable coverage options through this carrier.

Young Drivers

Young drivers, a category which typically includes any driver under the age of 25, ought to look into The General, particularly if they've struggled to find insurance elsewhere. This company is known to insure groups who may otherwise struggle to find insurance, including teens or those in their early 20s. Additionally, The General offers some discounts for students with a current record of strong academic performance.

Bundling Auto with Other Insurance Types

As The General only offers auto insurance, they do not have bundling as an option.

Drivers with Tickets/Accidents

Even if you have speeding tickets, DUIs, or other infractions on your driving record, The General is likely to have you covered, as their business model serves nonstandard drivers in particular. Eligible drivers in need of SR22 or FR44 support can find this with The General.

Premium Driver

As The General typically caters to drivers who fall into the nonstandard category (young, uninsured, or those with a current record), they are not particularly equipped to service drivers who fall into the more premium category. If your record is clean, your credit score is high, and you've been continuously insured for a long period of time, you are likely to find that there are other reputable carriers offering lower rates.

Company Background

Founded in 1963, The General has been providing car insurance to the American public for over 60 years. They market specifically to high-risk (or "nonstandard") drivers, who typically struggle to find affordable insurance. The company was acquired by Sentry Insurance in 2024.

The Car Insurance Guide's Reviews Methodology

The Car Insurance Guide uses a proprietary algorithm to evaluate the car insurance options presented. Factors reviewed and rated include pricing, handling of claims, age of driver, bundling, and driver type. These factors are evaluated and scored to provide an overall score for the carrier as well as being individually assessed to provide a detailed review of the fit of the carrier to the driver. The data comes from research The Car Insurance Guide conducts as an invite-only annual survey and from interviews with car insurance agents. Insights from experts, those whose job it is to understand and recommend the best insurance companies for their clients, is invaluable. Use of The Car Insurance Guide's 2026 reviews by third parties without the express written consent of The Car Insurance Guide is strictly prohibited.