Direct Auto Insurance is a subsidiary of the Direct General Group, which is owned by National General Holdings Corp. National General has owned Direct Auto since 2016. Direct Auto Insurance is known for providing non-standard car insurance to high-risk drivers, including those with a history of accidents, driving while intoxicated, or poor credit. The company offers basic coverage options as well as additional services such as roadside assistance and towing coverage. It also provides flexible payment options and a wide range of discounts. However, Direct Auto Insurance has received a high number of customer complaints, particularly regarding delays in claims.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Specialization | High-risk drivers |
Coverage | Liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, medical payments, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, towing coverage |
Available in | 14-18 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington |
Parent company | Direct General Group, owned by National General Holdings Corp. |
Ratings | 4.0/5 on WalletHub, 3.85/5 on Clearsurance, A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best for financial strength |
Customer service | Poor, higher-than-average complaints |
Discounts | Safe driver, good student, senior citizen, multi-car, multi-product, military, dynamic drive, prior coverage, payment, homeowner, welcome back, affinity, and more |
What You'll Learn
Direct Auto Insurance is a subsidiary of National General Holdings Corporation
Direct Auto Insurance is a good option for drivers who need basic coverage, especially those who are considered "high-risk". The company advertises its willingness to insure drivers with issues on their records, such as accidents or driving while intoxicated. This means that Direct Auto offers SR-22 coverage, which is necessary for some drivers to get their licenses back. Direct Auto also offers cheaper-than-average rates for minimum liability coverage, although it becomes more expensive if you add to your coverage.
Direct Auto Insurance operates in 14 to 18 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The company has its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, and was founded in 1991.
Direct Auto Insurance has received mixed reviews. While it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, it has more customer complaints than the average competitor, with a NAIC rating of 10.92. Direct Auto also has poor customer service by several metrics, with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reporting that the company receives six times as many complaints as an average company of its size.
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Direct Auto Insurance caters to high-risk drivers
High-risk drivers often face challenges in obtaining affordable car insurance due to their increased likelihood of making claims. Direct Auto Insurance fills this gap in the market by offering minimum liability coverage, including SR-22 insurance, which is often required for high-risk drivers to regain their driving licenses.
The company operates in a limited number of states, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia, and its rates vary depending on the driver's record and the level of coverage desired. While Direct Auto Insurance provides cheaper-than-average rates for basic policies, its full-coverage insurance can be more expensive than competitors.
Direct Auto Insurance is part of the Direct General Group, which is owned by National General Holdings Corp., a property and casualty insurance company. National General has been operating independently from Direct Auto since acquiring it in 2016.
In addition to auto insurance, Direct Auto Insurance also offers life insurance, health insurance, renters insurance, and various specialty auto insurance options, such as motorcycle insurance and commercial auto insurance.
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Direct Auto Insurance has a high number of customer complaints
Reviews of Direct Auto Insurance on WalletHub and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) highlight issues with customer service, policy changes, and reimbursement. Some customers have reported difficulties in reaching a human customer service representative, while others have experienced challenges with policy changes, cancellations, and reimbursement requests. There are also complaints about the company's roadside assistance service, with reports of long wait times for towing services and issues with locating policy information.
In contrast, some customers have praised individual Direct Auto Insurance representatives for their professionalism and helpfulness in resolving policy issues. However, the overall sentiment in customer reviews suggests that Direct Auto Insurance has room for improvement in addressing customer concerns and providing timely and responsive service.
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Direct Auto Insurance offers flexible payment options
Direct Auto Insurance, a subsidiary of the Direct General Group, offers flexible payment options to its customers. The company, which specialises in insurance for high-risk drivers, provides a range of ways to pay for policies, including online, over the phone, or through a local agent.
Direct Auto Insurance offers several discounts that can be applied to policies, which can help make coverage more affordable. These include:
- Safe driver discount: Customers can save up to 10% if they have been accident-free for at least three years.
- Good student discount: Students with at least a B average in high school, college, or vocational school can get up to a 10% discount.
- Senior citizen discount: Completing an accident prevention course at 55 years old or older can result in savings of up to 5%.
- Driver education discount: Completing an accident prevention course or a state-approved drivers ed course for those under 21 can save customers up to 10%.
- Multi-car discount: Covering more than one vehicle with Direct Auto can result in savings of up to 25%.
- Prior coverage discount: Customers can receive discounts of up to 25% if they have had prior coverage for nine months without a lapse of more than 90 days.
- Multi-product discount: Bundling car insurance with life insurance or other services like roadside assistance or an emergency protection plan can save customers 5%.
- Multipolicy discount: Having multiple policies with Direct Auto can result in savings of up to 10%.
- Payment discounts: Setting up automatic payments, paperless billing, or paying a policy in full can provide savings of up to 9%.
- Homeowner discount: Customers who own the home where the insured vehicle is stored can save up to 15%.
- Welcome back discount: Returning to Direct Auto Insurance within six months of switching to another company can result in a discount of up to 6%.
- Affinity discount: Being a member of an organisation partnered with Direct Auto Insurance can provide savings of up to 9%.
- Military discount: Active service members can save up to 25% on their policies.
In addition to these discounts, Direct Auto Insurance also offers a DynamicDrive program, which is a usage-based insurance program that monitors driving habits. Customers can save up to 10% on their insurance by practising good driving habits.
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Direct Auto Insurance is available in 14-18 US states
Direct Auto Insurance is a subsidiary of the National General Holdings Corporation, which has been owned by Allstate since 2016. National General and Direct Auto operate independently and have separate headquarters in different cities. Direct Auto Insurance is available in 14 to 18 US states, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. The company offers insurance coverage for cars, motorcycles, and life, as well as commercial and Mexico auto insurance.
Direct Auto Insurance specialises in providing insurance for high-risk drivers, such as those with a history of accidents or driving while intoxicated. The company offers SR-22 coverage, which is required for drivers who need to get their license back after an infraction. While Direct Auto provides cheaper-than-average rates for minimum liability coverage, its rates become more expensive when adding additional coverage.
The company provides several common add-on coverages, including liability, comprehensive, collision, and personal injury protection (PIP). However, in some cases, Direct Auto may restrict customers from purchasing more than the minimum legally required amount of liability coverage.
In addition to basic coverage, Direct Auto offers extra coverage options such as rental reimbursement, towing, accidental death coverage, and health insurance. The company also provides various discounts, including safe driver, good student, senior citizen, multi-car, and multi-product discounts, which can help customers save on their policy costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Direct Auto Insurance is part of the Direct General Group. It is also a subsidiary of National General Holdings Corporation, which has owned Direct Auto since 2016.
Direct Auto Insurance is known for providing non-standard car insurance to high-risk drivers. It offers basic coverage for drivers who have issues on their records, such as accidents or driving while intoxicated.
Some pros of Direct Auto Insurance are that it offers flexible payment options, has an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best for financial strength, and provides all the standard coverages. However, a con is that it has higher-than-average customer complaints, with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) giving the company a complaint index score of 4.3.