National General Auto Insurance: Is It Worth The Hype?

National General Insurance, an Allstate company, offers auto insurance for high-risk drivers, including those with DUI convictions. The company also provides home insurance and other types of insurance, including RV, motorcycle, and umbrella insurance. National General has a wide range of coverage options and discounts, but its customer service has received mixed reviews. While it has a high number of customer complaints, it has strong financial backing and is able to meet its insurance obligations. Overall, National General could be a good choice for those seeking robust homeowners insurance policies and discount opportunities, but those looking for the cheapest rates or highly-rated customer service may want to consider other insurers.

National General's customer service reputation

National General Insurance has a poor customer service reputation. The company has received twice as many consumer complaints as the national average. It has a high NAIC rating of 6.43, indicating that it has received far more customer complaints than its industry peers. The most common complaints from customers are about delays in the claims-handling process and unexpected denials of claims. WalletHub gives National General Insurance a rating of 3.8/5, with customers citing poor customer service and high premiums as reasons for low scores. National General also ranked last in J.D. Power's 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey, with a score of 815 out of 1,000.

National General's insurance rates

National General Insurance, now owned by Allstate, offers auto insurance with a range of benefits and discounts. However, the company has received a high number of customer complaints and has a reputation for poor customer service.

National General Insurance Rates

National General's auto insurance rates are typically higher than those of its competitors. The company charges twice as much as other insurers for the same coverage, according to an analysis of sample quotes. Teenage drivers, in particular, pay high premiums, with National General's annual rates for an 18-year-old driver being three times greater than those of Progressive, the cheapest insurer for teens in one study.

National General's rates for full coverage are also higher than the national average. The company's average annual rate for full coverage is $2,556, compared to the national average of $2,348. Similarly, National General's rate for minimum coverage is $744, higher than the national average of $639.

However, National General offers a variety of discounts that can help offset these high rates. These include:

• Low mileage discount: For policyholders who drive less than average.
• DynamicDrive discount: For customers who download the company's telematics app and demonstrate safe driving habits.
• Paperless discount: For customers who agree to receive bills and policy documents electronically.
• Security device discount: For vehicles with security features such as an anti-theft system.
• RV and auto bundle discount: Up to 20% discount when bundling car and RV insurance.
• Diminishing deductible: Available on Custom360 packages, policyholders may receive a $100 credit towards their deductible for every 12-month policy term without a claim.
• Paid-in-full discount: For drivers who pay the full cost of their policy upfront.
• Multi-vehicle discount: For insuring more than one vehicle.
• Safe driver discount: For drivers who take a defensive driving course.
• RV and auto policy discount: 20% discount for insuring both an RV and a car, and the company will waive one deductible if both vehicles are involved in a covered accident.
• Multi-policy discount: For drivers who hold another insurance policy with National General, such as home or renters insurance.
• Anti-theft discount: For vehicles with anti-theft features.
• Auto-pay discount: For drivers who use auto-pay.
• Discounts for GM-affiliated drivers: National General was founded by General Motors and offers discounts to drivers with a connection to the company, such as having a GM Card, GMAC Mortgage, or GMAC Auto Financing.

National General also offers tiered car insurance policies, called Custom360 coverage, with varying coverage limits. The two tiers, Signature and Elite, are available to drivers without any advertised eligibility requirements.

National General's insurance discounts

National General Insurance, now a subsidiary of Allstate, offers a wide range of discounts to its auto insurance customers. The company's discounts are designed to benefit a variety of drivers, including those with multiple vehicles, those who drive infrequently, and those who maintain safe driving habits. Here is a detailed list of National General's auto insurance discounts:

• Low Mileage Discount: Drivers who get on the road only occasionally can receive a discount, provided they're OnStar subscribers.
• Security Device Discount: Drivers who have anti-theft features installed in their vehicle are eligible for a discount.
• Safe Driver Discount: National General promotes safe driving and offers a discount to drivers who take a defensive driving course.
• Paid-in-Full Discount: National General provides a discount to drivers who pay the full cost of their auto policy upfront.
• Multi-Vehicle Discount: If you insure more than one vehicle with National General, you will receive a discount.
• RV and Auto Policy Discount: National General offers a unique discount for drivers who insure both an RV and a car with the company. The discount can be up to 20%, and if both vehicles are involved in a covered accident, the driver will only pay one deductible.
• Motorcycle Discount: Motorcycle drivers who drive safely and insure multiple motorcycles with National General are eligible for a discount.
• Multi-Policy Discount: National General offers a discount to drivers who also hold another insurance policy with the company, such as home or renters insurance.
• Paperless Discount: National General encourages paperless billing and provides a discount to drivers who choose this option.
• Auto-Pay Discount: A discount is available for drivers who use auto-pay for their insurance policy.
• DynamicDrive Discount: National General rewards customers who download the DynamicDrive app with lower rates. Good drivers can earn even bigger discounts at renewal.

In addition to these standard discounts, National General also offers exclusive discounts to drivers with an affiliation to General Motors (GM). This includes individuals who have a GM Card, GMAC Mortgage, or GMAC Auto Financing, as well as former or current GM employees and those employed by GM suppliers or dealerships.

National General's insurance coverages

National General Insurance, an Allstate company, offers a range of insurance coverages for vehicles, homes, and possessions. Here is an overview of their insurance coverages:

Auto Insurance

National General provides auto insurance for different types of drivers, including commercial auto insurance for small- to mid-sized businesses with vehicle fleets. They offer standard coverages such as bodily injury liability, property damage liability, underinsured motorist, and personal injury protection. Additionally, they provide non-standard coverages like accidental death and dismemberment coverage, auto protection plans, and Mexico insurance coverage for driving across the border.

National General also offers benefits like an emergency expense allowance of up to $500 for food, lodging, and travel expenses after a covered claim, and a lifetime repair guarantee for repairs made at their Gold Medal Repair Shops.

Home Insurance

National General provides home insurance with three Custom360 coverage packages: Signature Home, Preferred Home, and Elite Home. They offer standard homeowners coverage and additional coverages like home-sharing coverage for those who rent out their homes and home systems coverage for repairing or replacing items like furnaces or water heaters.

Recreational Vehicle Insurance

National General offers insurance for recreational vehicles (RVs) and motorcycles. Their RV insurance includes benefits like free inspections after repairs, permanent attachment coverage, and search assistance for replacing a totaled RV. Their motorcycle insurance covers sports bikes, cruisers, mopeds, scooters, and dirt bikes, among others.

Umbrella Insurance

National General provides umbrella insurance as an endorsement on their homeowners insurance policy, offering extra liability protection.

Rideshare Coverage

National General offers rideshare coverage for drivers working for companies like Lyft and Uber, providing an additional layer of financial protection.

Identity Theft Coverage

National General includes identity theft coverage as an endorsement on their homeowners insurance policy, helping with costs related to restoring a stolen identity.

National General's insurance complaints

National General Insurance has been in business for over 100 years and has a reputation for offering policies to high-risk" drivers, particularly those with a DUI offence on their record. The company was acquired by Allstate in 2021 and has an A rating from AM Best for its financial strength, suggesting an improved ability to pay out claims.

However, National General has received a high number of customer complaints. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) 2019 report, National General received more than twice the national average number of complaints. In J.D. Power's 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Shopping Study, National General ranked 17th out of 17 companies for overall customer satisfaction.

Some common complaints about National General Insurance include:

• High premiums and poor customer service
• Lack of a car insurance mobile app
• Issues with claims and repairs, including delays, low settlement offers, and lack of communication
• Difficulty cancelling policies and unexpected fees
• Failure to provide rental cars as promised

Frequently asked questions