The General is the official car insurance provider for more than one million drivers. Established in 1963, it has been in business for over 60 years. In 1997, it was rebranded as The General, an affiliate of American Family Insurance. Sentry acquired the General from American Family Insurance in 2024.
It’s an excellent option for car insurance, working with drivers of all ages, credit scores, and driving records for car insurance.
How does it stack up against the other car insurance companies? We take a deep dive.
- Easy online quotes
- Excellent mobile resources
- Forgiving of bad credit and driver history
- Limited insurance coverage options
The General auto insurance coverage options
The General offers the standard auto insurance coverage options:
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Underinsured motorist coverage
- Comprehensive and collision
The General also offers no-fault insurance and insurance for those drivers with bad credit and those who need an SR-22 form. The General offers 24/7 roadside assistance.
The General car insurance discounts
The General’s car insurance discounts include the following options:
- Safety features: Earn extra savings off your policy when your car has safety features like factory-installed passive restraints.
- New car owners: The General may give you an extra discount if you recently purchased a brand-new car.
- Recent insurance: If you have had insurance within the last five years, you can receive a lower premium, even if your Insurance coverage was with a different provider.
- Multiple vehicles: You can save extra money off your premiums when you insure multiple cars within the same household.
- Paid-in-full: The General offers the option to earn a discount for paying your policy in full. You can also choose from six- or 12-month policies for an extra payment discount.
- Quarter payment discounts: Not everyone can pay ahead for an entire year’s worth of premiums, and even six months can be difficult to pay at once, so the General gives the option for quarter-payment discounts instead. However, this discount is limited to select states, so ask your agent about availability.
- Homeowner discount: If you own your own home, you can receive an additional discount – even if you do not maintain a homeowners policy with The General.
- Previous insurance discount: The General may give you a discount if you have maintained continuous insurance for five years.
- Good student discount: The General offers discounts for full-time students.
- Safe driver: If you have successfully completed a defensive driving course, The General may reward you with extra safe driver discounts.
- Accident-free: That safe driver discount applies when accident-free for three to five years.
The General offers an exclusive Double Deductible discount, which doubles your deductible for your first 45 days with your new policy. It is a one-time discount that is available in some states.
You also have the option to bundle your policy with several types of insurance, including homeowners, renters, life insurance, boat insurance, motorhome insurance and pet insurance.
Where is The General auto insurance available?
The General is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The General financial stability ratings
For financial stability, The General’s parent company, Sentry Insurance, receives an A+ (Superior), which means that the company has a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.
The General customer reviews and complaints
The General has been a BBB-accredited insurance provider since 2005 and holds an A+ rating.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) judges a company based on the number of complaints reported to state insurance regulators.
It gives The General an 8.14 score, which is well above the median benchmark of 1.00 for all providers and is an unsatisfactory rating, indicating more complaints than expected.
J.D. Power is another respected industry rating provider that rates a company based on overall customer claims satisfaction. The J.D. Power 2024 Auto Insurance Study is available based on several regions.
The General scores well below average in Florida. The General is unrated in several regions, including California, Central, Mid-Atlantic, New England, New York, North Central, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and Texas.
The General car insurance claims
The General makes it easy to file a claim with your choice of online or phone support. You can also use the mobile app for 24/7 access every day of the week. There is also 24/7 roadside assistance available to help if you run into trouble on the road.
The General website and apps
The General offers excellent online and mobile resources, including a mobile payment app. The app also allows users to access instant ID cards on the go, file claims, and receive on-demand support for all-inclusive capability.
You can benefit from online policy management via The General’s MyPolicy account portal and live chat support online. You can also call in for phone support, or if you are busy, you can schedule a call.
Who is The General car insurance a good option for?
The General will cover drivers without continuous coverage for six months or more. It offers insurance to high-risk individuals, offering second chances for drivers with poor credit or spotty driving records. It can be an excellent fit for new, uninsured and teen drivers looking for additional car insurance coverage.
The verdict: Is The General worth it?
The General is one of the more forgiving car insurance companies available today. It may not be the company for you if you are looking for rental car insurance, although some existing policies may provide coverage for both rental cars and credit cards.
It may be pricey for drivers with excellent credit or a clean driving record because those drivers may be able to find cheaper car insurance coverage elsewhere.
Sources
AM Best. “Sentry Insurance Company.” Accessed February 2025.
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