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National General Car Insurance Review

Rating: 8 / 10 (Excellent)
21 Customer Reviews - see all comments
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Longevity and financial strength are two key factors that you want to look for when researching auto insurance companies in the United States. </br> </br> Both represent the stability of an auto insurance company and is a strong indicator that the company will be around for years and will pay your claims. </br> </br> National General Insurance has both!
 
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The company has been in operation since 1939 – now, that’s longevity. It also has an excellent “A-” rating with A.M. Best with a stable outlook as well. Now that’s solid backing for any auto insurance company but definitely for National General Insurance!

The North Carolina-based company also offers some of the best discounts in the auto insurance industry, including:

  • low mileage drivers
  • bundled auto and RV policy
  • OnStar subscribers
  • owners of GM vehicles

and many others!

National General is one of the largest automobile insurers in the country, offering property and casualty insurance products, including personal and commercial auto, RV, motorcycle, among others.

Previously, the company was GMAC but in 2013 it changed its brand name to National General Insurance.

The company retained its deep discounts offered to GM vehicle owners and GM employees and their families. National General is also the underwriter for Metromile, an Insurtech company that offers pay-as-you-go (telematics) online insurance plans.

Decision-Making Table | Pros, and Cons of National General

The following table can be used as a quick reference guide on the pros and cons of going with National General.

We hope this helps in your decision process!

Choose if You own a GM vehicle, are a low-mileage driver, have an On-Star subscription, bundle car and RV insurance under one policy
Skip if You are looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates
Discounts Exceptional discounts (see below)
States Served 50
Founded in 1939
Notable Features Strong financial standing and outlook, exceptional discounts, National General Motor Club membership, lifetime guarantee on certain repairs, guaranteed claims service satisfaction, and emergency expense allowance

 

Coverage & Discounts

National General offers customizable and comprehensive coverage plans as well as basic ones that meet state-mandated insurance requirements.

Policies can include:

  • bodily injury
  • property damage
  • collision
  • medical payments
  • personal injury
  • uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Basic Coverage

Pricing on auto insurance basic plans will differ based on each consumer’s personal and vehicle information and by carrier and state of residence.

Each state has its own automobile insurance regulations. In this article, we provide basic coverage scenarios for drivers in California and Texas, two of the most populated states.

Basic Coverage - California

The state of California requires drivers to carry the following minimum auto insurance coverage:

  • Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000/$30,000 (per person/per accident)
  • Property Damage Liability: $5,000

Scenario One: Annual premiums for a single female, driving for 9 to 15 years, resides in Escondido, drives a Toyota Camry*, and drives 12,600 to 15,000 miles annually and has one speeding ticket:

  • National General/Integon = $793
  • Liberty Mutual = $1,078
  • Allstate = $963

Scenario Two: Annual premiums for a married couple, driving for 13 years/10 years to 15 years, resides in Escondido, drives a Toyota Camry* and Honda CR-V*, and drives 12,600 to 15,000 miles annually with no traffic violations:

  • National General/Integon = $1,210
  • Liberty Mutual = $1,556
  • Allstate = $1,431

* State of California Department of Insurance’s 2018 Automobile Insurance comparison tool auto-filled the make/model of vehicle with Toyota Camry (single person) and Honda CR-V (married couple).

Basic Coverage – Texas

In the state of Texas, drivers are required to carry the following minimum auto insurance coverage:

  • Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000/$60,000 (per person/per accident)
  • Property Damage Liability: $25,000

Scenario One: Single female, age 25-64, lives in Plano, drives to & from work with one speeding ticket:

  • National General = $1,187
  • Liberty Mutual = $1,508
  • State Farm = $850

Scenario Two: Married female, age 25-64, good credit, lives in Plano, drives to & from work with one speeding ticket:

  • National General = $775
  • Liberty Mutual = $959
  • State Farm = $700

Discounts

National General offers customized savings to its customers, including:

  • affinity
  • paid-in-full (premium)
  • multi-vehicle (on same policy)
  • GM loyalty
  • OnStar subscriber
  • low-mileage driver
  • safe driver
  • motorcycle
  • bundled RV and auto policies
  • GM family
  • GM supplier discounts

Note: you can save an average of $442 per year on your car insurance premiums by going with National General and its SmartDiscounts™!

Discounts in Detail

  • GMAC Discounts: available to those who drive GM vehicles have a GMAC mortgage or auto financing
  • GM Loyalty: available if all vehicles are GM vehicles
  • Paid-in-Full: pay your premium in full at the beginning of the policy period
  • Safe-Driver Discount: complete a defensive driving course (or have OnStar)
  • Low Mileage Discount: the less you drive the more you save, up to 50% for very low miles but discounts start at less than 15,000 miles annually
  • GM Family First: available GM, GMAC and any subsidiaries employees (active or retired) as well as their extended family members
  • OnStar Subscriber: save 10% to 20% on certain coverage with an active OnStar subscription
  • Multi-Vehicle Discount
  • RV Bundle with Automobile: up to 20%

Specialty Coverages

National General really excels special coverages available under its SmartServices™ program, including:

  • Lifetime Guarantee: covers all collision repairs when you take your care to one of its Gold Medal repair shops
  • SmartInspect™: after a car repair, the company will re-inspect your car upon your request to make sure it is in top condition
  • Guaranteed Claims Service Satisfaction: if not satisfied, the company waives your deductible, up to $250 (not available in Texas)
  • 24-hour Claims Reporting: minor claims paid within 48 hours
  • Emergency Expense Allowance: provides up to $500 in temporary living expenses if needed, after a claim has been filed

Qualification Requirements

Similar to other auto insurance companies, National General uses actuarial math to determine risk and pricing.

During the qualification process, you provide personal information about yourself/family and the vehicle to be insured.

The following are the most common qualification criteria used by most carriers:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Marital Status
  • Address
  • Credit History
  • Driving Record
  • Prior Coverage
  • Make, Model, Year of Vehicle

Current (Insurer) Costs

Pricing can be the biggest deciding factor in determining which auto insurance company you go with. We get that. However, we encourage you to also look at the discounts an auto insurance company offers that can help offset a higher quoted price from a financial solid insurance provider.

For instance, National General does have great discount options if you qualify for any or all of them.

Again, price and risk determination by auto insurance company is accomplished by using a risk assessment methodology based on the information you provide. The following are standard policy quote comparisons of National General and two other competitors in the state of Texas.

Standard coverage for the state of Texas is: 50/100/50.

Scenario One: single female, ages 25-64, good credit, resides in McKinney, drives a car to & from work and has no traffic violations:  

  • National General: $729
  • Safeco: $688
  • Esurance: $838

Scenario Two: married male, ages 25-64, average credit, resides in McKinney, drives a truck to & from work, has no traffic violations:

  • National General: $853
  • Safeco: $838
  • Esurance: $978

Consumer Satisfaction

National General has been an accredited company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 1960 and holds an “A+” rating with the organization. The company does have numerous customer complaints, but most have been resolved.

Keep in mind that more established car insurance companies may have a higher number of complaints, and when compared to other large companies National General’s BBB complaint totals are on par with similar-sized insurance providers.

National General does have a higher-than-average 2017 complaint ratio listed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) at 6.08 while the national median average is 1.00.  

The company does offer 24/7/365 claims processing, customized savings, and first-class specialty services like valet services, guaranteed repairs, and guaranteed claims service satisfaction.

Nitty Gritty

If you can take advantage of National General’s deep discounts, then this company may be right for you. It’s SmartServices™ also make it an attractive choice. If you combine these factors with the company’s exceptional financial rating and outlook, you are on solid ground.

However, the company’s disappointing complaint ratio is negative and may make the difference for you on whether you go with this company or not. We understand.

Phone Number & Additional Details

  • Homepage URL: https://www.nationalgeneral.com/
  • Company Phone: (800) 462-2123
  • Headquarters Address: 500 West 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-3199
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  • Strong financial ratings
  • Insurance for motorcycles, antique and classic cars, exotics, and more.
  • Discounts for GM employees and extended family members
  • Wide array of special benefits and programs
  • Lifetime guarantee for any repairs made at any of their Gold Medal repair shops
  • Rental reimbursement and SmartValet program
  • Large variety of discount options
READ FULL REVIEW >

Latest National General Reviews

bjanic80

7/17/2022
I have had 2 claims with National General Car Insurance. Both were handled quickly and fairly. I have never had better service from an insurance company. I highly recommend them.

kim71076

12/16/2021
Horrible insurance. Our son was rear ended by someone with National General insurance and now the company won’t pay for the repairs. It was their policy holders fault but they won’t cover the cost of repair.

A
Alice

11/19/2021
After waiting 17 days with a broken back from a car accident, was told there is still NO ETA on a car insurance adjuster to see car, and without the estimate there is NO RENTAL given. Can't get to doctor appointments! Insanely expensive HORRID car insurance!

jennifer.thomson.hall

4/29/2021
Contacting the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety to File a Complaint. Colt Hoover Needs to Return our calls!!! We notified Colt Hoover about our claim over two weeks ago. One of their customers rear ended us. He approved our claim (supported by a police report), and we took our car to the repair shop, which he also approved. The repair shop (Gerber) sent them an estimate, which they approved. Our car has been repaired for a week now, and we still don’t have it because they haven’t paid the repair shop! Colt is not answering our calls, returning texts, or returning the messages we leave. We have now been without our car for a week and a half. These people are shady. We’re reporting... Read More

L
Lola

3/16/2021
Worst company I have ever worked with! Not transparent they just want to close your claim as soon as possible and brush you off. Forced payment when not agreeing to the settlement claim amount.

A
Atif K

5/3/2020
Bad Bad Bad customers service experience I ever had in my life, unprofessional and disrespectful staff, they don’t even care of if customer file a complaint with California department of insurance , they can do what ever they want to do, and you are not even have a chance to talk with manager/Supervisor, because every one assumes there He/She is Head of department they don’t let you to reach out the manager

J
Jonathan c

4/24/2020
I would get this insurance. Yes they are cheap.but they got me .all because I helped someone who didn't live with me let her us my address for a year and half .helped her get her license and get job .she had none owners insurance. She didn't move in till month and half go let her us my car 3 times then she wrecked it ..and now they don't want to cover it because she lived with me ..but no one told me to put on policy ..dont want to work with me ..will never tell no one one ..cheap cheap cheap .u get what u pay for ...i am calling my policy asap

S
Shaniauia D

4/8/2020
National General is trash!! They canceled insurance on my vehicles with auto loans during a PANDEMIC.. I have 4 cars, 2 with auto loans an they canceled full coverage insurance on both of them.. I tried there auto insurance for the first time an I will never do it again!! I really rate them a zero!

K
kay10

11/15/2019
In August we were backed into by a hit and run. We called National General to submit a claim. Damage to the car was appraised by photos and not appraised by auto repair shop or seen by a physical appraiser as per the insurance company directions. When we were able to get in contact with the insurer we were told that we had 3 impacts ($500 deductible per impact). We disputed this because damage was done by one hit and run impact. Because we have been back and forth disputing this claim we finally took the car to an auto body repair shop and he estimated the damage to be $8181.. We received three checks which we have not cashed in the amounts of $425., $73., and $23. this does not... Read More

Pablo N

11/11/2019
CLAIMS DEPARTMENT IS THE WORST , NO COMMUNICATION, NO ANSWER PHONE O E -MAIL EVEN MANAGERS DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUES.

mariagromero123

8/31/2019
I’ve had this insurance for several year and when I need it, it was useless. The agent came up with her own conclusions about what happened and refused to cover the damage.

Lew M

8/8/2019
Dealing with this company was a NIGHTMARE,, god help anyone that actually needs help on a serious matter!!! I am a professional with over 45 years of experience, NO AT FAULT accidents and a clean driving record. My rates doubled over a job related accident,, that WASN'T my fault,, and had nothing to do with my personal policy. They lied about dmv saying the accident was my fault. I WAS NOT AT FAULT!! Dmv never said it was my fault,,, my dmv record clearly shows I was not at fault,, plus it is illegal for dmv in my state to make any determination as to fault,, as per the e-mail dmv sent me in response to my inquiry. I was put on hold and disconnected repeatedly when dealing with... Read More

Jean V

7/7/2019
We have nothing but good experiences with this company.We parked in Pensacola Fl in our RV and a plexiglass sign flew down and hit our windshield.I called and a very friendly voice said no problem.We called a glass company and gave the info to National General.He received his check immediately.If you like silly commercials with talking lizards and people wearing all white be my guest but I'll stick with NG.

Robert N

4/13/2019
These people are crooks! I was a victim of their client. Rather than pay the full claim they sent the quote 500 miles to an adjuster, Comsearch who never personally inspected the damage to my property. That adjuster 500 miles away decided that the damage to my driveway could be repaired for half the estimated price. I can't find any contractor to touch the job because National General Insurance did not pay but half the amount required. They have informed me that this is the way it is. Do not trust these people. The hide information, make excuses and lie and never answer direct questions. They control the narrative and screw their victims. My nightmare was created by Angela Bauza in Claims... Read More

D
diane l

4/13/2019
On 3/20/19 i set up new rv insurance with this company. A couple of days later i canceled because my present company ended up giving me a better deal. Its 4/13 and I am still waiting on the down payment refund. I was told they had to wait 10 days after I cancel then a check would be issued. I called and they are telling me my policies cancellation date is 4/17. I cancelled on 3/20. I am glad I didnt go with this company. If I have to fight to get money they surely do not need to be my insurance company. Now I have to wait until Monday to call. They are quick to take your money but i cant get my refund.

T
Tea C

3/26/2019
I was involved in a vehicle accident on Feb 7, 2019 with one of their insured and the other party was deemed to be 100% at fault. Fortunately no one was hurt. Unfortunately, I have liability-only coverage on my vehicle so I had the displeasure of having to deal with National General to get compensation for the damage to my car. At first, they were responsive and helpful; the claim was filed the same day I called it in and a day or two later, I was assigned a claims adjuster. Ann Marie Gardea was the adjuster assigned to my claim and she had me take pictures of the damage and submit them for an estimate. A few more days pass and I hear back from the adjuster saying that the estimate has... Read More

E
Emma

3/20/2019
I was hit by their client who was backing out of her parking spot who did not completely check if there was any vehicle behind her, and unfortunately hit my car while I was trying to park at the opposite side. Now the company is telling me I failed to take proper evasive action. Really? And they say they that that is their very logical way of coming to a decision of only partially paying for the damages rendered to my car inorder to protect their client. Or is it to minimize the company's loss regardless of the means?

mahaireva17

2/17/2019
I rate national general at a zero. We was tboned by someone that has this insurance they also ran. We have yet to receive any compensation from the wreck almost a month ago. We have also had to send pictures of the car and the police report this company has done nothing but sit on there rears trying to stick up for the people who hit us saying the vehicle was stolen when it wasnt reported stolen until days after the wreck.

J
Jeff

10/11/2018
I would leave 0 stars if i could, this is an absolutely terrible company. Everyone that I have spoken to is extremely disrespectful. You don't get anything solved unless you're calling to make a payment. Customer service skills don't exist in this company, they are more apt to flipping burgers at mcdonalds away from customers.

Rosa W

9/22/2018
My premiums are 217.00 a month this is highway robbery!!! it jumped from 178.00 to 217.00 why? looking for cheaper car insurance cause this is to high! National General is ripping me off! Why is it this high????

C
Carlos M

5/9/2018
I swear that I don’t know how this company can have this rating, my wife was hit and taken out of the way by another vehicle, I am today May 9 two months exact waiting for the full payment of my vehicle, it took 3 weeks to receive the estimate of repair or total lost by a company named MITCHELL INC. which is not saying that is being investigated for fraud by giving estimates of vehicles like mine, since they valued it with similar vehicles not equal and in the end its price was even half of what they cost in CRAIGLIST !!! The lack of professionalism of the adjusters is the worst, even my number was blocked when calling to ask about the status of my claim, for almost 3 years I never had... Read More

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