Updated October 31, 2026 · Facts checked against thegeneral.com, AM Best and the NAIC on October 31, 2026
The General is built for drivers the standard market tends to turn away: people with violations, at-fault accidents, a gap in coverage, or credit that works against them. Backed by Sentry Insurance Group and carrying an AM Best financial strength rating, it sells quickly and simply online or by phone in nearly every state — but its complaint record runs heavier than you'd expect for a company its size, so set your service expectations accordingly.
Key facts
- Financial strength (AM Best)
- A+
- Complaint index (NAIC)
- 1.32 (2024)
- US market share (NAIC)
- 0.8% (2025)
- Sold in
- All 50 states and D.C.
- How you buy
- Online, Phone or independent agents
Good for
- Drivers with tickets, accidents or a coverage lapse
- Anyone who needs proof of insurance quickly
- Buyers who prefer online or phone over an office visit
- People rebuilding toward standard-market pricing
Watch out for
- More complaints than expected for its size
- Short coverage menu with few add-ons
- No safe-driving app or young-driver programme found
- Clean-record drivers will likely do better elsewhere
- Confirm availability in your state before relying on it
Who it's really for
The General is a non-standard auto insurer. That's an industry term for carriers that specialise in drivers the big household-name companies either decline or quote unattractively — those with recent tickets, an accident or two, an SR-22 requirement in the background, a lapse in coverage, or a thin or damaged credit file.
If you fall into that group, the value proposition is straightforward: coverage you can bind fast, usually with a modest amount due up front, without a lengthy underwriting conversation. If your record is clean and you've been continuously insured for years, you are almost certainly not this company's target customer and should shop the standard market first.
Coverage and how to buy
The lineup is the core of a personal auto policy rather than a long accessory menu:
- Liability (bodily injury and property damage)
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Roadside assistance
That's enough to satisfy state minimums and to carry full coverage on a financed car, but you won't find the deep bench of add-ons that larger standard carriers stack on.
You can quote and buy online or over the phone, and the company also works with agents, so a face-to-face or over-the-counter purchase is possible in some areas. Anyone can apply — there's no membership, employer or military affiliation requirement.
Discounts worth asking about
The discount list is short but practical for this market segment:
- Multiple vehicle — more than one car on the same policy
- Safety features — factory-installed safety equipment on your vehicle
- Recent or continuous insurance — proof you carried coverage within the six months before switching
- Driver training / defensive driving — completing an approved course
- Good student — for students keeping their grades up
- Paid in full — paying the six- or twelve-month term at once instead of in instalments
Two of these are worth planning around. The recent insurance credit rewards you for not letting coverage lapse, which is exactly the habit that moves a non-standard driver back toward standard pricing over time. And a defensive-driving course is something you can complete before you quote, not after.
No telematics or safe-driving app and no dedicated young-driver programme were found in our research, so if app-based discounts matter to you, look elsewhere.
Financial strength and service record
The General underwrites through companies affiliated with Sentry Insurance Group, a long-established carrier, and the group carries a rating from AM Best — the rating itself is shown alongside this review. Claims-paying ability is not the concern here.
The service record is the concern. Complaints filed with state insurance regulators run higher than you'd expect for a company of its size. That pattern is not unusual among non-standard insurers — this part of the market involves more cancellations, more payment-plan friction and more disputed claims by nature — but it's a real signal. Assume you may need to be persistent, keep your own records of payments and claim contacts, and know that your state insurance department will take a complaint if a matter stalls.
Availability
Coverage is sold essentially nationwide, across the states and the District of Columbia. The company's own marketing has at times described a smaller state count than its state-by-state listings show, so if you're in a less populous state, confirm availability at quote time rather than assuming either number is current.
Discounts The General lists
- Multiple Vehicle / Multi-Car — Insure more than one vehicle on the same policy.
- Safety Features — Drive a vehicle equipped with manufacturer safety features.
- Recent/Continuous Auto Insurance — Show you had auto insurance coverage within the last 6 months before switching.
- Driver Training / Defensive Driving — Complete a driver training or defensive driving course.
- Good Student — Be a student who maintains good grades.
- Paid in Full — Pay your 6- or 12-month policy premium in full instead of in installments.
Questions
Can I get covered if my insurance lapsed or I was cancelled?
Yes — that's the market The General specialises in. A lapse won't disqualify you, though carrying continuous coverage going forward can earn a discount and generally improves what you're offered at renewal and when you shop again.
Is The General financially sound?
It underwrites through companies tied to Sentry Insurance Group, which holds an AM Best financial strength rating. The specific rating is displayed next to this review and kept current from our database.
Does it offer full coverage, not just liability?
Yes. Collision and comprehensive are both available alongside liability, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist and roadside assistance — enough to satisfy a lender on a financed car.
Does it have an app that tracks my driving for a discount?
We found no evidence of a telematics or safe-driving app from The General. If usage-based discounts are a priority, compare against carriers that clearly advertise one.
Should I use The General if my driving record is clean?
Probably not as your first stop. Non-standard insurers price for higher-risk books of business; a clean record usually gets better treatment in the standard market. Compare both before deciding.
What should I do if a claim or billing issue stalls?
Keep written records of every payment and contact, escalate in writing, and if that fails, file a complaint with your state department of insurance — it's free and regulators track these.