The General: Now Selling Non-Standard Auto Insurance in 34 States
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PGAC (Permanent General Assurance Corporation) is the large parent company which manages The General and its affiliates. In some areas, the company may also be known as PGC (Permanent General Corporation), or simply Permanent General.
The General Insurance Review
The General’s ratings are a little bit mixed. Their financial strength looks pretty solid – AM Best has given them a high rating of A-, meaning that they should have the finances available to pay out on claims filed. Whether they are willing to do so, however, is a different story entirely. Many customer complaints on independent ratings websites like Consumer Affairs express disapproval with how confusing The General’s claims settlement process can be. Despite all of this, though, they still have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
| Ratings Agency | Rating |
| A.M. Best (2016) | A– |
| BBB (2016) | A+ |
| Consumer Affairs (2016) | 1 out of 5 stars |
| Credit Karma (2016) | 1 out of 5 stars |
The General Insurance Discounts
Because The General is a non-standard insurance provider, you might find a lack of offerings when it comes to discounts. On the company’s website, they are reluctant to divulge detailed information about specific discounts; on the other hand, this may have something to do with how laws and regulations on insurance policies vary by state:
| Discount | Maximum % Savings |
| Homeowners | 5% |
| Multi-Car | 18% |
| Paid-in-Full | 5% |
| Quarterly Payment | 3% |
| Accident Prevention Course | 10% |
| Daytime Running Lamp | 3% |
| VIN Etching | 5% |
| Anti-Lock Brake | 5% |
| Passive Restraint Discount | 5% |
| Anti-Theft | 5% |
The General Auto Insurance Options
In keeping with the fact that The General offers affordable policies to non-standard drivers, most of the policies they issue will be closer to the minimalist side of the spectrum than the full-coverage side. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get comprehensive protection from The General if you ask for it. You may even be able to find a policy for a leased vehicle (which generally require higher and more comprehensive coverage options). At the very least, you can look forward to:
- “Liability Only” (state minimum mandatory) Coverage
- SR-22 Insurance
- Collision
- Comprehensive
Comparing The General Insurance Quotes
When comparing insurance quotes, analyzing data from different demographics within the same company can help you figure out what to expect from them, cost-wise:
It still appears as though The General, like a mainstream insurance provider, likes to give their lowest rates to drivers who have the lowest risk profile (such as experienced drivers and/or homeowners). However, looking at the total numbers shows that for young female drivers, the price hike might not be quite so high. Surprisingly, despite The General’s advertising claims, drivers with accidents on their record are still charged some of the highest rates.
Pros and Cons of The General Insurance
| Pros | Cons |
| Non-standard insurance provider with decades of experience in the market | Might not be the cheapest non-standard insurance provider in your area |
| Strong financial stability rating and A+ from the BBB | multiple negative customer service reviews from independent ratings websites like Consumer Affairs and Credit Karma |
| Comparably affordable rates for Teenage motorists (whom are often charged more) |
If you have to shop around for non-standard insurance due to circumstances in your life, shopping for an affordable auto policy is even more confusing than it would be for the average driver. While The General is an experienced and financially strong provider of non-standard insurance, certain drivers in specific areas might not be in for the low rate The General’s commercials promise. And even if they are lucky enough to get a low premium, when it comes time to file a claim, you might need to work a little harder than most to make sure The General comes through for you.
Regardless, the non-standard market is limited when it comes to having a variety of providers to choose from. If The General operates in your area, and you are in specific need of a non-standard policy, it might be beneficial to include them on your short list of companies for comparison shopping. You can learn more about getting fast, free insurance quotes online by putting your zip code into our quote generator.
Corporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 305054
Nashville, TN 37230-5054
www.thegeneral.com
Phone: 615-242-1961
Fax: 615-366-1718