National General Auto Insurance

National General Auto Insurance Review

National General Insurance, formerly owned by General Motors, came directly from the automotive industry and is now part of Allstate. Previously GMAC Insurance, it rebranded as National General Insurance and has historically promoted substantial discounts for GM‑affiliated customers. Separately, GM maintains recognition programs for vehicle buyers, including Military Appreciation, First Responder, Educator, and College offers that require verification and an authorization number.

National General may not provide the best auto insurance coverage for everyone. As of late 2025, it does not publicly advertise a consumer rideshare endorsement for Uber or Lyft drivers; within its parent company, Allstate offers a rideshare add‑on in many states (details). Independent roundups of rideshare insurers likewise omit National General, suggesting limited availability directly through NatGen (overview). Customer service scores across auto insurance have generally declined since 2019 amid higher premiums and longer repair times, and a formal claims service satisfaction guarantee by itself has not shown industry‑wide evidence of lifting scores in benchmarks like J.D. Power’s Auto Claims and Auto Insurance studies. Still, if customer service is a high priority for you, it may be worth looking at companies with a better track record.

The Claim

National General Insurance claims that “getting a lower rate on your car insurance doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the level of protection and service you get for yourself, your family, and your vehicles.”

Is it true?

Kind of.

National General Insurance offers nationwide coverage with common add‑ons like roadside assistance, and it guarantees customer satisfaction for claim service. That guarantee typically means waiving up to $250 of your deductible after an unsatisfactory claims experience, which may not offset issues on larger losses. More importantly, independent research indicates that operational execution — cycle time, proactive communication, fair settlements, and strong repair networks — drives higher satisfaction, not the presence of a guarantee alone (J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims).

Pricing is also mixed. Across recent national datasets, National General tends to price higher than the cheapest large carriers for clean‑driver profiles, while it can be mid‑pack or competitive for higher‑risk drivers (accidents, DUIs, SR‑22, or credit challenges) (The Zebra 2025; NerdWallet 2025; Bankrate). State regulator tools show a similar pattern in places like Texas and Florida (Texas OPIC; Florida OIR). However, robust discount programs — safe‑driver, multi‑policy, multi‑vehicle, low‑mileage, and telematics/usage‑based options — can still lower a quote if you’re eligible.

Product Overview

• In business since: Founded as Security Life and Trust Company; later GMAC Insurance; now National General Insurance (an Allstate company)
• A.M. Best financial strength rating: See A.M. Best for the current FSR and outlook
• Moody’s financial strength rating: See Moody’s for current IFS rating/status
• S&P Global financial strength rating: See S&P Global Ratings for current IFS rating/status
• J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (industry trend): Overall claims satisfaction remains below pre‑pandemic levels; see 2024 study
• States served: 50
• Pros: Wide range of common discounts; 24/7 claims and a limited claims service satisfaction guarantee; access to Allstate family resources
• Cons: No consumer‑advertised rideshare endorsement; mixed customer satisfaction; rates can be higher than top low‑cost competitors for clean drivers

Features

Lots of discount programs

As with all kinds of insurance, your premium depends on your age, your location, and more, and recent years have seen steep market‑wide rate increases. For clean‑driver profiles, National General’s quotes often start higher than the cheapest large carriers, but the company offers many ways to bring a price down: safe‑driver, multi‑vehicle, multi‑policy, low‑mileage, paid‑in‑full, and usage‑based/telematics programs where available. Telematics can help price based on actual driving and has become more mainstream as shoppers seek savings (trends). While none of the discounts are entirely unique, stacking the ones you qualify for can materially lower your rate.

Affinity discounts

National General Insurance has historic ties to General Motors and has marketed affinity savings for GM‑affiliated customers and OnStar subscribers in the past; availability and eligibility can vary by state and program, so confirm current options with an agent. Separately, GM maintains recognition programs for vehicle buyers — including Military Appreciation, First Responder, Educator, and College — which require verification and an authorization number.

Guaranteed satisfaction for claims service

After receiving many complaints of slow customer service, National General Insurance is in the process of improving its claims service. It claims that its representatives are now “experienced, friendly, and always available.” For simple, low‑severity claims, fast decisions and payouts are possible — sometimes within minutes to hours with instant digital disbursements — but repair‑involved auto claims commonly take weeks due to parts, labor, and shop backlogs (J.D. Power 2024; CCC Crash Course 2024; instant payouts). It even offers a guarantee for satisfactory claims service: If you’re not satisfied, National General Insurance will waive your deductible up to $250 (not applicable in Washington State). While this commitment to improvement is promising, we recommend considering National General’s and the broader industry’s recent satisfaction pressures when deciding whether this insurer is the right fit for you.

Possible drawbacks

Limited ride-share coverage

While National General provides many of the standard auto insurance coverage options, it does not publicly advertise a consumer rideshare endorsement for drivers who use their vehicles for services like Uber and Lyft as of late 2025. Within the Allstate family, Allstate’s Ride for Hire endorsement is available in many states, and other major carriers — including State Farm, Progressive, and GEICO — market rideshare solutions in numerous markets (overview). If you drive for a TNC, confirm exactly which periods are covered by your personal policy versus the TNC before you drive.

Poor history of customer satisfaction

Since National General Insurance was established as a brand, the company has faced customer‑service challenges. In J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study and U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, overall industry satisfaction has trended lower since 2019 due to higher prices and longer repair times. If excellent customer service and claims support are important to you, we would recommend requesting quotes from industry leaders Amica or ERIE.

The Competition

*Customer complaints are registered by the NAIC and measured relative to the company’s market share.

National General Auto Insurance FAQ

What do I need to get an auto insurance quote from National General Insurance?

You can get a quote online in minutes from National General. You just need some basic information on hand to make the process as quick and easy as possible: your current auto insurance policy, the driver’s license number for each person you plan to list on your policy, your vehicle’s VIN number, and the lienholder’s name and address if the vehicle is leased or financed.

How can I get the lowest auto insurance rates possible?

To get the lowest rates possible, start by reviewing the discounts available from National General Insurance. If you’ve enrolled in all of the discount programs that apply to you but you’d still like your monthly rate to be lower, you have two options: choose higher deductibles and/or lower coverage limits. Just know that these options will result in you paying more out of pocket if you need to file a claim. Consider enrolling in a usage‑based/telematics program if offered, as shoppers report higher satisfaction when these programs deliver real savings in today’s high‑price environment (J.D. Power 2024). Remember not to cut back on the coverage you need just to save a little money each month — it’s much more important to have adequate coverage than to find the lowest possible price.

Will my premium go up if I’m in an accident?

An accident doesn’t automatically mean your premium will go up, but it could. National General Insurance considers several factors before deciding whether or not an accident warrants a premium increase. It will look at your claims history to see if you’ve made previous claims, the cause of the accident to see if you were at fault, and the severity of the claim to see how much damage was done.

The Bottom Line

National General’s auto insurance can fit certain shoppers — especially higher‑risk drivers and those who can stack multiple discounts — but many drivers will find better overall value and service elsewhere. The company does not publicly advertise a rideshare endorsement, and independent benchmarks show customer satisfaction pressure across the industry since 2019. Given pricing variation by state and risk tier and NatGen’s tendency to price above the lowest‑cost large carriers for clean drivers, it’s wise to compare quotes from several insurers (including those with explicit rideshare options if you drive for a TNC) before making your decision.

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