How do I file a claim with National General Insurance?

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You can file a claim online through the National General Claims Portal or by calling their 24/7 hotline at 1-800-468-3466.

Filing Methods

  • By Phone: Call 1-800-468-3466 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to speak with a representative.
  • Online: Log into your account or submit details directly via the National General Report a Claim page.

Information Needed

  • Your policy number or policy card
  • Date, time, and location (or landmarks) of the incident
  • Contact and insurance details of any other drivers involved
  • Photos of the damage or scene, if available
  • Police report number and officer details (if authorities were called)

What not to say when filing an insurance claim?

Never admit fault, apologize, or downplay your injuries when speaking to an insurance company after an accident.

Every word you share with an adjuster can be used to minimize or deny your payout. Protect your claim by avoiding these common statements and actions.

Statements to Avoid

  • "I'm sorry" or "It was my fault": An apology acts as an admission of liability and can be used to reduce your compensation under comparative fault laws.
  • "I'm fine" or "I'm not hurt": Adrenaline can mask serious injuries like whiplash. Saying you are fine early on makes it difficult to claim medical costs later.
  • Guessing or speculating: Avoid guessing vehicle speeds, distances, or the timing of lights. If you do not know an answer, say "I don't know" rather than guessing.
  • "I think" or "Maybe": Using uncertain language damages your credibility when facts are later scrutinized.
  • Agreeing to a recorded statement: You are rarely required to give an immediate recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Adjusters use these to trap you in inconsistencies.

Actions and Disclosures to Avoid

  • Oversharing medical history: Do not grant broad access to your past medical records, which insurers use to blame pre-existing conditions for your current pain.
  • Accepting quick settlement offers: Early offers are usually lowball amounts before full medical treatments or property damage costs are known.
  • Posting on social media: Insurers monitor your digital footprint. Photos, activity updates, or rants about the crash can contradict your injury claims.

Safe Communication Tips

  • Stick strictly to the basic facts: date, time, location, and basic vehicle info.
  • Report the incident promptly, but defer detailed or speculative discussions.
  • Consider letting legal counsel handle further conversations with the adjuster.

Is National General good with claims?

National General has a mixed-to-poor reputation when it comes to handling claims, with many customer complaints centering on slow communication, low settlement offers, and delayed payouts.

Claims Reputation and Ratings

  • Customer Complaints: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index for National General is above average at 3.17, indicating a higher-than-average volume of customer grievances relative to its size.
  • Industry Scores: Independent review platforms like The Zebra note that while National General's digital tools make filing easy, customer satisfaction for complex claims ranks in the bottom tier.
  • Financial Stability: Despite customer service friction, National General (an Allstate company) holds an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best, meaning the company has the financial backing to pay valid claims.

Common Customer Complaints

  • Communication Delays: Policyholders frequently report difficulty reaching assigned adjusters, unreturned phone calls or emails, and prolonged investigations.
  • Lowball Offers: There is a consensus on platforms like Reddit that the insurer often undervalues total-loss vehicle claims or repair estimates.
  • Non-Standard Focus: Because National General often targets non-standard or higher-risk drivers, its low-cost model is accompanied by a more restrictive and frustrating claims environment compared to top-tier preferred carriers like USAA or Erie.

How long does it take for a National General to process a claim?

Processing a claim with National General Insurance generally takes anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days or longer, depending on the complexity of the claim.

General Timeframes

  • Initial Response/Estimate: For simple claims or virtual photo estimates (using features like MyClaimPics), an initial review or estimate is often provided within 24 hours.
  • Standard Resolution: Straightforward claims typically take a few days to a week to process and approve.
  • Complex Settlements: More involved claims—such as those with severe property damage, injuries, or disputes over fault—frequently take 30 days to six weeks or longer to fully settle.

Factors Affecting Speed

  • Type of Claim: Glass or roadside assistance claims resolve much faster than major accidents or disaster claims.
  • Completeness of Information: Having police reports, photos, and contact info ready when filing speeds up the review.
  • Customer Feedback: Opinions are mixed on forums; some users on Reddit report that communication can be slow and requires persistence, while standard processing times depend heavily on the individual adjuster.

You can start a claim online through the National General Claims Portal or call their 24/7 line at 1-800-468-3466.

What insurance company is National General under?

National General is a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation.

Allstate acquired National General in January 2021.

Key Details

  • Parent Company: The Allstate Corporation
  • Products Offered: Auto, home, RV, motorcycle, and commercial vehicle insurance
  • How Policies are Sold: Through a network of independent agents and directly to consumers
  • Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

How to file a car insurance claim with National General

9 related questions found

What's the biggest mistake people often make when dealing with an insurance claim?

The biggest mistake people often make when dealing with an insurance claim is giving too much information too soon—such as providing a recorded statement or casually saying "I'm fine" to an adjuster. Insurance adjusters often call quickly to get statements that they can use to lower or deny your payout.

Other Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Admitting Fault Prematurely: Saying "I'm sorry" or guessing about what happened at the scene can be twisted into an admission of liability before all facts are known.
  • Accepting the First Offer: The initial settlement check is usually a low-ball offer meant to close the case cheaply before you realize the true cost of repairs or medical bills.
  • Delaying Medical Care or Filing: Waiting too days to see a doctor or report the incident gives insurers an opening to argue your injuries or damages didn't happen during the event.
  • Poor Documentation: Failing to take photos, keep receipts, or track medical visits makes it hard to prove the real value of your claim.
  • Posting on Social Media: Sharing photos or details online gives the insurance company evidence to claim you are less injured or damaged than you state.

Which insurance company has the worst reputation?

Allstate frequently tops lists from legal experts, consumer advocates, and industry surveys as having one of the worst reputations in the insurance industry.

Commonly Cited Companies with Poor Reputations

Legal professionals and customer satisfaction rankings (such as J.D. Power's Property Claims survey data) frequently single out a few major carriers for slow payouts, low settlement offers, or high complaint volumes:

  • Allstate: Often ranked number one on lists of worst insurers due to aggressive "deny, delay, defend" tactics, heavy reliance on internal software to undervalue claims, and low customer satisfaction scores in property claims.
  • Liberty Mutual: Frequently criticized by personal injury lawyers and policyholders for low auto and home settlement offers, high rates of claim disputes, and frequent policy non-renewals.
  • State Farm: Nationally recognized for using strict denial or delay tactics, particularly misclassifying wind or flood damage on property claims to avoid payouts.
  • Unum: Noted primarily in disability insurance for a long-standing reputation of unfairly delaying or denying valid long-term claims.
  • Farmers Insurance: Criticized for incentivizing adjusters to meet low payout goals and utilizing restrictive policy adjustments.

Why These Reputations Exist

  • Deny, Delay, Defend: Insurers sometimes use internal software calculators to slash medical or property repair estimates far below actual market costs.
  • Profit Incentives: Critics and lawsuits have alleged that certain large carriers tie adjuster bonuses or performance metrics to minimizing payout totals.
  • Market Withdrawals: Massive rate hikes and sudden policy cancellations in high-risk disaster states (like California and Florida) have sharply damaged public perception for carriers like Allstate, State Farm, and Farmers.

Which insurance denies the most claims?

Oscar Health denied 25.3% of in-network claims in 2024, representing the highest denial rate among major national ACA marketplace health insurers.

Health Insurance Denial Rates

  • Oscar Health: Denied 25.3% of marketplace claims.
  • Molina Healthcare: Denied 22% of claims.
  • Ambetter (Celtic): Denied 21% of claims.
  • UnitedHealthcare: Denied 20% of claims (down from 33% the previous year).
  • Kaiser Permanente: Recorded the lowest national rate at approximately 6%.

Homeowners and Auto Insurance Denial Rates

  • Allstate and USAA: Frequently flagged by public reports and consumer data for closing roughly 40% to 50% of property and homeowners claims without payment in high-risk regions.
  • State Farm: Reported home insurance denial rates exceeding 41% to 59% in catastrophe-heavy markets like Florida.

What is the lawsuit against National General Insurance?

National General Insurance faces several notable lawsuits, most prominently a certified class-action lawsuit in California regarding denied auto claims and a civil enforcement action by the New York Attorney General over data breaches.

1. California Class-Action Lawsuit (Bad Faith Claims)

  • The Case: Cobos v. National General Insurance Co.
  • The Issue: A California Court of Appeal officially certified a class-action lawsuit against National General Insurance Company and Integon National Insurance Company representing over 1,000 policyholders.
  • The Allegations: Plaintiffs accuse National General of utilizing a deceptive or flawed digital application process to retroactively deny auto accident claims and cancel policies. The company claimed customers failed to disclose household members over 14 years old, even though applicants alleged the automated digital system blocked or confused them from properly entering that data.

2. New York Attorney General Data Security Lawsuit

  • The Case: State of New York v. National General and Allstate Insurance
  • The Issue: New York AG Letitia James sued National General and its parent company, Allstate, over cybersecurity failures.
  • The Allegations: The state alleges the companies failed to protect sensitive consumer data, misrepresented their security measures, and neglected to properly notify consumers of cyberattacks. Hackers exploited vulnerabilities in online quoting tools in 2020 and 2021, exposing plain-text driver's license numbers and private data belonging to over 165,000 New Yorkers.

3. Historical and Federal Actions

  • Force-Placed Insurance (FIRREA Complaint): The U.S. Department of Justice previously filed a civil complaint against National General under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), alleging the company erroneously force-placed unnecessary Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) on vehicles financed through Wells Fargo despite borrowers already carrying active coverage.

Can I file a claim online with National General Insurance?

Yes, you can file a claim online with National General Insurance.

How to File Online

  • Go to the official National General Claims Portal to start your claim.
  • Log into your account or follow the prompts to report the incident.
  • Provide details across the steps (such as policyholder information, loss information, and other party details) and submit.

Alternative Contact Methods

  • Phone: Call 1-800-468-3466 (available 24/7).
  • Special numbers: For policy numbers beginning with INT60 or IM, call 1-800-848-1777; for flood claims, call 1-888-598-0296.