Which general insurance is best?
The best general (auto and property) insurance company depends on your specific profile, but Travelers and GEICO rank highest overall for balancing cost, coverage, and customer satisfaction.
Because insurance needs vary by region and driver history—especially under California's liability rules requiring 30/60/15 coverage—top providers serve different strengths:
🚙 Top Auto & Property Options
- ✅ Travelers
- Best Overall: High customer satisfaction and competitive baseline rates.
- Average Rate: ~$1,843 annually nationally.
- Key Advantage: Excellent bundling and gap insurance options.
- ✅ GEICO
- Best for Savings: Extensive discount availability and customizable policies.
- Average Rate: ~$1,925 annually nationally.
- Key Advantage: Strong digital tools and roadside assistance.
- ✅ USAA
- Best for Military: Top-tier customer scores and low rates.
- Average Rate: ~$1,491 annually nationally.
- Restriction: Limited strictly to military, veterans, and families.
- ✅ Mercury Insurance
- Best Regional (CA): Strong local availability in Southern California.
- Average Rate: ~$2,310 annually in California.
- Key Advantage: Accommodates high-risk driving records.
Which is the best general insurance?
There is no single "best" general or auto insurance company, but Amica Mutual is widely rated as the best overall provider for customer satisfaction and claims handling, while Travelers leads in overall value and coverage options.
Because insurance needs vary by budget, driver profile, and location, different companies excel in specific categories:
Top-Rated Insurance Providers
- Best Overall: Amica Mutual – Top marks for smooth claims and customer service, though rates can be higher than average.
- Best Overall Value / Coverage: Travelers – Excellent balance of affordable average rates ($1,843/year) and deep policy customization.
- Best for Military & Veterans: USAA – Lowest average rates ($1,491/year) and highest satisfaction scores, restricted to the military community.
- Best for Discounts & Apps: GEICO – Strong mobile tools and low minimum-coverage rates.
- Best for Safe Drivers / Usage-Based Plans: Nationwide – Robust telematics programs like SmartRide that reward good driving habits.
Is general insurance a good insurance?
The General Insurance is a good choice primarily for high-risk drivers who have a history of accidents, traffic violations, or need an SR-22 form, but it generally receives below-average marks for customer satisfaction and has higher-than-average complaint rates.
Pros of The General Insurance
- High-Risk Specialization: It accepts drivers with a poor driving record, DUIs, or lapsed coverage who may struggle to find policies elsewhere.
- Financial Stability: It holds an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior), meaning it has strong financial backing and a reliable ability to pay out claims.
- SR-22 Support: It provides SR-22 filing assistance in most states for drivers required to prove financial responsibility.
Cons of The General Insurance
- Higher Costs: Rates tend to run higher than average compared to standard insurance providers, especially if you have a clean driving record.
- Poor Customer Service Scores: Industry metrics like J.D. Power and the NAIC complaint index show customer satisfaction ratings below industry norms and higher-than-average complaint volumes.
- Limited Bundling: The company focuses almost exclusively on auto insurance, meaning you cannot easily bundle home and auto policies for multi-policy discounts.
What's the worst auto insurance company?
There is no single "worst" auto insurance company, but major carriers like Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive frequently rank poorly in customer satisfaction and claim-handling reviews.
Major Insurers with Frequent Complaints
- Allstate: Often criticized by consumer advocates and attorneys for using strict claim-evaluation software (like Colossus) that can delay or lower payout offers.
- Liberty Mutual: Frequently scores low in consumer satisfaction surveys due to high rates of disputed claims and sudden rate increases.
- Progressive: Regularly cited by customers and repair shops for lowball vehicle damage evaluations and pushing for cheaper or repaired parts over replacements.
- State Farm: While massive in market share, it often lands in lower consumer tiers for aggressive claim-denial strategies.
Budget and Regional Insurers to Watch
- Low-Cost Non-Standard Insurers: Companies like Ocean Harbor, Direct General, and United Auto often rank lowest among personal injury attorneys because they offer very cheap rates but aggressively deny or contest valid claims.
- Bottom-Scoring Regional Brands: In annual satisfaction studies like J.D. Power's Auto Insurance Shopping Study, brands like Safeco and Mercury routinely score at the bottom.
Is The General better than progressive?
Yes, Progressive is generally better than The General for most drivers due to lower average rates, more discounts, and higher customer satisfaction.
📊 Company Comparison
| Feature | ✅ Progressive | ⚠️ The General |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | Higher (3.9/5 stars) | Lower (2.3/5 stars) |
| Average Cost | Generally cheaper | More expensive |
| Target Driver | Standard & safe drivers | High-risk / non-standard drivers |
| Discounts | Many options (Snapshot, bundling) | Limited upfront options |
✅ Why Choose Progressive
- Lower rates for drivers with clean or standard records.
- More discounts like safe-driver tracking and bundling.
- Better service scores with fewer NAIC complaints.
⚠️ Why Choose The General
- Specialized coverage for high-risk drivers (DUIs, tickets, lapses).
- SR-22 filings offered easily for troubled records.
- Acceptance when standard insurers reject you.
The BEST General Insurance Life & Health Study Guide | Pass The Test Effortlessly!
Is Geico or The General better?
GEICO is generally better than The General for drivers with clean records and good credit because it offers significantly lower average rates and far more discounts.
Cost and Savings
- GEICO: Tends to be much cheaper for standard and low-risk drivers, averaging around $71 to $856 per year for minimum coverage depending on the state.
- The General: Usually features higher premiums because it specializes in non-standard, high-risk insurance. Minimum coverage averages over $2,100 per year.
- Discounts: GEICO provides nearly 30 discount options, while The General offers around six.
Driver Profiles
- Choose GEICO if: You have a clean driving record, a solid credit score, and want an affordable policy managed mostly online or through the GEICO Car Insurance Review platform.
- Choose The General if: You have a history of accidents, a poor credit score, or need an SR-22 form and other standard insurers have turned you away. As community members on Reddit note, drivers with clean records should generally avoid The General due to its higher costs.
Is The General good at paying claims?
The General is financially strong enough to pay valid claims, but customers often report mixed or frustrating experiences with its claims-handling process.
Financial Strength
- AM Best Rating: The General holds an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), meaning it has the proper financial backing and stability to pay out valid policy claims.
- payout statistics: The General closed about 40.6% of its claims with no payment, which sits slightly below the industry average of roughly 46%.
Customer and Industry Feedback
- Industry Ratings: Independent industry evaluators like CRASH Network have given the company low marks (such as a D- grade) for overall claims-handling performance.
- Customer Complaints: Consumer reviews on platforms like WalletHub and Insurify show that while many drivers secure necessary coverage or SR-22 filings, others report slow communication, delayed payouts, and difficult customer service during the claims process.
- User Sentiment: On social groups like Facebook, user opinions on claims and service are mixed, with some reporting smooth totaled-vehicle payouts and others facing significant delays.
Who is the top 5 insurance company?
The top 5 property and casualty insurance companies in the U.S. by market share are State Farm, Progressive, Berkshire Hathaway, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual.
Top 5 Property & Casualty Insurers
- State Farm: The largest property and casualty and auto insurer in the U.S., holding roughly 10.4% market share.
- Progressive: A major auto and property insurer accounting for about 7.3% market share.
- Berkshire Hathaway: Parent company of GEICO and numerous reinsurance operations, holding about 6.0% market share.
- Allstate: A leading personal lines insurer representing about 5.3% market share.
- Liberty Mutual: A massive global property and casualty provider with roughly 4.1% market share.
(Note: Rankings can differ if measuring health insurance, where giants like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health/Aetna lead, or life insurance, where companies like Northwestern Mutual and MetLife rank near the top.)
What company owns general insurance?
The General Insurance is owned by Sentry Insurance.
Ownership Details
- Current Owner: Sentry Insurance acquired The General from American Family Insurance in a deal finalized on January 1, 2025, for a total transaction value of $1.7 billion.
- Previous Owner: American Family Insurance owned the company from 2012 until the 2025 Sentry acquisition.
- Operations: The General operates as a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance alongside Sentry's other non-standard auto insurance brand, Dairyland.
(Note: If you were instead referring to National General Insurance, that company is owned by Allstate.)
What car insurance to avoid?
Avoid "fly-by-night" ultra-budget insurers, carriers with persistent consumer complaint trends regarding delayed payouts, and stripped-down policy coverages that leave you financially exposed.
Companies and Categories to Avoid
- Fly-by-Night Budget Insurers: Companies like Fred Loya, BlueFire, and Mendota often feature very low upfront prices. However, personal injury attorneys and consumer reports note they frequently suffer from understaffed claims departments, poor communication, and automatic policy cancellations or lapses.
- Carriers with High Complaint Volumes: Major firms like Allstate and Liberty Mutual frequently appear at the bottom of consumer satisfaction indexes and draw criticism from legal professionals for utilizing aggressive claims-adjustment software or low settlement offers.
- Insurers Flagged for Slow Processing: National General, Safeco, and Farmers also surface in consumer data and regional studies for lower customer trust and slower payout communication.
Coverages to Avoid (or Reconsider)
- State-Minimum Liability Only: Choosing the absolute lowest legal limits saves money upfront but leaves you personally responsible if you cause a serious crash with expensive medical bills or property damage.
- Skipping Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: Skipping this protection means you have no recourse for medical or repair costs if an at-fault driver has no insurance.
- High Collision Deductibles on Low-Value Cars: If your car is worth less than $3,000 to $5,000, paying for collision or comprehensive coverage often costs more than the vehicle is worth.