The General Insurance vs. American Family Insurance

Yes, American Family has glass coverage for customers with comprehensive insurance. American Family customers can file a glass claim under their comprehensive coverage if their windshield was damaged due to something besides an accident, such as an animal, a weather event, or vandalism. If the windshield was damaged in a crash, drivers can file a claim with their collision insurance if they were at fault or with the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

Fixing a cracked or chipped windshield is important for safety reasons, since damaged windshields can obstruct a driver's vision and weaken the car's frame. But if the damage is minor, you might be able to have your windshield repaired rather than replaced. A general rule of thumb is that windshields can be repaired if there is a chip smaller than a quarter or a crack smaller than a dollar bill.

To encourage customers to drive safely, American Family waives the comprehensive deductible for windshield repairs. Several states also have specific laws about car insurance deductibles for windshield repairs and replacement.

State Laws on Deductibles for Glass Coverage

• Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for both windshield repair and replacement.

• Kentucky and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for all auto glass that you can see out of, not just the windshield.

• Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York require insurers to offer customers the option of a $0 glass deductible plan. This option is often referred to as full glass coverage.

If you don't live in one of these states, you will likely have to pay your comprehensive deductible in order for your windshield to be completely replaced. You can check with American Family if you're unclear about your policy details or your state's laws. For more information, check out WalletHub's guides to comprehensive and windshield insurance.

The General provides insurance to drivers who need SR-22 certification. Although high-risk insurance is often called “SR-22 insurance,” SR-22 is actually a form required by the state verifying that drivers with certain violations are carrying auto liability insurance. Some insurance companies will not insure these high-risk drivers.

The General sells SR-22 insurance, along with other types of policies, in all states except Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey. You can apply online or by calling (844) 328-0306. If you need an SR-22 form completed, a copy of the form will be included with your final policy documents. The General will file the form for you in most states, for the state fee of $15 - $25.

SR-22 insurance is likely to be pricey from any company. Insurers want to be paid for their added risk when they cover drivers with poor records. The premiums for a driver convicted of a DUI, for example, can rise 50% to 200%, depending on the insurer, state, driver's age, previous record, etc. The General is worth getting a quote from, because the company specializes in high-risk drivers and is highly rated for SR-22 policies. However, it's always a good idea to compare several quotes to get the best price possible for your needs.

SR-22 certification is usually mandatory for drivers who cause accidents while driving without insurance, are convicted of a DUI, have their license revoked or suspended, or get many tickets and/or traffic convictions in a short time period. You will need to keep your SR-22 current for 1-5 years, depending on the state. Your higher premiums will likely last at least three years. However, they can last seven or more, depending on the violation and your state's regulations.

The General offers non-owner car insurance for people who don't own a vehicle but still need liability protection. If you lose your license for a driving or insurance violation, you may need proof of insurance to get your license back, even if you don't own a car. Not all companies will insure you in this case. However, The General specializes in covering drivers with problems on their records.

The General's non-owner liability insurance doesn't cover injuries to you or your passengers, or damage to the car you are driving. It pays the victims for bodily injuries and property damage when an accident is your fault. If you regularly drive someone else's car, having your own liability policy will protect you financially. You also may want extra insurance if you use a car-sharing service like Zipcar. These services include insurance, but the coverage levels are relatively low.

Non-owner liability insurance from The General is cheap compared to collision or comprehensive coverage, which pay for damage to your car. The low cost makes non-owner insurance worth considering when you're between cars, too. Insurance companies don't like to see gaps in insurance They often react with higher premiums. Buying inexpensive non-owner liability insurance keeps your coverage continuous. This can save you money in the long run.

For a quote on non-owner car insurance from The General, call (844) 328-0306 or visit The General's website.

The General offers a roadside assistance plan that is administered by Nation Safe Drivers (NSD). This optional program provides 24/7 assistance for towing and other emergency services, such as battery service, fuel delivery and lock-out service. A 6-month plan costs $60 ($65 in California). A 12-month plan costs $120 ($125 in California).

To get help on the road any time, call dispatch services at 1-844-608-4726. Service is available 24/7 in the U.S. and Canada.

The General Roadside Assistance Coverage

Emergency towing

Your vehicle may be towed to the location of your choice. The maximum coverage is 15 miles or $50, beyond which you are responsible for the cost.

Emergency delivery

A service truck will deliver emergency supplies of gasoline, water, oil or other necessary fluids. You pay only the cost of the supplies.

Emergency battery service

A service technician will come to your car to jump-start your battery while you are on the road. This service also includes minor adjustments like tightening cables or cleaning battery connections.

Emergency road service

A service technician will make other minor adjustments to your vehicle, as needed to get you back on the road.

Roadside assistance through Nation Safe Drivers is not part of The General's insurance policy, but it is billed with your insurance premium, as a convenience to you.

Yes. The General Insurance is a good company. The General has been in business since 1963, and it currently has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as an average rating of 3.2/5 among user ratings on WalletHub. Its NAIC rating is 1.21, however, which means The General has received more complaints than the average car insurance provider its size.

Why The General Insurance Is A Good Company:

• In business since 1963
• A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
• 4.3/5 average among user ratings on WalletHub
• Available nationwide
• Affordable prices
• Easy to use website

The General Automobile Insurance Services, Inc., as it is officially known, is a licensed insurance agency and a subsidiary of PGC Holdings Corp., which is an affiliate of American Family Insurance. The General specializes in high-risk auto insurance policies but also offers renters insurance, life insurance and other types of coverage. Plus, you can bundle policies from The General for extra savings. You can get a free quote on a policy by contacting an agent with The General Insurance at 1-866-519-7422.

Finally, this doesn't make The General a good insurance company, but it's still a fun fact that former NBA basketball star Shaquille O'Neal is a spokesperson for them.

The General Insurance is a subsidiary of PGC Holdings Corp., which is owned by American Family. PGC Holdings Corp., which stands for Permanent General Companies, was purchased by American Family in 2012 for $239 million. However, The General is still maintained as a separate brand. The General specializes in insuring drivers who are considered high risk.

American Family Insurance was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. It operates as a private mutual holding company owned by its policyholders.

Although The General does not have renters insurance, its parent company does. The General was acquired in 2012 by American Family Insurance (AmFam). AmFam sells renters insurance for apartments, duplexes and single-family homes. AmFam renters insurance 1) covers losses of personal possessions from theft, fire, smoke, water, mold or weather damage, 2) pays additional living expenses if your rental becomes temporarily unlivable, and 3) protects you from liability costs if someone gets injured at your home.

AmFam renters insurance policies are often less than $15 a month. You can get a personalized quote on the AmFam website. The cost will vary depending on your location, type of residence, coverage limits and deductible amount. It also may be higher if you add personal property replacement cost coverage. This coverage pays you the replacement cost of lost personal property instead of the current value. For example, even if your old couch is only worth $50 today, replacement cost coverage will pay you enough to buy a new, comparable couch.

AmFam also offers add-on coverages that may be useful to renters. They include additional jewelry coverage, pet insurance and home-based business protection.

Yes, you can get cheap car insurance from The General. Car insurance from The General costs $2,312 per year on average, according to WalletHub's research. That's cheap compared to other nationwide car insurance companies, ranking 4th out of the 46 insurers WalletHub compared. However, it may not be the cheapest or best insurance for everyone. Since The General focuses on selling minimal coverage to high-risk drivers, the company offers fewer discounts and coverage options than mainstream insurance providers. In addition, they have higher-than-average complaint numbers. For these reasons, experienced drivers with clean records are likely to find better and cheaper insurance with other companies.

The General sells all the common types of coverage, including liability, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and comprehensive and collision. Their low-down-payment options will help if you're budget conscious. However, you won't get many options when it comes to discounts. They have a good-student discount, a non-court-mandated driver training discount, and a transfer discount for switching to The General from another company. Their military discount is very limited – it applies only to full-time active personnel based in Louisiana.

The bottom line is that it may be worth getting a quote from The General's website if you are a new driver or have violations or accidents on your record. It's always smart to shop around – so be sure to get quotes from other companies and compare.

The General Insurance offers an anonymous quote feature, which allows people to get a quote online without giving any personal information to the company. You won't be asked for your name, phone number, street address or email address. An anonymous quote from The General is based on information that you provide about your driving history, vehicle, etc.

The information you'll need to provide to get a quote from The General includes your zip code, age, gender, marital status, home ownership status, driving record, credit rating, vehicle type and annual mileage. You'll also enter some basic information about your previous policy. The General says it only takes 2 minutes to fill out their online form and get a quote. This is accurate.

As soon as you finish putting in your information, you get an instant quote. It assumes state minimum liability coverage, plus collision and comprehensive coverage if your vehicle is financed or leased. But you can customize your coverage right on the quote page. You also can compare The General's quote with quotes from other companies through links provided to their websites.

If you decide to purchase a policy, The General will collect personal information from you to complete your application. Overall, the quote and application processes are simple and quick, and you receive immediate proof of insurance.

The General does offer “full coverage” car insurance. Full coverage is not an official insurance term, but it's generally used to mean that a policy has more than just the liability coverage required by most states. The General has liability-only policies, which pay for damages to other people and property caused by a policyholder in an accident. They can also add collision and comprehensive insurance to build a reasonably priced full coverage policy for the high-risk drivers who are its target market.

Collision and comprehensive insurance protect your own car. The General's collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle if it flips over or collides with something. Comprehensive covers other kinds of damage, including losses caused by fire, theft, vandalism, weather events or contact with an animal.

Although both types of insurance are optional if you own your vehicle outright, The General requires drivers in most states to purchase them together. If your car is leased or financed, the lender will usually require collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their own financial interest in the car.

Despite having the basic policy options needed for full coverage, The General's menu is relatively limited compared to other major car insurance companies. For example, they don't offer guaranteed auto protection (GAP) insurance or mechanical breakdown coverage. For the full story, check out WalletHub's 2019 review of The General.

To get a quote for full coverage insurance from The General, call (844) 328-0306 or visit The General's website.