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Carrier Partner
National General is one of the 30+ carriers Dragon Insurance compares for high-risk and non-standard auto insurance in Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky. This review covers who National General is really built for, its SR-22 and FR-44 filing process, verified cost and complaint data, and how it stacks up against The General and Bristol West so you can make an informed decision.
National General Strengths
National General Limitations
National General is a non-standard specialist first, built around drivers that standard carriers decline or surcharge heavily. According to NerdWallet's 2026 rate analysis, its average full-coverage premium runs about $215 per month, or $2,575 per year, versus a national average of about $2,320 per year. Its Custom360 program lets you personalize a policy in Signature or Elite tiers with add-ons like new-vehicle replacement and deductible credits for claim-free years. Here is what a National General policy can include.
| Coverage | What It Covers | Standard or Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Bodily injury and property damage you cause to others | Standard (required by law) |
| SR-22 / FR-44 Filing | Certificate of financial responsibility filed with your state's DMV | Filed on request, all 50 states |
| Collision | Damage to your vehicle after a crash with another vehicle or object | Optional, varies by state |
| Comprehensive | Theft, fire, vandalism, weather, hitting an animal | Optional, varies by state |
| Custom360 Add-Ons | New vehicle replacement, deductible credits, rideshare coverage | Optional, tiered enrollment |
| Gold Medal Repair Guarantee | Lifetime repair guarantee when you use a network shop | Included with covered repairs |
Nationally, National General also underwrites RV, motorcycle, and classic car policies. Dragon Insurance's placement with National General in our seven states is focused on personal auto; confirm current specialty-line availability with your agent.
National General traces back to 1920 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and rebranded to its current name in 2013. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate, which closed a roughly 4 billion dollar acquisition on January 4, 2021, according to SEC filings and AM Best News coverage of the deal. National General continues to operate and sell under its own brand, and it directly manages most of its auto, home, RV, and specialty policies; Allstate's underwriting role is limited mainly to National General's health insurance products. Allstate itself is not on Dragon Insurance's carrier panel.
That corporate backing is exactly why National General's A+ (Superior) AM Best rating holds up even though it insures a riskier pool of drivers than most carriers will touch. If you fall into one of the situations to the right, National General deserves a spot on your shortlist, but it is rarely the only carrier that will say yes. Most drivers who qualify for National General also qualify for The General or Bristol West, and the cheapest of those three changes from renewal to renewal.
SR-22 or FR-44 Required
National General files SR-22 and FR-44 certificates in all 50 states, including after a DUI or other major violation.
DUI or Major Violation
Continues to quote drivers that standard carriers non-renew after a DUI or reckless driving conviction.
Coverage Lapse or No Prior Insurance
Does not require continuous prior coverage, which standard carriers often use to surcharge or decline applicants.
Wants Repair Guarantees
The Gold Medal network backs comprehensive and collision repairs for the lifetime of the vehicle.
Multiple Tickets or At-Fault Claims
Built for the surcharged tier where standard pricing no longer applies.
New to the U.S.? You may be classified "high-risk" without ever having an accident.
This is one of the most common and most expensive surprises we see in the Nepali and Bhutanese community. A driver arrives with a clean, decades-long record from home, but U.S. insurers cannot read a foreign driving history and most have no U.S. credit file to score. With no domestic record and thin credit, the system can default you into the non-standard tier that carriers like National General serve, even though you have never filed a claim in your life.
Some carriers on Dragon's panel weigh thin credit far less harshly than others, and we re-shop your policy after 6 to 12 months of U.S. driving history to move you into standard rates as soon as you qualify. For more on building affordable coverage as a new driver, see our guides on cheap auto insurance in Pennsylvania and our insurance guide for new immigrants.
हामी नेपाली बोल्छौं. We speak Nepali.
These three carriers are all in Dragon Insurance's network and all compete for the same non-standard and SR-22 drivers National General targets. None of them is universally cheapest. Here is how they stack up for the profiles we quote most in PA, TX, VA, MD, OH, TN, and KY.
| Carrier | Strongest For | SR-22 Filing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National General | Repair guarantees, customizable Custom360 tiers, 50-state availability | Yes (SR-22 & FR-44) | A+ (Superior) AM Best rating; owned by Allstate but sold as an independent brand; claims service scores below industry average. |
| The General | DUI, coverage lapse, no prior insurance, non-owner SR-22 | Yes | A+ (Superior) AM Best rating; fast to quote and issue. |
| Bristol West | Tickets, DUI history, prior coverage lapses | Yes | Flexible payment plans built for surcharged drivers. |
National General is an Allstate subsidiary but is sold and serviced as an independent brand with its own pricing and claims handling. Allstate is not a carrier Dragon Insurance sells, quotes, or compares. Rates and appetite for non-standard risk change frequently, which is why we re-quote at every renewal.
An SR-22 or FR-44 is not a separate insurance policy. It is a certificate your insurer files with the state DMV to confirm you carry at least the state's minimum required liability coverage. Here is how we handle it when National General or one of its non-standard competitors is the right fit.
1
Tell Us Your Situation
SR-22, FR-44, DUI, a lapse, tickets, a new driver, or new to the country. Nothing you say disqualifies you from a quote.
2
We Quote the Market
National General, The General, and Bristol West are compared with identical coverage and limits so you see an apples-to-apples number.
3
We File With the State
Once you choose a carrier, we handle the DMV paperwork directly so you stay compliant without chasing forms yourself.
4
We Re-Shop You Later
Most SR-22 requirements end after three years. We set a reminder to move you back into standard-market rates the moment you qualify.
Dragon Insurance is an independent agency based in Camp Hill, PA. We compare National General against 30+ other carriers, including The General and Bristol West, in one call, so you never overpay for coverage just because you were declined somewhere else. If National General wins for your profile, we write it. If another non-standard carrier beats it, we show you that too.
We serve high-risk and standard drivers in Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, Camp Hill, York, Lancaster, Allentown), Texas (Arlington, Fort Worth, Irving), Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Most SR-22 and non-standard quotes are ready the same day. Call 717-229-5115 or start a quote online.
National General holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, so it is financially strong and can reliably pay claims. It is a solid fit for high-risk drivers who need SR-22 or FR-44 filing or a policy after being declined elsewhere. Its NAIC complaint index and J.D. Power claims scores run well below industry average, so we recommend comparing it against other non-standard carriers rather than treating it as a default choice.
National General is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate, which closed a roughly 4 billion dollar acquisition on January 4, 2021, per SEC filings. National General still operates under its own brand and directly manages most of its auto, home, RV, and specialty policies. Allstate is not a carrier Dragon Insurance sells or compares.
Yes, including SR-22 and FR-44 filings after a DUI or other major violation, which many standard carriers won't provide. An SR-22 or FR-44 is a form your insurer files with the state DMV, not a separate policy.
National General specializes in high-risk drivers, and that pool costs more to insure everywhere. Per NerdWallet's 2026 rate analysis, it averages about 215 dollars a month for full coverage versus a national average near 2,320 dollars a year. Comparing it against other non-standard carriers is the best way to lower your rate.
Yes, that is exactly what it is built for: DUIs, multiple tickets, at-fault accidents, lapses, and SR-22 or FR-44 requirements in all 50 states. Being approved isn't the same as getting the best price, so compare a few non-standard carriers before you bind.
Claims can be reported 24/7 by phone, email, chat, or mail, and the Gold Medal repair guarantee covers lifetime repairs at network shops. Independent scoring is weak, though: a D+ CRASH Network grade (91st of 97 insurers) and a bottom-of-the-list finish in J.D. Power's 2025 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
Yes. Dragon Insurance quotes and binds National General at the same price as going direct. We compare it alongside The General and Bristol West in one call so you see who actually wins for your profile.
The General (fast to quote, similarly strong AM Best rating) and Bristol West (flexible on tickets and lapses) are the top alternatives we quote. The best one depends on your record, vehicle, and state.
Coverage We Compare With National General
Auto Insurance
National General is one of several non-standard carriers we quote alongside standard-market options.
Learn more
Motorcycle Insurance
High-risk riders often need the same SR-22 and non-standard comparison.
Learn more
The General Insurance Review
Compare another non-standard specialist for DUI, lapse, and SR-22 needs.
Learn more
All Carrier Partners
See all 30+ carriers we compare for your quote.
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