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Carrier Partner
The 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 The General is really built for, how SR-22 filing works, real cost data, and how it stacks up against Progressive, Bristol West, and National General so you can make an informed decision.
The General Strengths
The General Limitations
The General is a non-standard specialist first and a full-coverage carrier second. According to Insurance.com and NerdWallet 2026 rate data, its average full-coverage premium runs about $360 per month versus roughly $193 per month nationally, and its minimum-liability premium runs about $105 per month versus roughly $52 per month nationally. Its core strength is liability and SR-22 compliance; collision and comprehensive availability depends more heavily on your state than it does with standard carriers. Here is what a 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 Filing | Certificate of financial responsibility filed with your state's DMV | Filed on request, most states |
| Non-Owner SR-22 | SR-22 filing for drivers who need one but do not own a vehicle | Available on request |
| 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 |
Add-on coverages that standard carriers advertise, such as rental reimbursement or roadside assistance, are not consistently available on The General policies in every state. Confirm the exact coverage menu for your ZIP code with your agent before you bind.
The General is not trying to be everyone's insurer, and it should not be. It is a non-standard specialist built for drivers that standard carriers decline or surcharge heavily. The brand has operated since 1963 and is now owned by Sentry Insurance, which acquired it from American Family Insurance in September 2024 for about 1.7 billion dollars, according to Insurance Journal's reporting on the deal. That corporate stability is exactly why its A+ (Superior) AM Best rating holds up: The General can pay claims reliably 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, The General deserves a spot on your shortlist, but it is rarely the only carrier that will say yes. Most drivers who qualify for The General also qualify for Progressive, Bristol West, or National General, and the cheapest of those four changes from week to week. For the full breakdown of costs, ratings, and complaint data behind this review, see our in-depth The General Auto Insurance Review.
SR-22 or FR-44 Required
The General files SR-22 certificates in most states, including non-owner SR-22 for drivers who need a filing but do not own a car.
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.
New or Young Driver
Writes thin-file and teen drivers that standard carriers frequently price out of reach.
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 The 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 guide on cheap auto insurance in Pennsylvania.
हामी नेपाली बोल्छौं. We speak Nepali.
These carriers are all in Dragon Insurance's network and all compete for the same non-standard and SR-22 drivers The 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The General | DUI, coverage lapse, no prior insurance, non-owner SR-22 | Yes | A+ (Superior) AM Best rating; fast to quote and issue; claims service scores below industry average. |
| Progressive | Broad non-standard appetite, multi-vehicle households | Yes | Strong digital tools (Snapshot telematics); often competitive after a single violation. |
| Bristol West | Tickets, DUI history, prior coverage lapses | Yes | Flexible payment plans built for surcharged drivers. |
| National General | Rebuilding after a lapse, low-mileage drivers | Yes | Files SR-22 readily; strong for drivers coming back from a coverage gap. |
Rates and appetite for non-standard risk change frequently and vary by state. The carrier that wins for your exact profile today may not be the same one in six months, which is why we re-quote at every renewal.
An SR-22 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 The General or one of its non-standard competitors is the right fit.
1
Tell Us Your Situation
SR-22, 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
The General, Progressive, Bristol West, and National General 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 The General against 30+ other carriers, including Progressive, Bristol West, and National General, in one call, so you never overpay for coverage just because you were declined somewhere else. If The 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.
The 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, DUI, or lapse coverage. Its claims service scores below industry average, so we recommend comparing it against other non-standard carriers rather than treating it as a default choice.
The General specializes in high-risk drivers, and high-risk drivers cost more to insure everywhere. Per Insurance.com and NerdWallet 2026 data, its full-coverage premium runs about 86 percent above the national average. The low down payment you see advertised lowers the upfront cost, not the total premium. Shopping it against other non-standard carriers is the best way to lower your rate.
The General is owned by Sentry Insurance, which acquired it from American Family Insurance in September 2024 for about 1.7 billion dollars, per Insurance Journal. Policies are underwritten by its Permanent General group of companies. The brand has operated since 1963.
Yes, including non-owner SR-22 for drivers without a vehicle. An SR-22 is a form your insurer files with the state DMV, not a separate policy. Progressive, Bristol West, and National General also file SR-22s, so The General is not your only option for a filing.
In most states, yes, like most auto insurers. If thin or no U.S. credit history is hurting your rate, a common issue for recent immigrants, ask us about carriers on our panel that weigh credit less heavily.
Yes, that is exactly what it is built for: DUIs, multiple tickets, at-fault accidents, lapses, and SR-22 requirements. Being approved is not the same as getting the best price, so compare a few non-standard carriers before you bind.
Yes. Dragon Insurance quotes and binds The General at the same price as going direct. We compare it alongside Progressive, Bristol West, and National General in one call so you see who actually wins for your profile.
Progressive (broad appetite, strong digital tools), Bristol West (flexible on tickets and lapses), and National General (strong for rebuilding after a gap) are the top alternatives we quote. The best one depends on your record, vehicle, and state.
Coverage We Compare With The General
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