Auto insurance · Updated August 2026
National General vs The General
National General and The General are different companies with no shared ownership: National General is part of Allstate, and The General is part of American Family. Both write non-standard auto. National General sells through independent agents and writes five lines, including motorcycle and RV; The General quotes direct online and writes only auto. Neither is reliably cheaper. For the same driver in the same state, either can return the lower number.
By Kevin Lee, licensed insurance agent · NPN 19669698
The short answer
National General writes five lines: auto, home, renters, motorcycle, and RV. It sells through independent agents, so one office can place several policies. AM Best rates it A+, a step above The General's A, and its DynamicDrive program can discount the premium for recorded driving. The tradeoff sits in the complaint record: its largest auto on the index, Integon National, drew 3.97 on the NAIC's 2025 figures, well above the median.
The General quotes direct on its site in minutes, an is a routine part of the flow, and down payments run low. It has written auto since 1963. The tradeoffs: it writes only auto, there is no telematics discount, and its underwriter drew 3.86 on the 2025 complaint index, effectively the same as National General's.
Both companies state by state, and non-standard prices swing further than standard ones. If you already work with an independent agent, National General is quoted through offices like that; if you would rather not involve one, The General's direct quote answers in one sitting.
About two minutes. No effect on your credit score.
Side by side
National General vs The General: the data sheet
Sources are listed under the measured figures. How we compare
National General | The General | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Drivers with mixed records, through independent agents | Drivers who need an SR-22, had a lapse, or are new to insurance |
| Who underwrites it | Integon group companies, part of Allstate | Permanent General Assurance Corp., part of American Family |
| Complaints per policyEffectively tied | 3.97 308 complaints on $1.6B written | 3.86 151 complaints on $822M written |
NAIC complaint index, 2025, private passenger auto · Integon National Ins. Co. vs Permanent General Assurance Corp. · 1.00 is the industry median | ||
| Financial strengthBoth strong; National General a step higher | A+ Superior | A Excellent |
AM Best financial strength rating · A++ is the highest issued | ||
| Coverage you can buyNational General, if you want to bundle | 5 lines auto, home, motorcycle, rv, renters | 1 line auto |
| PriceNot rated | Filed state by state, priced to the driver. The main factors are below. | |
| Mobile appEffectively tied | 4.81 41,980 ratings | 4.69 227,464 ratings |
Apple App Store, August 2026 | ||
| SR-22 filing | Yes | Yes |
| Telematics program | DynamicDrive | None |
| Availability | All 50 states and Washington, D.C. | 46 states and Washington, D.C. |
| Known for | Independent agents, RV and specialty lines | Low down payments, quotes in minutes, no prior insurance accepted |
In practice
Where they differ
They are different companies
The similar names are coincidence, not corporate relation. National General traces to 1939 and has been part of Allstate since 2021; its policies are written by Integon group companies. The General is the consumer brand of Permanent General Assurance Corporation, part of American Family Insurance Group since 2012, selling under that brand's flag since 1963. Complaints, ratings, and prices at one tell you nothing about the other.
How you buy them
National General sells through independent agents. The General quotes and sells direct on its site, and the whole flow runs in one sitting. The price comes from the same state rate filings either way.
Both complaint numbers sit above the median
On the 2025 NAIC figures, Integon National drew 3.97 and Permanent General drew 3.86 complaints against the expected rate for their size: effectively the same, and roughly four times the industry median. Part of that reflects the segment both serve: non-standard policies involve more and cancellations, which produce more disputes at any insurer.
Only one goes past auto
The General concentrates on auto, its specialty. National General adds home, renters, motorcycle, and RV, so an agent can place several policies with one carrier. For auto-only buyers, the difference doesn't apply.
Price
Which is cheaper: National General or The General?
Neither company is reliably cheaper. What sets the price:
The driver sets the range. In this segment, the record moves the price more than the carrier does. A DUI, a lapse, or an SR-22 requirement resets the range at both companies, and a national average predicts neither.
State by state, the lead trades. Both file rates with each state's regulator. National General writes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.; The General sells in 46 states and Washington, D.C. Where both write, either can return the lower number.
A telematics discount only counts if you enroll. National General's DynamicDrive can reduce the premium for recorded driving; The General offers no telematics program, so its filed rate is the whole story. Enrollment terms are set per state.
One application. Real prices from the carriers writing in your state.