How Rates Are Calculated
Each car insurance company uses a unique formula to determine your rate. However, they typically take the following factors into account when giving you a quote:
Your Credit
Score
Driving History
& Record
Daily Commute & Driving Distance
Car Make, Model, & Year
The General Automobile Insurance Services Inc. (The General), an insurance agency, writes auto insurance through affiliated companies and offers other lines of business through affiliated and unaffiliated partners. See legal disclosures for more information.
Product offerings, coverages, payment plans, discounts, and features are subject to verification and vary by state and program. Individual experience may vary. Rates and potential savings are subject to qualifications and vary by state and program.
*Average annual savings data based on information provided by customers surveyed countrywide in September 2020 and February 2021 who switched to The General and experienced savings.
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Car Insurance Discounts
The General works hard to help you save with a variety of discounts and savings plans. If you’ve had auto insurance within the last five years, multiple vehicle car insurance, or a vehicle with safety features, you may qualify for a discount.
Find Cheap Car Insurance
The General has an affordable policy for everyone, even high-risk drivers and drivers with less-than-perfect records. For over 60 years, we’ve provided quality insurance plans, low rates, and flexible payment options to keep you covered.
If you need a cheap insurance policy, get a free quote in under two minutes and see how much you can save with The General.
Learn More About Car Insurance
Car Insurance Options
Find the kinds of insurance coverage options available with The General.
How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes
Comparing car insurance quotes is the best way to find an affordable rate.
Don’t take our word for it. See what our customers are saying.
If you want to pay your auto insurance policy premium automatically every month, go right ahead. You can opt for a credit card, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex, or have the premium deducted from your bank account. Not only is auto pay a huge time-saver, but you know that your car insurance is paid.
Can payments for my car insurance be automatically charged to my credit card or withdrawn from my bank account each month?
What payment plans does The General offer?
At The General, making auto insurance affordable is our business. From the start, you’ll know the amount of your initial down payment and all subsequent monthly payments. That information comes along with your car insurance quote so you can make an informed decision. You can even pick your due date!
Can I make my monthly payments online?
Nothing is simpler than paying your auto insurance policy online. Just sign in to MyPolicy, our self-service site, then decide whether your payments are made via credit card or bank draft, and you're done. That's how easy it is.
With MyPolicy, you can see your policy online and make changes or renewals, or you can use our award-winning mobile app to perform these same tasks or to file a claim.
Do I get a discount if I pay my policy in full?
In most states, customers paying in full receive discounts. Where applicable, discounts are also offered to customers paying in full for both 6 and 12-month policies. Depending on the state, discounts may be available if you decide to pay quarterly.
No matter your decision, you know you are getting the best car insurance on the market. In most states, The General offers other discount opportunities, including multi-car discounts for insuring more than one vehicle, and a homeowner’s discount if you own your home. For the latter, it doesn’t matter who insures your home—you may still qualify for the discount.
Other discounts may include (not available in all states & subject to verification):
- Academic achievement discounts for full-time students
- Vehicles with factory-installed passive restraints
- Successful completion of a defensive driving course
There’s also a safe driver discount if you’ve had a clean driving record for 3-5 years. You might live in a state allowing a one-time Double Deductible discount. This doubles your deductible for the first 45 days after buying your policy.
Does marital status affect the cost of car insurance?
Some insurers offer auto insurance discounts for married couples as married people are considered lower-risk drivers. If you get divorced, you may end up paying more for coverage than a married person. However, The General makes it easy for divorced and single people to get cheap car insurance. Get a quote or talk to a Customer Service representative to see how your marital status will affect your coverage plan.
Do rates go up if I get a moving violation?
In many cases, insurance rates can increase after a moving violation or after an accident because you’re considered a higher risk than before. (Some states do not charge for the 1st moving violation or if the accident was under a certain amount, though.) Regardless, with The General’s discounts and affordable rates, you’ll be able to maintain your coverage, even with an imperfect driving record.
How can my teenager get cheap car insurance?
New teen drivers can benefit greatly from being added to their parents’ car insurance coverage. In addition, teenagers should take advantage of The General’s academic achievement discounts for even cheaper car insurance available in some states. Also, in some states, drivers holding learner’s permits may not require additional coverage and you’ll only be charged when they are fully licensed!
Payments and Payment Flexibility FAQs
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Get a Free Quote, Pay Online, Get Instant Proof of Insurance
If you have 2 minutes, get a free car insurance quote online. After realizing how affordable our car insurance policies are, go ahead and pay your premium online through the method you’ve chosen. Once you complete the process, you can even get immediate proof of insurance and get on the road the same day!
Other large national auto insurance companies offer many of the same benefits. The difference is they may not offer these options, if they offer coverage at all, for higher-risk drivers. At The General, you can opt for all the traditional coverage options no matter your risk level. That includes:
- Liability insurance
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist - bodily injury
We will make sure that your policy meets all minimum state requirements. If you want to buy more coverage for extra protection in case of an accident and to protect your hard-earned assets, we’ve got options! That’s what auto insurance is for: driver protection and peace of mind.
The General provides you with a cheap car insurance policy, but we do not skimp on service. Our clients receive the best in customer service, another factor setting us apart from competitors.
When you contact The General for your free auto insurance quote, you don’t need to supply any personal information. All that’s necessary is your ZIP Code and the type of car you plan to insure. Receive your quote in less than 2 minutes.
Once you find out how affordable our rates are, then go ahead and buy your car insurance online.
If you prefer, save the quote and come back to it later. We’re sure you’ll return because we offer great rates for higher-risk drivers. You’ll also like our low down payments.
Buying a policy is also quick and easy. The whole process is completed within 12 minutes.
Finding Cheap Car Insurance: What to Look For
Look for a car insurance company that provides affordable coverage without compromising on quality. While unbelievably low rates might look good on paper, you could lose money if you don’t have proper coverage during an accident.
The easiest way to choose between car insurance companies is by comparing quotes. Start by getting quoted from a minimum of three insurance companies to arrive at a ballpark figure. If one quote is significantly cheaper or pricier, determine the reason for the price difference.
