Independent consumer file. Not The General. Not Sentry.
Their claims line 1-800-280-1466BETTER COVERAGE
Do not quote The General. Not first, and not after someone else declines you. The complaint file is the reason. Quote the carriers below, bind the replacement before you cancel anything you already have, and keep the confirmation. Several complaints in this file are about a balance that appeared after the exit.
1
Start with the biggest names: State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, and Allstate.
2
If they decline you, quote Progressive and GEICO the same day. Never The General.
3
Compare liability limits, not just the down payment. The cheap bill is often less coverage.
The largest U.S. auto groups by premium, from NAIC’s 2025 figures. State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, and Allstate write more than half the market. Big is not a claims trophy. Quote them anyway. Never The General.
The largest U.S. auto insurer by premium, about 19% of the market in NAIC’s 2025 figures. Fourth in the 2026 J.D. Power shopping study (674) and a top-10 claims score (715). Sold in every state.
A local agent model. Some high-risk drivers will be declined or priced out. Size is not the same as the cheapest bill.
Get a quoteSecond-largest auto insurer, essentially tied with State Farm near 19% of premiums. The practical shop for lapses, SR-22, and recent violations. A Trustpilot reviewer who left The General said the switch saved about $500 a year.
2026 J.D. Power claims score was 665, below the study average. Compare the bind price and read the declarations page.
Get a quoteNational, online, and third by market share, about 12%. WalletHub counted far more discount programs than The General. Worth a quote even with tickets.
2026 J.D. Power claims score was 693, a hair under the 700 average. Not a claims champion.
Get a quoteFourth-largest auto insurer, about 10% of U.S. premiums. A national agent-and-online book people already know by name. Quote it with the same limits as the others.
A famous name is not a claims grade. Read the declarations page before you bind, and do not treat a low down payment as full coverage.
Get a quoteFifth by market share, about 6%, and consistently at the top of claims-satisfaction surveys for members. Military, veterans, and eligible family only.
If you are not eligible, skip it. J.D. Power often excludes it from official rank because it is not open to the public.
Get a quoteSixth-largest group, about 3.6% of premiums. Sold through local agents in most states, and a name that belongs on a three-quote list.
Appetite depends on the state and the record. Get a bind quote, not the ad price.
Get a quoteSeventh-largest, about 2.8% of premiums. National, with an online quote and a long discount list. Safeco, its sister brand, is not listed separately.
A big carrier can still price a rough record out of reach. If the quote is ugly, move to the next name the same day.
Get a quoteEighth by premium, about 1.9%. Led J.D. Power’s 2026 New York satisfaction region and scored 708 on the 2026 claims study, just above the average.
Not the cheapest nonstandard market. Useful when a standard carrier will take the risk.
Get a quoteAuto Club groups (AAA) are next, about 1.9% of national premiums. The quote comes from your local club, not one national policy.
You need the club that serves your ZIP code. Membership rules vary. If the club does not write your state, skip it.
Get a quoteTenth by premium, about 1.5%, and fourth in the 2026 claims study at 736 in the states it serves.
Regional footprint. Do not confuse American Family the carrier with The General’s older ownership headlines. The General’s own site now describes itself as a Sentry subsidiary.
Get a quoteStill one of the household national names, just outside the top 10 by premium. Second in the 2026 shopping study (715) and second in the 2026 claims study (743).
Price and appetite still depend on the state and the driving record. Get the bind quote, not the teaser.
Get a quoteRecent J.D. Power shopping and claims studies. These carriers are not all available in every state, and several will decline a rough record.
No. 1 in J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study at 719, and a regional satisfaction leader in the Mid-Atlantic, North Central, and Southeast.
Not sold nationwide. If Erie does not write your ZIP code, it is not an option.
Get a quoteTop of J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study at 775, ahead of a 700 study average. Also a New England satisfaction leader.
Mutual company with tighter underwriting. A high-risk record can be a no.
Get a quoteFifth in the 2026 shopping study (672). Independent-agent carrier with a long reputation in the states where it operates.
Regional. You buy through an agent, not a single national app.
Get a quoteSixth in the 2026 claims study at 731. Often a fit for AARP-eligible drivers rather than the nonstandard market The General targets.
Not a rescue policy for a recent DUI. Use it if you are in the eligible book.
Get a quote2026 J.D. Power regional satisfaction leaders. A national ranking is the wrong tool if you live in their state.
Second in J.D. Power’s 2026 Mid-Atlantic satisfaction table (699), just behind Erie.
New Jersey and a short list of nearby states. Eligibility is narrow.
Get a quoteLed J.D. Power’s 2026 Central region satisfaction study.
Central states only, sold through local agents.
Get a quoteLed the California region in J.D. Power’s 2026 auto insurance study.
A California decision, not a national one.
Get a quoteLed the Florida region in the 2026 J.D. Power satisfaction study. Florida is also the only region where The General itself showed up, at 628 against a 635 regional average in the prior study WSJ cited.
Florida only. Farm Bureau membership rules may apply.
Get a quote