Is National General Auto Insurance Good for New York Drivers?
Last Updated on October 2, 2021
As a New York driver, you have so many car insurance providers to choose from. It can be difficult to narrow down which insurance providers are going to be the best fit for you. National General offers car insurance in New York and throughout the United States. In this article, we’ll take a look at National General’s car insurance offerings for New York drivers.
About National General
National General was founded in 1920 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They were initially called Integon, and eventually merged with GMAC Insurance Group in 1997. In the late 1960s, National General started focusing on high-risk drivers, which is something they still do today. In 2020, Allstate announced that they were acquiring National General. They completed the transaction at the beginning of 2021, although National General still sells their own insurance policies. In addition to car insurance, they also sell home insurance and RV insurance.
| National General Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Address | 5630 University Pkwy Winston Salem, NC 27105 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-325-1088 |
| Email Address | service@ngic.com |
| Website URL | https://nationalgeneral.com/ |
What Types of Car Insurance Does National General Offer?
National General offers all of the standard car insurance coverage types, including those legally required by the state of New York. This includes both bodily injury and property liability coverage, as well as personal injury protection and un/underinsured motorist. You can add on to your policy with comprehensive, collision, medical payments, or accidental death and dismemberment coverage. These aren’t required by law in New York, but give you extra coverage and peace of mind if you are to get into an accident.
When compared with other insurers, National General doesn’t offer too many unique types of coverage. However, you will find that they offer a roadside assistance program, which covers things like towing, gasoline delivery, and locksmith services. They also offer emergency assistance in some situations, which can cover the cost of food and lodging if you are unexpectedly stranded. They also offer an auto protection plan, which can cover unexpected repair costs that are unrelated to collisions or other claims. Finally, they offer Mexico car insurance, which covers you if you need to drive to Mexico and get into an accident.
National General does offer car insurance to people who may not otherwise be able to get one. This includes people who have DUIs or other serious accidents on their record, as well as those who require an SR-22. SR-22 certificates essentially prove to the government that you are carrying the minimum car insurance coverage required by law.
Does National General Offer Discounts?
National General has a fairly robust selection of discounts. Many of these are standard discounts, such as discounts for insuring multiple vehicles or combining a home and auto policy. They also have discounts for people who pay in full, use auto-pay, or switch to paperless billing. In New York, drivers who take a defensive driving course can also receive a discount.
National General has a relationship with General Motors, which means they offer some discounts in connection to them. If you are a GM employee or work at a dealership connected to GM, you could qualify for a discount. National General also offers a low mileage discount through GM’s OnStar program. This can help drivers who use their car infrequently save money.
Additionally, National General has a smartphone app called SmartDrive. This app monitors things like speeds and braking to get an idea of your driving habits. Safe driving habits can help you, giving you a discount on your insurance. However, unsafe driving could actually lead to rate increases, so it’s important to be extra careful if you use this feature.
When signing up for any car insurance policy, it’s always important to ask your agent which discounts they offer. You might be surprised by what could save you money on your insurance.
What Are National General’s Rates Like?
While National General claims to offer low rates, data from ValuePenguin indicates that their rates are actually much higher than other large national insurance companies. While there isn’t any data available about rates in New York specifically, their quotes seem to be relatively high across a variety of demographics. Their rates for young drivers are particularly high, but even older drivers will pay more with National General than they would with many other insurers.
What Is National General’s Customer Service Like?
National General’s customer service does not get good reviews from their users. Their customer complaints have been consistently higher than average for several years in a row. JD Power and other customer satisfaction surveys for National General have also indicated that people aren’t happy with their customer service.
However, National General is a financially stable company. They currently have an A- rating from AM Best, a company that rates the financial status of insurers and other financial organizations. While this isn’t their highest rating, it does indicate that National General will be able to pay their claims, regardless of the current economic climate.
National General does allow you to manage many aspects of your policy online. You can request a quote on their website or by calling their toll-free number. They also have an online directory that you can use to find an agent. Once you have a policy set up, you can use their website to pay your bills and file claims. While they do use a mobile app for their SmartDrive program, they don’t have a mobile app that you can use to file claims on the go.
The company also offers SmartServices, which are designed to help you if you are involved in an accident or need to file a claim. This includes roadside assistance as well as transportation services and a rental car valet if your car is damaged in an accident. They also have an inspection service, which covers necessary inspections for repairs, as well as a service that can help you find a new car after yours has been in an accident.
Final Thoughts on National General
National General does have some interesting features, but it likely isn’t the best choice for most New York drivers. There are many other insurance companies that offer the same coverage for a much lower price point. National General’s customer service ratings also leave something to be desired. However, it may be worth getting a quote from National General along with many other insurance companies to compare your options. If you happen to qualify for many of their discounts, you could get an affordable policy from them.
