In the insurance industry, there is an uncomfortable truth that most carriers would rather not talk about: not every driver fits neatly into the “preferred risk” box. Maybe you had an at-fault accident two years ago. Maybe you let your coverage lapse for a few months during a job transition. Maybe you are a young driver with a thin record. Whatever the reason, millions of Americans struggle to find affordable auto insurance because most carriers only want to insure the easiest, lowest-risk drivers.
That is exactly why we love National General Insurance. They are one of the rare carriers that offers competitive rates across the full spectrum of driver profiles — from preferred-risk drivers with spotless records to those who need a second chance. And they do it all with an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating and the financial backing of Allstate, one of the largest insurance groups in the country.
1. They Say Yes When Others Say No
Let us be honest about how most insurance carriers work. They use sophisticated algorithms to identify the lowest-risk applicants, offer those people great rates, and either decline or significantly surcharge everyone else. If you do not fit the ideal profile — no claims, excellent credit, 10+ years of driving history, continuous coverage — your options narrow quickly.
National General takes a fundamentally different approach. They have built their business around serving a broader range of drivers. That includes:
- Drivers with prior at-fault accidents or moving violations
- Drivers with gaps in coverage history
- Young drivers with limited driving records
- Drivers with lower credit scores
- Drivers who need SR-22 filings
This does not mean National General is a “last resort” carrier. Far from it. They frequently offer competitive rates for standard and preferred-risk drivers as well. But their willingness to write a broader range of risks makes them an indispensable part of our carrier panel. When other carriers decline or quote an unreasonable premium, National General often steps in with a rate that actually makes sense.
2. Flexible Payment Options That Respect Your Budget
Insurance is not optional — you need it to legally drive in every state. But for many families, the financial logistics of paying for insurance can be challenging. A $1,200 annual premium sounds manageable until you realize the carrier wants $600 upfront as a down payment.
National General stands out for offering some of the most flexible payment plans in the industry. They offer low down payment options, monthly installment plans, and multiple billing configurations that allow clients to manage their premiums in a way that fits their cash flow. For budget-conscious clients — and that includes a lot of people — this flexibility can be the difference between having coverage and going without.
We have seen clients choose National General specifically because of their payment flexibility, even when another carrier offered a slightly lower annual premium. A rate that is $50 cheaper per year does not help if the down payment is twice as high and the monthly installments are less predictable.
3. Backed by Allstate’s Financial Strength
One concern people sometimes have with carriers that serve a broader range of risks is financial stability. If a company is insuring higher-risk drivers, can they actually pay claims when things go wrong? With National General, this concern is entirely put to rest.
In January 2021, Allstate acquired National General for approximately $4 billion. Allstate is one of the largest publicly traded personal lines insurers in the United States, with an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior). National General now benefits from Allstate’s capital reserves, claims infrastructure, and technology platform while maintaining its own brand identity and agent-focused distribution model.
For our clients, this means the best of both worlds: the personalized, flexible approach of National General combined with the financial muscle of a Fortune 100 insurance group. When you file a claim with National General, you are backed by one of the most financially stable insurance operations in the country.
4. A Truly Modern Digital Experience
National General has invested heavily in digital tools, and it shows. Their mobile app — available on both iOS and Android — lets policyholders handle nearly everything from their phone:
- Sign new policy documents electronically
- Access digital insurance ID cards
- Make payments and view payment history
- Enroll in paperless billing
- Renew or reinstate your policy
- File a claim
- Request roadside assistance
- View your coverage details, drivers, and vehicles
The app has earned a 4.67 out of 5 star rating on Google Play with over 550,000 downloads, which tells us that real users find it genuinely useful — not just a checkbox feature that carriers build and nobody uses.
For clients who prefer to manage things on a computer, the National General MyAccount portal offers the same functionality in a browser. There is also a Quick Pay option for making one-time payments without logging in.
5. Available in All 50 States
At Better Choice Insurance Group, we serve clients in Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, and Indiana. One of the challenges we face is that some carriers in our panel only write in certain states or have restrictions in others. National General writes auto insurance in all 50 states, which means they are always available as an option regardless of where our client is located.
This is particularly valuable for our Texas clients, where some of our other carriers have more limited appetites or less competitive pricing. National General tends to be very competitive in the Texas market, and their broad acceptance criteria mean we can usually find a solution even for drivers who have had difficulty elsewhere.
National General vs. Preferred-Only Carriers: A Comparison
| Feature | National General | Typical Preferred-Only Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best rating | A+ (Superior) | A to A++ (varies) |
| Driver profiles accepted | Preferred, standard, and non-standard | Preferred only |
| Prior accidents/violations | Accepted (with appropriate pricing) | Often declined or heavily surcharged |
| Coverage gaps accepted | Yes | Typically no |
| Payment flexibility | Low down payment, multiple options | Standard (pay-in-full or 2–pay preferred) |
| States available | All 50 states | Varies (often 20–40 states) |
| Mobile app | Full-featured (4.67 stars) | Varies |
| Financial backing | Allstate Corporation | Varies |
A Client Story: Finding Coverage After a Tough Year
One of the most rewarding parts of our job is helping people who feel like they have run out of options. A client came to us in early 2026 after receiving a non-renewal notice from their auto carrier. They had been involved in two at-fault accidents within 18 months — one a fender-bender, the other a more significant collision. Their existing carrier was dropping them, and the two other carriers they had called directly were quoting premiums that were nearly double what they had been paying.
We ran their profile through our full panel. As expected, several carriers either declined or came back with extremely high premiums. But National General quoted a rate that was reasonable — higher than what the client had been paying before the accidents, as expected, but about 30% less than the lowest quote they had found on their own. The policy included full coverage with 100/300 liability limits, comprehensive, and collision.
More importantly, we were able to set them up with a monthly payment plan that fit their budget. Within 12 months of clean driving, we had already started shopping their renewal and found that their rate with National General had come down significantly. The client stayed with National General for the renewal and is now paying close to what they were paying before the accidents.
That is the kind of outcome that makes National General invaluable in our carrier lineup. They gave our client a bridge back to affordable coverage during a difficult period, and the client’s loyalty to both National General and our agency was cemented in the process.
Who Is National General Best For?
While National General is competitive across many profiles, they tend to be the strongest fit for:
- Drivers with less-than-perfect records who need competitive rates despite prior accidents or violations
- Clients who need flexible payment options with low down payments and manageable monthly installments
- Young drivers building their insurance history for the first time
- Clients who have experienced coverage lapses and need a carrier that will not penalize them excessively
- Anyone shopping for auto insurance who wants to make sure they are seeing the full market, including carriers that serve a broader range of risks
Get a Quote From National General and 18+ Other Carriers
Here is why working with an independent agency like Better Choice matters: when you call us, we do not just check National General. We run your profile through every carrier in our panel — 22+ companies — and show you the options. If National General has the best rate for your situation, we will recommend them. If another carrier beats them, we will tell you that instead. You see the full picture and make the final call.
Get your free quote today or call us at (847) 908-5665. Whether you have a perfect driving record or a few bumps along the way, we will find you the best rate available. No judgment, no hassle, and no obligation.