The General built its entire brand around accepting drivers other insurers turn down, and it explicitly accepts SR-22 drivers as a core part of that business. The tradeoff, based on independent reviews, is price: WalletHub's analysis puts the average SR-22 policy at around $1,253 a year — roughly 6% above what the same driver would pay without the SR-22 flag — and AutoInsurance.com's 2026 review found The General's average for an at-fault-accident driver running $4,332 a year, well above the $3,156 national average for the same profile.
What The General Actually Does Well
Breadth of acceptance is the real product here. If you've already been declined by a standard insurer, The General's whole model is built to say yes anyway, and it explicitly includes SR-22 filing as part of that. The General's own site is upfront about the filing fee mechanics: "you should expect to pay about $25 in fees when filing the SR-22 form," and the company folds that into the policy rather than treating it as a hidden add-on.
Where Independent Reviews Push Back
Two separate sources flag the same underlying issue from different angles. Dragon Insurance Services' 2026 review states The General "costs significantly more than the national average, and that surprises people who know it from the 'low down payment' advertising" — the advertising sells accessibility, not necessarily the lowest price. WalletHub's own customer review section includes a specific complaint: a driver reported an SR-22 bond "over $200" a month despite describing their driving record as "not bad," a reminder that acceptance-first pricing can mean paying a premium for flexibility rather than for cost.
Non-Owner Pricing
If you don't own a vehicle, ValuePenguin's comparison shows The General's non-owner SR-22 average at around $1,004 a year — notably below the $2,628 figure the same analysis attributes to its owner-policy equivalent. If your situation genuinely fits a non-owner policy, the gap here is real enough to be worth asking about specifically rather than defaulting to an owner quote.
Who This Actually Fits
The General makes the most sense if you've already been declined elsewhere, or if you know your specific violation makes you a harder case to place. If your record is relatively clean aside from a single straightforward violation, it's worth quoting at least one other high-risk specialist alongside The General — the acceptance-first model isn't always the cheapest path for a lower-severity case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The General a good option for SR-22 insurance?
It's a strong option if you've been declined elsewhere and need broad acceptance, but independent reviews consistently note it's not necessarily the cheapest — get at least one comparison quote before committing.
How much does The General charge for SR-22 filing?
The filing fee itself runs around $25, per the company's own site, folded into the policy cost rather than charged separately.
Does The General offer non-owner SR-22 policies?
Yes, and independent data suggests non-owner pricing (around $1,004/year per ValuePenguin) runs meaningfully below owner-policy pricing for the same violation profile.
Why do some reviews describe The General as expensive?
Because its acceptance-first business model means it takes on drivers other insurers decline, and that risk gets priced into premiums — several independent reviews note rates running above the national average for higher-risk profiles specifically.
Is The General available in every state?
No — availability varies by state, so confirm directly with the company or a quote tool whether it operates in your state before assuming it's an option.
