National General After a DUI: Where They'll Still Cover You

National General operates high-risk auto programs in 12 states where they actively compete for DUI drivers: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. In these markets, they file SR-22 certificates, write post-conviction policies, and maintain dedicated underwriting channels for drivers with violations. Outside these core states, National General still sells auto insurance, but through standard-risk programs that typically decline DUI applicants at the quote stage. You may receive a quote in Arizona or Nevada, but the underwriting system will reject the application once your MVR pulls and shows the conviction. The carrier operates in 40+ states — but writes DUI business in fewer than a third of them. This creates confusion because National General appears in quote aggregators nationwide, but only processes high-risk applications in their active SR-22 states. If you live in Colorado or Washington, a National General quote tool may generate a rate — then send a declination letter three days later once underwriting reviews your record.

National General accepts first-offense DUI drivers in their active states if the conviction is less than 3 years old, no accidents occurred during the incident, and your BAC measured below .15 at arrest. Drivers with BAC over .15, refusal charges, or DUI combined with an at-fault accident move into a higher-risk tier that National General only writes in California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia. The carrier requires SR-22 filing in all states where it's court-mandated. Filing fees run $15–$25 per year, added to your premium. National General files electronically with most state DMVs within 24 hours of policy binding, which matters if you're facing a tight reinstatement deadline. Second-offense DUI drivers face much narrower acceptance. National General writes second DUIs only in California, Florida, and Texas, and only if the second conviction occurred more than 5 years after the first. Drivers with two DUIs within a 5-year span typically need to move to non-standard carriers like Dairyland, The General, or SafeAuto.

A driver paying $110 per month before a DUI will typically see National General quotes in the $210–$290 per month range after conviction, depending on state, age, and vehicle. That reflects a 90–165% increase — within the normal post-DUI range, but not the cheapest option in most markets. National General often prices 15–25% higher than Dairyland or Progressive's non-standard division in the same state, but 20–40% lower than Bristol West or Acceptance Insurance. The carrier positions itself in the middle tier of the high-risk market: more selective than bottom-tier non-standard carriers, less expensive than standard carriers willing to write exceptions. Rates drop after your SR-22 period ends and the conviction ages past 3 years. National General re-underwrites your policy at each renewal, and most drivers see a 10–15% reduction at the first renewal after SR-22 filing is no longer required. Moving back to a standard carrier after 3–5 years typically saves another 30–50% compared to staying with National General long-term.

National General owns or partners with several non-standard carriers, and they route applications they won't write themselves to these sister programs. If your application is declined by National General's main underwriting system, you may automatically receive a counter-offer from Integon National Insurance or Permanent General Assurance — both part of the same corporate family. This referral happens most often in states where National General operates but doesn't maintain a dedicated high-risk program: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington. You apply to National General, the system declines you based on the DUI, then generates a quote from Integon or Permanent General within the same workflow. The counter-offer rate is usually 10–20% higher than the original National General quote would have been, because the sister carrier assumes higher risk. You're not required to accept it — this is simply National General's way of keeping your business within their corporate structure rather than losing you to a competitor. Compare the counter-offer against Dairyland, The General, and Progressive before binding.

If you hold a National General policy in Ohio and then relocate to Oregon, the carrier will non-renew your policy at the next renewal date. National General does not transfer high-risk policies out of their active SR-22 states. You'll receive a non-renewal notice 30–60 days before your policy expires, giving you time to find a new carrier in your destination state. This creates a compliance gap risk if you're still within your SR-22 filing period. The SR-22 certificate filed in Ohio terminates when your policy cancels, and your new state may require a new SR-22 filing even if the original violation occurred in Ohio. Check your new state's SR-22 transfer rules before you move — some states require continuous filing regardless of state changes, others reset the clock. If you're moving to another National General active state — say from Florida to Texas — the carrier may allow a policy transfer, but you'll be re-underwritten at Texas rates and Texas SR-22 requirements. Rates can shift significantly even within the National General system depending on where you land.

1. Confirm your state appears in National General's active SR-22 program list above. If you're in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia, request a quote directly. If you're outside these states, you'll likely receive a declination or a referral to a sister carrier — plan to quote Dairyland, The General, and Progressive simultaneously. 2. Request SR-22 filing at the quote stage, not after the policy binds. National General's quoting system adjusts pricing based on SR-22 status, and adding it post-sale can trigger re-underwriting. If your court order or DMV letter specifies SR-22, disclose it in the first question set. 3. Compare at least three carriers before binding. National General's rates are competitive in some states and overpriced in others. Get quotes from Dairyland and Progressive's non-standard division in the same week — post-DUI rates fluctuate enough that a 10-day delay can shift which carrier prices lowest. 4. Track your SR-22 termination date from the day your policy starts, not from your conviction date. Most states require 3 years of continuous SR-22 filing. If you switch carriers mid-period, the new carrier must file a new SR-22 certificate or your clock resets in some states. Verify this with your DMV before changing policies.