National General homeowners insurance

Overview

National General is the brand Allstate uses to sell insurance through independent agents, the agencies that represent several companies rather than one. Allstate bought National General Holdings Corp. for $4 billion in a deal that closed on January 4, 2021, which Allstate said advanced its strategy of growing personal lines; at the time National General worked with about 42,300 independent agents. National General now says it has more than 55,000. It sells auto, homeowners, condo, renters, flood, umbrella and RV coverage, and its policies are underwritten by National General Group carriers based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

National General is not ranked on its own. Its premiums are counted in the Allstate Insurance Group, which ranked #2 among U.S. homeowners insurance groups by 2025 direct premiums written, with $17.77 billion (9.40% of the national market), according to NAIC market share data. Within that total, National General is the independent-agent channel, while Allstate-brand policies go through Allstate's own exclusive agents and online.

If you hold a National General homeowners policy, the company on your declarations page may not say "National General." Its underwriting companies include National General Insurance Company, Integon National Insurance Company, MIC General, Century National, Tower Select, Preserver, Massachusetts Homeland and York Insurance Company of Maine, among others: names that came with businesses National General absorbed over the years.

History

National General says its insurance roots go back to 1920 and the early days of the automobile, and auto insurance still dominates: when Allstate closed the purchase, auto made up about 60% of National General's premium, with a large presence in nonstandard auto. Homeowners insurance was the smaller line.

The purchase expanded Allstate's independent-agent business. Allstate had long sold mainly through its own exclusive agents, alongside an older independent-agent brand, Encompass. Encompass still has its own website, promoting its EncompassOne package policy (one agent, one premium and one deductible for home and auto), and National General's site links to it. Allstate's 2025 annual report describes "growing National General by expanding product offerings and independent agency relationships" as part of its growth strategy, and says it now distributes through about 58,700 independent agent locations.

Homeowners coverage

National General's homeowners policies are sold and quoted through independent agents, and its site also offers online quotes for home, condo and renters. Allstate's 10-K says its Custom360 standard and preferred auto and homeowners products, built on Allstate analytics and rating plans adapted for the independent-agent channel, were offered in 36 states as of December 31, 2025.

The coverage features National General highlights:

• guaranteed replacement cost and extended replacement cost. Guaranteed replacement cost rebuilds the home after a total loss even if the cost runs past the dwelling limit; extended replacement cost adds a percentage above the limit. Say your dwelling limit is $400,000 and a fire destroys the house when local rebuilding costs have jumped to $470,000: guaranteed replacement cost pays the full rebuild, while a 25% extension (up to $500,000) would also cover it but a 10% extension would leave $30,000 uncovered.
• Green Upgrade, up to $50,000 of coverage to rebuild with environmentally friendly materials (see green rebuilding and eco-upgrade endorsements).
• Valuables, including jewelry, watches, furs, watercraft and trailers, and a Private Collections endorsement that covers collectibles either item by item on a schedule (insured for an appraised amount, with no deductible on claims) or under a blanket limit.
• Identity theft, with the free Identity Theft 911 recovery service and optional identity theft expense reimbursement of up to $15,000.

National General also offers two kinds of flood coverage: NFIP policies and its own Beyond Floods private flood policy, which National General describes as more extensive coverage, including payment for living elsewhere while the home is repaired. Beyond Floods is admitted in New Jersey and Florida and written on an excess and surplus lines basis in about 30 other states. See Private flood insurance vs the NFIP before choosing. Coverage and limits vary by state and underwriting company; your declarations page and policy forms control.

Discounts and savings

National General says it offers discounts and credits on homeowners policies but does not list them by name on its site; the agent quotes them. Common credits to ask any insurer about include a multi-policy discount for pairing home with auto, protective devices, a newer or renovated home, and paperless or paid-in-full billing. Because an independent agent can quote several carriers, compare the total premium after discounts rather than the discount list.

Where it sells and recent market moves

National General is licensed broadly and sells through agents across the country, but homeowners availability depends on the state, the product line and the underwriting company. The Custom360 product's footprint (36 states at the end of 2025) is the clearest published figure for where its newer home product is available. Its site carries a notice about help for agents and customers affected by wildfire in California. Allstate's own pullbacks, such as no new Allstate-brand homeowners business in California since 2022, are covered in the Allstate profile; ask your agent whether National General is writing new home policies at your address.

Claims

Report a claim 24/7 by phone: National General's contact and catastrophe pages list 800-468-3466, and its claims page lists 888-325-1190 for National General Claims Service. You can also report a claim online at claims.nationalgeneral.com or email [email protected]. After a catastrophe, a member of the National Catastrophe Claims Team contacts you, a claims representative arranges an inspection and estimate, and the adjuster explains the settlement. Have your policy number ready. If you bought the policy through another company's agency, such as GEICO, which places home business with National General's companies, use the claims number printed on your declarations page.

Ratings and reputation

National General says its companies are rated A+ by AM Best. On September 2, 2026 AM Best affirmed the A+ (Superior) financial strength rating of the members of the Allstate Insurance Group with a stable outlook, and also affirmed the "a-" issuer credit rating of National General Holdings Corp., the intermediate holding company. National General's site notes that the financial performance of its underwriting companies is not guaranteed by Allstate Insurance Company.

Who it suits

National General suits homeowners who want an independent agent who can compare several carriers, with an Allstate-owned company as one option, and buyers who value guaranteed replacement cost or a private flood alternative to the NFIP. It suits less well someone who wants a published discount list or a single familiar company name on every document, since policies are issued by a long list of underwriting companies.

• Strengths: backed by Allstate, whose insurance group AM Best rates A+ (Superior) (affirmed September 2026); guaranteed and extended replacement cost options; Beyond Floods private flood in New Jersey, Florida and 30 surplus lines states; more than 55,000 independent agents.
• Weaknesses: no published homeowners discount list; policies may carry legacy underwriting company names rather than National General; home product availability varies by state; auto is the core business (about 60% of premium when Allstate bought it), with homeowners the smaller line.

How to contact National General