Houston General vs. National General: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Houston General offers significantly cheaper rates than National General
• Houston General offers more affordable prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Houston General tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in suburban areas

Houston General or National General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Houston General or National General as potential options, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Houston General is quite a bit cheaper than National General, with rates averaging $160 a month compared to $249 with National General when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Houston General may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Houston General or National General is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Houston General vs. National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Houston General and National General only offer auto insurance in Texas, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. Houston General drivers tend to pay about $89 per month less on average compared to drivers who use National General for their insurance.

Typically, your home state will play a hefty role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in Texas, numerous other variables will come into play when you compare Houston General and National General. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Houston General for their car insurance pay almost 50% less than those who use National General.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Houston General policyholders reduce nearly 45% and National General's prices drop over 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever find.

When looking at Houston General and National General specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $108 a month compared to National General's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Houston General prices coming in at a third less than National General's. The advantage for married couples with Houston General is also obvious, where drivers save about $55 a month.

Houston General or National General: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Houston General, men normally pay around $10 per month more than women, and more than $15 with National General.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Houston General offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $87 a month and men save about $91 with Houston General compared to the average National General policyholder.

Houston General vs. National General: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Houston General has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $83. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies averaging around $236 per month to National General's $348.

Is Houston General or National General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Houston General or National General -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Houston General for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 25% after getting a speeding ticket. National General policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 11%.

That being said, Houston General tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $50 and $33 more affordable, respectively, compared to National General Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Houston General drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by over 50%, while those who have insurance through National General will see about a 65% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Houston General, with average premiums coming in at $233 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Houston General drivers usually see a 24% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while National General will generally raise prices by around 12%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Houston General tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $147 to National General's $183.

How does Credit Score Impact Houston General and National General Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Houston General will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Houston General comes in nearly 43.56 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 35% with Houston General compared to average premiums from National General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Houston General typically offers lower rates than National General when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% a month less with Houston General compared to National General, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 32% per month.

Is Houston General or National General Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Houston General or National General report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Houston General comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average premiums of $160 per month for both.

Houston General or National General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Houston General boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $165 monthly with Houston General and $244 with National General. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $149 with Houston General compared to $241 with National General. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Houston General's average rates are about $166 a month compared to National General's $262.

Houston General vs. National General Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Houston General and National General so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and passive restraint discounts are offered by both carriers.

Final Thoughts: Is Houston General or National General Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Houston General or National General the right fit for you?

Houston General might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

National General might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Houston General and National General and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Houston General and National General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Houston General vs. National General FAQs

Is Houston General or National General cheaper?

Houston General is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $160 per month with Houston General and $249 for National General. Even so, that doesn't mean Houston General will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Houston General or National General?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Houston General and National General offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables such as age, where your home is, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Houston General and National General calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Houston General or National General is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Houston General or National General at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.