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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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You can cancel your car insurance policy with The General over the phone, online, by mail, or in person. No matter which method you choose, you can cancel your policy anytime and for any reason, like finding a cheaper rate with another insurer or moving out of state.
Keep reading to learn the five simple steps to take before canceling The General auto insurance. We’ll also provide details on the cancellation process and other things to consider, like when to switch companies to avoid a lapse in coverage.
5 Steps to Cancel The General Car Insurance
The General gives you several options to cancel your auto insurance policy — online, by phone, by mail, or in person. But before you do, you should consider a few things to ensure it’s the right choice.
To start, review your current policy with The General to find some key pieces of information to make the rest of the process easier.
1. Review your current policy
Before you set the cancellation process in motion, take a look at your current insurance policy. Make sure it has the most up-to-date information — the correct vehicles, coverage types and limits, and deductibles. Incorrect coverages or vehicles could mean you’re paying more than you should. You might only need to make a change to your policy instead of switching insurers.
If everything looks correct, gather the information you need to cancel your policy with The General. You’ll need your policy number and cancellation date.
If you’re canceling midterm instead of at the end of your policy period, The General may charge a 10% cancellation fee, depending on your state. For example, if you still owe $200 for the policy period, you’ll pay a $20 cancellation fee.
2. Understand what you need from your next policy
Now that you’ve reviewed your current policy, note why you’re canceling with The General. It’s common to switch because it’s too expensive, you need coverage the company doesn’t offer, or you’re unsatisfied with the customer service. Identifying service or coverage gaps lets you know what to look for in your next auto insurer.
Your new car insurance company will ensure your new policy meets your state’s minimum coverage requirements. But if you finance or lease your vehicle, you must also comply with your lender’s requirements, which may differ from the state’s.
You should also consider higher liability limits if your net worth exceeds your state’s limits, which will lower your financial risk if you cause a car accident. If you have a high-value vehicle, you can further protect yourself with full-coverage insurance to pay to fix or replace it, regardless of fault.
3. Compare quotes and purchase your new policy
You’ve identified your auto insurance needs. Now, it’s time to find a new car insurance policy. Buying new coverage with an effective date that matches your old policy expiration date will prevent a lapse in coverage. Insurance lapses can cause higher premiums and problems with your DMV and your lender — driving without insurance is illegal in all states except New Hampshire.
The best way to find the right company and policy fit is to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies. You can find the best deal even faster by using a car insurance comparison site, which compares multiple quotes at the same time.