If you missed your National General payment, you’ll typically have about 10 days before your policy will be canceled—but it’s not always so straightforward.

Letting your insurance lapse doesn’t just mean your car lacks coverage—it can also lead to some major consequences. One of the worst penalties? Getting stuck with higher insurance premiums for months, or even years, down the road!

We know life isn’t always so predictable though, and sometimes missed payments happen. That’s why companies like National General give policyholders a grace period for late payments. Here with all the ins and outs of National General’s grace period is

Jerry

, the

trusted car insurance app

. We’ll also help you find the lowest rates on

car insurance

in under a minute!

Does National General give you a grace period after your auto insurance expires?

Yes—

National General

has a 10-day grace period for late payments. That means if you miss your premium payment but pay within 10 days, they won’t cancel your policy.

Even if you can’t make your insurance payment, your National General policy won’t be canceled without your knowledge. Every insurance company is legally required to notify customers before canceling their policy. National General will send you a cancellation notice that lists the final date you can still make a payment—but after that, your policy will be canceled.

Try as hard as you can to make your insurance payment before this grace period comes to an end. Even though you’ll be charged a late fee—often between $10 and $20—it’s still cheaper than the costs you’ll accumulate if you have lapsed coverage.

If you miss the payment deadline for the grace period, National General will cancel your policy and you’ll be left without any coverage. In nearly every state, it’s illegal to drive without insurance, so avoid this course of events at all costs. Depending on where you live, the consequences of

driving without insurance

could include steep fines or even license suspension

What are the benefits of a grace period?

A grace period keeps you from having lapsed coverage, which will negatively

impact your insurance premium

. Going without car insurance for even a month can increase your rate by up to 8%—and longer lapses mean even higher rates.

MORE:

How police catch uninsured drivers

How long is a typical grace period for car insurance?

Many insurers offer grace periods for late payments, and they average to be 10 days long, making National General’s grace period right on par.

MORE:

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Consequences of a car insurance lapse

It’s important to know what can happen if your insurance policy does lapse. While the consequences will vary based on a handful of factors—like whether your car is financed or what state you live in—some of the possible outcomes include:

Legal fines: The majority of states issue expensive fines to drivers without insurance. You can expect to pay between $500 to $1,000 for your first infraction, but the next time, you could pay up to $5,000, depending on your state.

Suspended license: Your license could be suspended for driving without coverage in all states where insurance is required, except for

California

Washington

, and

Iowa

Pricier car insurance rates: Insurance companies designate a “high-risk” label to drivers with coverage lapses, so the next time you shop for

shop for car insurance quotes

, prepare yourself for higher rates.

Vehicle repossession: If your car is financed, a lapse in coverage allows your lender to reposess your vehicle—leaving you without coverage and a car!

What to do if your National General car insurance lapses

If you realize you won’t be able to make your payment in time, it’s worth calling your agent to see what can be done. If you realize too late that your policy has lapsed, though, call National General immediately at 1-800-325-1190 to see if they can reinstate the policy.

Sometimes you can get your insurance back after you make your payment and talk to a National General agent. However, this doesn’t always work—and in that case, you’ll need new coverage. You can either go through National General directly to sign up for a new policy, or you can download the

Jerry

app to find rates tailored to your individual profile—including your coverage lapse.

When picking out your policy, be sure it fits the minimum legal requirements for your state law. For instance,

Michigan

requires drivers to have

personal injury protection (PIP)

on top of

basic liability coverage

When you’re all set with your new policy, make sure to call your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to update the insurance information they have for you.

MORE:

Minimum car insurance required in your state: What you need to know

How to avoid a coverage lapse

You can avoid a lapse in coverage by keeping track of your payments and due dates—which is a lot easier if you sign up for National General’s automatic payment options through their QuickPay portal. Autopay will make your payments via credit card or an electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your bank account. This will help you dodge missed payments and earn you a discount on your premium.

If your payments are simply too expensive to make, lowering your insurance costs with

Jerry

is a good place to start. You can check for cheaper rates on the coverage you’re looking for in only 45 seconds—and these rates will be tailored to your specific credit score, driving history, and other details.

MORE:

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National General insurance grace period for new cars

When customers buy a new car, many car insurance companies offer a grace period for adding that new vehicle to their policy. During this grace period, your new car is covered by the limits of your existing policy even before you add the new vehicle to your policy.

While National General does offer this type of grace period, the timeframe varies by state—so check with your agent to find out the length of the period in your area.

MORE:

New car insurance: What coverage do you need when buying a new car?

How to find the best National General car insurance quotes

If you’re covered with National General insurance, maybe you’re already enjoying the lowest price—but there’s also a chance a different company has more affordable coverage for you. Either way, you won’t know for sure until you compare rates with

Jerry

Jerry partners with over 55 companies—including National General—to make sure customers find the best savings. In fact, Jerry’s comparison shopping app gathers up-to-date quotes from the whole list of providers in less than a minute. If you find a policy that’s cheaper than your current coverage, Jerry’s top-notch agents will take care of the paperwork involved with switching policies…and they’ll even help you

cancel your National General insurance

Jerry can even help you find possible discounts to save you even more money even if your National General policy is the cheapest. In fact, average Jerry users save over $800 on their annual insurance costs!

“
Jerry
reduced my bill from $240/month to $176/month for National General. I was able to keep the same coverage!” —Erin H.

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This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

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