National General lets you pay your bill through their website, by phone, or through automatic payments from your bank account
National General Insurance offers several ways to pay your premium without mailing a check. The most direct route is logging into your online account at nationalgeneralinsurance.com, where you can make a one-time payment using a debit card, credit card, or bank account. You can also call their customer service line to pay over the phone, or set up automatic payments so your premium withdraws on the same date each month.
The method you choose depends on what works for your routine. One-time payments give you control over when money leaves your account. Automatic payments mean you never miss a due date, though they require you to trust the system and monitor your bank account to catch any errors. Phone payments work if you prefer speaking to someone or if you're having trouble with the website.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay National General online through your account dashboard using a debit card, credit card, or bank account transfer.
- Automatic payments withdraw your premium on a schedule you set, which prevents missed payments but requires you to monitor your account.
- Phone payments are available by calling National General's customer service number, which you can find on your bill or policy documents.
- One-time online payments typically process within one to two business days, while automatic payments process on your chosen date.
Paying through your National General online account
Log in to your account at nationalgeneralinsurance.com using your policy number and password. If you don't have an online account yet, you'll need to create one first — the website will walk you through entering your policy number and personal information. Once you're logged in, look for a "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now" button, usually visible on your dashboard or under a "Billing" section.
When you click to pay, the system will show your current balance and let you choose how much to pay. You can pay the full amount due, a partial payment, or more than the minimum if you want to get ahead. Then select your payment method: debit card, credit card, or bank account. If you use a bank account, you'll enter your routing number and account number. The website will ask you to confirm the amount and payment method before processing.
National General does not charge a fee for paying online with a bank account transfer, but credit card and debit card payments may carry a processing fee — the website will show this before you confirm. One-time payments typically post to your account within one to two business days, though the money may leave your bank account when ready.
Setting up automatic payments from your bank
Automatic payments mean your premium withdraws on the same day each month without you having to log in or remember a due date. To set this up, log into your National General account and find the "Automatic Payments" or "Recurring Payments" section, usually under Billing or Account Settings. You'll enter your bank account information and choose the date you want the payment to come out each month.
Pick a date that gives you time to have money in your account — many people choose a few days after payday. National General will send you a confirmation email with the details, and you should keep that for your records. If your policy amount changes or you need to cancel automatic payments, you can do that through your online account or by calling customer service.
The main risk with automatic payments is that if your bank account doesn't have enough money on the withdrawal date, the payment will fail and you may face a late fee or policy lapse. Check your account a day or two before the scheduled payment to make sure the funds are there. If you know you'll be short that month, log in and pause the automatic payment, then make a manual payment when you're ready.
Paying National General by phone
You can pay your bill by phone by calling National General's customer service number. This number is printed on your bill, your policy documents, and on the National General website. Have your policy number and payment method ready before you call — the representative will need either a debit card, credit card, or bank account information.
Phone payments work the same way as online payments: you tell the representative how much you want to pay, provide your payment details, and they process it when ready. They'll give you a confirmation number, which you should write down or ask them to email to you. The payment will post to your account within one to two business days, though the money may leave your bank account right away.
Phone payments can be useful if you're having trouble with the website, if you want to discuss your bill with someone, or if you prefer not to enter payment information online. There's no fee for paying by phone, and the representative can also answer questions about your policy or account at the same time.
What happens after you submit a payment
Once you submit a payment online or by phone, National General sends you a confirmation — either on screen, by email, or both. This confirmation includes the amount paid, the date it was processed, and a confirmation number. Keep this for your records, especially if you're paying a bill that was overdue or if you're setting up automatic payments for the first time.
The payment typically posts to your account within one to two business days. During that time, the money has left your bank account but may not yet show as received by National General. If you're worried about a late fee, you can call customer service to confirm they received your payment — they can often see it in their system before it officially posts.
If you don't receive a confirmation email within a few hours of paying online, check your spam folder or log back into your account to see if the payment went through. If you genuinely don't see any record of it, call customer service with your confirmation number and they can track it down.
Troubleshooting payment problems
If your online payment is declined, the most common reason is that your card or bank account information is outdated or incorrect. Double-check the number you entered, including the expiration date if you're using a card. If the information is correct, contact your bank to make sure they haven't blocked the transaction — some banks flag insurance payments as unusual activity.
If an automatic payment fails, National General will usually send you a notice and may attempt to retry the payment a day or two later. Log into your account to see what went wrong — usually it's insufficient funds or an expired card. Update your payment method or add funds to your account, and the next scheduled payment should go through. If you have questions about why a payment failed, call customer service with the date the payment was supposed to come out.
If you've paid but your account still shows a balance due, wait a few business days for the payment to post. If it still doesn't show after that, call customer service with your confirmation number and they can manually update your account. This is rare but can happen if there's a processing delay on National General's end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay National General with a credit card online?
Yes, you can pay with a credit card through your online account or by phone. National General may charge a processing fee for credit card payments, which will be shown before you confirm. The fee is typically a small percentage of the payment amount.
What if I want to pay more than one month at a time?
You can pay multiple months in advance through your online account or by phone. Enter the total amount you want to pay and confirm. This can help if you want to get ahead or if you know you'll have cash flow problems in coming months.
Is it safe to enter my bank account information on the National General website?
National General uses encryption to protect your information, the same technology banks use. Your bank account number is not stored on the website after the payment processes. If you're still uncomfortable, you can pay by phone instead and give your information directly to a representative.
What if I need to cancel a payment I just made?
If you submitted a payment in the last few minutes, call customer service when ready — they may be able to stop it before it processes. Once the payment has posted to your account, you cannot cancel it, but you can request a refund. Refunds typically take five to seven business days to appear in your account.
Do I have to set up an online account to pay National General?
No. You can pay by phone without an online account, and you can mail a check if you prefer. However, an online account makes it easier to track your payment history and set up automatic payments.