- Covers high-risk drivers including DUIs and poor credit.
- Files SR-22 forms.
- Low down payments and flexible payment options.
- AM Best B (Fair), among the lowest financial strength ratings in this review set.
- High NAIC complaint volume.
- Only available in 3 states.
- No online quotes and very limited public information on coverage or discounts.
Anchor General car insurance: Jerry’s verdict
Anchor General has been writing non-standard auto insurance in California since its founding and has expanded to Arizona and Texas. It serves drivers who have been declined by standard carriers, like those with DUIs, multiple violations, lapsed coverage or poor credit. And does so with low down payment requirements and flexible payment options that make coverage accessible for drivers managing tight budgets.
There are some notable concerns that are worth mentioning, though. Though AM Best has revised its outlook to positive recently, Anchor General’s AM Best Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) is still below the ratings held by most carriers we’ve reviewed. Its NAIC complaint volume is among the highest in this review set across multiple years of data. Customer reviews consistently cite claims delays, difficulty reaching representatives and unexplained rate changes. The company publishes almost no information about its coverage options or discounts online, making it difficult to evaluate what you’re buying before speaking to an agent.
For drivers in Arizona, California or Texas who need non-standard coverage and have been declined elsewhere, Anchor General is a realistic option. Compare it through Jerry against other non-standard carriers before deciding — the differences in financial strength and complaint volume across this segment are worth paying attention to.
Who Anchor General is best and worst for
A high-risk driver in Arizona, California or Texas who needs SR-22 filing. Anchor General files SR-22 certificates on behalf of policyholders and specializes in covering drivers whose records or credit make standard market coverage unavailable.
A driver who needs a low down payment to get started. Anchor General emphasizes low down payments and flexible payment options — a practical consideration for drivers who need coverage quickly and can’t front a large deposit.
A driver outside Arizona, California or Texas. Anchor General operates in only three states. Drivers elsewhere will need to look at other non-standard carriers.
A driver who wants independent verification of financial strength. Anchor General’s AM Best B (Fair) rating indicates a fair ability to meet financial obligations — lower than most carriers in this review set. Drivers who prioritize financial strength should consider alternatives.
A driver who wants to research or compare coverage options online. Anchor General publishes very little information about its policies, discounts or claims process on its public website. Most details require speaking directly with an agent.
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Learn more: Full coverage vs. liability-only insurance
How much does Anchor General car insurance cost?
The average cost for car insurance coverage with Anchor General is $150 per month among Jerry drivers, about 17% less than the national average.Your own premium is determined by a number of factors, including your age, location, the type and age of your vehicle, your driving record, other drivers on your policy and the amount of coverage you want.
Based on our analysis of 330,704 real Anchor General customers who bought through Jerry, here are the typical monthly premiums by driver coverage level:
Minimum
$73 – $122/mo
Meets state minimum liability requirements to keep costs low, but doesn’t cover damage to your own car.
Full
$151 – $271/mo
Adds collision and comprehensive coverage for your vehicle, which is often required if your car is financed or leased.
Key takeaway: To figure out the right coverage for you, start with your comfort level around risk and what your car is worth. Then let Jerry show you what each option costs in real time.
Learn more: Best car insurance companies
Industry ratings of Anchor General car insurance
Anchor General’s industry scores are among the weakest in this review set. Its AM Best rating is below most non-standard peers and its NAIC complaint volume is very high.
| Rating | Anchor General’s score |
| NAIC consumer complaint index (2025) | High (9.50). |
| CRASH Network report card (2026) | N/A. |
| JD Power auto insurance shopping study (2025) | N/A. |
| JD Power auto insurance claims study (2025) | N/A. |
| AM Best (2025) | B (Fair). |
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NAIC details
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CRASH Network details
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JD Power details
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AM Best details
Jerry pulls up to 20 quotes from top rated carriers.
Anchor General car insurance coverage options
Anchor General offers non-standard auto insurance coverage for private passenger vehicles. It covers all of the standard requirements — collision, comprehensive, bodily injury liability, property damage liability, medical expense, personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. SR-22 and FR-44 certificates are also available for policyholders who need them, including for DUI violations.
Anchor General does not offer gap insurance, rideshare coverage, new car replacement or most other add-ons available from standard carriers.
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Coverage Definitions
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Who it pays: The other person, for injuries when you’re at fault in a crash.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people injured in an accident you cause.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limits, shown as two numbers. For example, 50/100 means $50K per person and $100K per accident.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least 100/300.
Property damage liability (PD)
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Who it pays: The other person, for property you damage in a crash.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace another person’s car, fence, mailbox or other property you hit.
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How it pays: Up to your policy’s limit. For example, $50K.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least $100K.
*Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are typically shown as three numbers on your policy, like 100/300/100. The first two numbers represent your bodily injury limits per person and per accident, while the third number represents your property damage limit.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another car or object, like a guardrail or pole.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Damage from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, falling trees, fire or hitting an animal.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for injuries and property damage.
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What it covers: Your own injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs, including hit-and-runs in many states.
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How it pays: Up to your chosen limits, which often match your BI limits. There’s usually no deductible for UM, but UIM may have one.
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Do you need it? Required in some states, but Jerry recommends every driver get it, since about 1 in 8 drivers does not have car insurance.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills and lost income, no matter who caused the accident.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages, childcare, funeral costs and other expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limit. There’s usually no deductible, though this varies by state.
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Do you need it? Required in no-fault states. If available in your state, it’s worth considering.
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills.
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What it covers: Medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: No deductible. Pays up to your policy’s limit.
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Do you need it? Optional in most states, but can be valuable if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan.
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Anchor General car insurance discounts
Anchor General does not publish a discount list on its public website. A small number of savings opportunities may be available in certain states, though:
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Multi-vehicle. Insure more than one vehicle on the same policy.
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Good driver. Clean driving record for a qualifying period.
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Senior driver. Discount for qualifying older drivers.
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Prior insurance. Proof of continuous prior coverage.
Does Anchor General offer insurance based on driving behavior?
No. Anchor General does not currently offer a telematics or usage-based insurance program.
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Filing a claim with Anchor General
Filing a claim through Anchor General is much more limited than with other carriers.
File by phone
Claims are filed by calling 1-800-542-6246. Customer service and claims representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. There is no 24/7 claims reporting line, but you can inquire about an existing claim via email at claims@anchorgeneral.com.
Work with a claims representative
After filing, Anchor General assigns a representative to assess the damage. Given the very high NAIC complaint volume and consistent customer reports of adjuster unavailability and delayed payments, it’s smart to document every interaction from the moment you file: dates, names and what was discussed. Follow up in writing if you don’t receive a response within the timeframe you’re given.
Settlement or payout
For total losses, Anchor General settles based on actual cash value (ACV).
Customer reviews of Anchor General
Hundreds of Jerry customers have reviewed Bristol West auto insurance and have given the company a solid overall score. Beyond price, Jerry customers most frequently praise Bristol West for its customer service and mobile app.
Is Bristol West a good insurance company?
Bristol West fills a real need for drivers who have exhausted standard market options. Its Farmers Group financial backing, SR-22 and FR-44 capability and 43-state availability make it a functional choice for high-risk drivers who need to be insured and can’t find coverage elsewhere.
The complaint volume is the most significant concern in this profile. A NAIC index around 2.0 means the claims and billing experience generates meaningful friction for a substantial portion of policyholders, and the pattern of unexplained rate increases that shows up consistently in customer reviews adds to that picture.
If Bristol West is your only realistic option, it will get you covered with a carrier that can pay claims. But use Jerry to compare it against Dairyland, The General and National General before committing. The differences in pricing, financial strength and complaint volume across that group are real and worth knowing.
See coverage options for your car.
How to contact Anchor General
To manage an existing policy or file a claim, contact Anchor General directly.
- Customer service and quotes: 1-800-542-6246 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PST)
- Claims: 1-800-542-6246 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PST)
- Website: anchorgeneral.com
Related guides
FAQ
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What are the pros and cons of Anchor General car insurance?
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Does Anchor General file SR-22s?
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What states does Anchor General operate in?
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How do I file a claim with Anchor General?
Drivers who switch with Jerry save an average of $54/mo on car insurance.
Methodology
We looked at over 400,000 actual policies quotes from real Jerry customers during 2024 across 24 different insurance companies. The pricing data included both those with clean driving records as well as those with a violation.
How we rate car insurance companies
Jerry’s team of car insurance expert writers and editors analyze real customer ratings and industry reports to get a holistic view of an insurer’s performance. Our rubric emphasizes the shopping and claims experiences, customer complaints and reviews, repair shops’ evaluations of insurers, policy and quote pricing, and state availability.
We regularly reassess insurers’ star ratings and fact-check these reviews to ensure they’re accurate and up-to-date.
These individual factors roll up into one weighting system as follows:
20% Financial strength.
20% Complaints.
20% Industry ratings.
20% Customer ratings.
20% Cost and discounts.
Stephanie Colestock is a professional writer, CFEI®, and licensed insurance agent specializing in personal finance. With over 14 years of experience, she crafts insightful and accessible content on a wide range of financial topics, including insurance, loans, credit/debt, investing, retirement planning, and banking.
Her bylines appear in top-tier publications such as TIME, Fortune, MSN, Business Insider, USA Today, Money, Fox Business, and CBS. Stephanie’s deep understanding of complex financial concepts and her ability to communicate them clearly have made her a trusted voice in the industry.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie enjoys SCUBA diving, reading a good book, and traveling the world with her family.
