Direct General Corporation Announces 2006 Fourth Quarter Results.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Direct General Corporation (Nasdaq: DRCT) today announced that it will release its 2006 fourth quarter results after the market closes on February 6, 2007.

Due to the merger agreement announced on December 5, 2006, Direct General Corporation will not hold a conference call or webcast regarding its fourth quarter results.

Proposed Merger

On December 5, 2006, Direct General Corporation announced its execution of a definitive agreement to merge with Elara Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Fremont Partners and Texas Pacific Group, under which Elara will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Direct General. In the transaction, Direct General's shareholders will receive $21.25 in cash for each share of Direct General common stock that they hold. The transaction is subject to receipt of shareholder approval and required regulatory approvals, as well as satisfaction of other closing conditions. Direct General has not yet established a date, time and place for the special meeting of its shareholders to consider the merger.

Important Additional Information Regarding the Proposed Merger has been Filed with the SEC

In connection with the proposed merger, Direct General Corporation has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES THERETO. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents filed by Direct General at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov/. The proxy statement and such other documents may also be obtained for free by directing such request to Direct General Investor Relations, telephone: [phone] or on the investor relations page of Direct General's website at http://www.directgeneral.com/.

Direct General and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the interests of such directors and executive officers, which may be different than those of Direct General's shareholders generally, is included in Direct General's proxy statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the proxy statement relating to the merger.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Direct General Corporation, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is a financial services holding company whose principal operating subsidiaries provide non-standard personal automobile insurance, term life insurance, premium finance and other consumer products and services through neighborhood sales offices staffed primarily by employee-agents. Direct's operations are concentrated primarily in the southeastern part of the United States. Additional information about Direct can be found online at www.directgeneral.com.