Last updated: August 2023
Direct Auto Insurance is proud to offer car insurance in Georgia, the “Peach State.” Whether you live in Atlanta, Augusta, or along the Atlantic Coast, meeting the Georgia minimum car insurance requirements helps you comply with state laws. Take a few minutes to learn what coverages are mandatory, which ones are optional, and how Direct Auto can help you find cheap Georgia car insurance. Get a free quote to see how much money you can save with Direct.
Georgia Car Insurance Laws
Do you have to have car insurance in Georgia?
Georgia law requires all drivers have proof of financial responsibility, which is satisfied by purchasing a car insurance policy. Georgia auto insurance policies must at least meet the minimum liability coverage limits, typically expressed as three numbers representing thousands of dollars. For example, the liability limits in Georgia are 25/50/25, as shown below under Georgia Minimum Car Insurance Requirements.
Georgia Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Wondering what your insurance policy needs to satisfy legal requirements in Georgia? Here’s a quick breakdown by coverage type.
Coverages | It Required by Law? |
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage provides financial protection if you cause an accident that injures another person. It helps pay for their medical expenses and your legal services (if necessary). |
Yes. $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 bodily injury per accident. |
Property Damage Liability Coverage helps pay to repair or replace other people’s property that is damaged in an accident you cause. It typically involves damage to another vehicle, but it could help pay to repair a house, fence, mailbox, and more. |
Yes. $25,000 property damage per accident. |
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) helps pay for your medical bills and related expenses if the other driver has no coverage (UM), insufficient coverage (UIM), or can’t be identified due to hit and run. In some states, UM/UIM can also help pay for property damage. |
Not required. |
Collision Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you collide with another car, tree, guardrail, or another object, regardless of fault. |
Not required.1 |
Comprehensive Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, like fire, floodwaters, falling branches, vandalism, or contact with an animal. |
Not required.1 |
IMPORTANT NOTE: While purchasing state-mandated coverage ensures you meet all of Georgia’s insurance laws, it doesn’t necessarily protect you and your vehicle in every circumstance. You would need to add additional coverage, like UM/UIM, comprehensive and collision, to protect yourself and your vehicle.
1Your lender may require these coverages if you lease or finance your vehicle.
Are there additional coverage options?
For added peace of mind, Direct Auto offers add-on services and other insurance products for Georgia drivers:
- Roadside Assistance*
- Emergency Protection Plan (EPP)*
- Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay)
- Towing & Labor Coverage
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage
Georgia Proof of Financial Responsibility and Penalties
What if I don't meet Georgia’s minimum car insurance requirements?
Every Georgia driver is required to have proof of financial responsibility to drive legally. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could lose your registration, face fines, and even face jail time. The penalty depends on which offense it is and if you cause an accident.
Drivers must always carry proof of insurance and must be able to present proof of insurance upon request, such as during a traffic stop, at an accident scene, etc. You can do so by showing your physical ID card or downloading an electronic copy to your mobile device.
To fight back against uninsured motorists, Georgia requires insurers to submit notice of any terminations, additions, or deletions on your policy to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Insurance Database. So, if you let your coverage lapse in Georgia, the state will know.
Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Georgia
Driving without a license or operating a vehicle with a suspended license in Georgia can result in serious punishment. As stated in the Georgia Code (40-5-121), the guilty party will face potential jail time and a series of escalating fines for each offense.
SR-22 Insurance in Georgia
Some high-risk drivers are also required to keep an SR22 (also known as a certificate of financial responsibility) on file with the state verifying they have purchased auto insurance coverage that satisfies the state’s minimum coverage requirements. You might be required to keep one on file if:
- You have been caught not maintaining proper liability coverage.
- You were convicted of a DUI/DWI.
- You have committed other serious driving violations.
If you need an SR22 filed to prove financial responsibility or have questions about the penalties for non-compliance, we’d be happy to help. Direct Auto specializes in helping people find affordable car insurance coverage, regardless of their history. Give us a call today for a free quote.
High-Risk Auto Insurance in Georgia
Most individuals do not have a perfect driving record, and after a certain number of violations or a serious enough violation, drivers can be considered a major risk to insure. While some companies try to steer clear of these individuals, other insurance companies offer non-standard insurance (another name for high-risk auto insurance) to provide financial protection for these drivers.
At Direct Auto, we're proud to offer non-standard coverage. We believe your driving history shouldn't define you forever, and we work hard to find quality coverage for every driver at a price they can afford.
Where can I find the cheapest car insurance rates in Georgia?
Car insurance costs vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The amount & type of coverage you choose
- The year, make, and model of the vehicle you drive
- How much you drive, where you drive, and where you live
- Your demographics
- Your driving record
- Your credit history
The good news is that Direct Auto Insurance can help drivers, even those with a less-than-perfect driving record, find car insurance coverage.
Get a free car insurance quote online, or work with a Direct Auto agent to create a coverage plan that not only meets your state's requirements but fits your needs as well. We’ll work hard to make sure you get any discounts you’re entitled to receive so your premium is the lowest price possible.
Georgia Regional Auto Insurance
Depending on where you live, you might have specific wishes and “must-haves” in your mind for your car insurance policy. After all, a policyholder who lives and drives in busy, downtown Atlanta might want more coverage than someone who lives in a small town with little traffic. But no matter what city you call home in the Peach State, we’re here to help you get covered.
Athens Auto Insurance
Atlanta Auto Insurance
Augusta Auto Insurance
Columbus Auto Insurance
Savannah Auto Insurance
Other Georgia Auto Insurance Resources
- Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- Georgia Department of Driver Services
Find Cheap Car Insurance in Georgia with Direct Auto!
Call, click or come in to get a Georgia car insurance quote from Direct Auto! We always offer affordable coverage options and work hard to get you cheap car insurance in Georgia so you can keep driving.
*Emergency Protection Plans (EPP) and Roadside Assistance are not insurance and are administered through Nation Safe Drivers, Boca Raton, FL. Not all benefits available in all states.
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