Georgia Car Insurance

Everything You Need to Know About Auto Insurance in Georgia

Located just above Florida and bordering Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama, Georgia is well known for its peaches and peanuts and is the country’s largest producer of kaolin clay. Pine trees are also found in more than half the state, contributing to the production of lumber, resin, and turpentine. The state’s topography includes such magnificent settings as the Appalachian Plateau, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Okefenokee Swamp, the largest blackwater swamp in North America.

Other natural wonders include Radium Springs Gardens, a natural spring that pumps thousands of cool water gallons per minute from an underground cave, and Amicalola Falls, the tallest waterfall in the southeast. Besides the great outdoors, the state’s arts and music scene, along with affordable real estate and a lively sports presence, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Masters Tournament, entice residents. Georgia covers nearly 58,000 square land miles, including the four barrier islands featuring exquisite beaches — Sea, Jekyll, Tybee, and Saint Simons — and almost 2,000 square water miles, making it the 21st largest state by area.

The weather, such as heavy rainfall and wind from passing hurricanes and tropical storms, sometimes presents challenges on the highway. But having the best auto insurance in Georgia can help protect you on the road — and the friendly expert InsureOne agents make it easy to find the exceptional protection you deserve at affordable rates.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Georgia?

Drivers can expect to pay a yearly premium of about $2,739 for full and $1,058 for minimum liability auto insurance in Georgia. There are a number of factors why state rates are higher than the national average of $2,014 for full coverage and $622 for the minimum liability coverage.

High winds, large hailstones, tornadoes, and other extreme weather are common in the state, which increases the insurers’ risk of claims throughout the state. Those risks, along with the surge in costs for medical care, auto parts, and labor, as well as supply chain shortages, have also increased coverage rates.

What Does It Mean If Georgia Is an At-Fault or No-Fault State?

In an at-fault state, the driver deemed responsible for causing the crash is responsible for the costs, which are covered through that person’s coverage (up to policy limits). In a no-fault state, each driver pays for their own medical bills resulting from the crash, regardless of fault; however, property damage is covered according to fault.

Georgia is an at-fault state, but the state follows a modified comparative negligence system that divides fault between parties. If you are found 50% or more at fault, this system prevents you from receiving compensation for your damages. If you are less than 50% at fault, you will receive some compensation.

As an example, if you are driving 10 miles over the speed limit when another driver changes lanes into you, and a jury determines you are 10% at fault, then awards you $20,000, you will receive $18,000 (10% of $20,000) in compensation.

Your insurer can answer all your questions about Georgia’s at-fault vs. no-fault rules and how they apply to your unique situation.

Affordable Car Insurance Rates Comparison by Cities in Georgia

Life in a larger city sometimes means higher crime and more accidents, which both contribute to higher rates. You can see the difference in the cost of coverage in a variety of cities and towns throughout Georgia in the following chart:

City	Full Coverage Insurance	Liability Insurance Coverage
Atlanta	$298	$105
Columbus	$240	$69
Savannah	$274	$88
Marietta	$292	$103
Gainesville	$234	$74
Evans	$233	$75
Buford	$264	$94

We arrive at our average policy costs by using a male driver, aged 30 with a clean driving record. Liability coverage is the state‑required minimum. Full coverage is a 100K/300K/100K policy. Your costs will be different and based on your individual factors.

Auto Insurance Discounts in Georgia

The state provides specific discounts for drivers according to your age — those for drivers 25 years and older and those for drivers 25 years and younger. You may qualify if you fit the following:

• No claims for the preceding three years
• Successful completion of an approved driving course (varies according to your age)
• No driving offenses for the preceding three years or since the date of licensing (whichever is shorter)

There are also non-age-related discounts for car insurance in Georgia for which you may qualify, including:

• Military
• Loyalty
• Pay in full
• Low mileage
• Good student
• Car safety features

Check with your insurer about the specifics of the approved driving courses for your age — and about all the available discounts. Your agent is happy to provide you with first-rate coverage at competitive prices.

Georgia Car Insurance Laws

Georgia’s DMV insurance requirements state that all drivers must maintain coverage to drive legally. This coverage, outlined in the following sections, kicks in to help pay for damage you cause in an accident.

What Are the Mandatory Car Insurance Requirements in Georgia?

Georgia auto insurance laws require resident drivers to carry the state-required minimum insurance to drive legally. These minimum car insurance requirements are:

• Bodily injury or death liability: $25,000 per person
• Bodily injury or death liability: $50,000 per incident for two or more people
• Property damage liability: $25,000

These limits may seem like a lot, but with the ever-increasing costs of medical care, car parts, labor, and replacement vehicles, you may want to consider bumping up your policy limits to avoid the risk of paying out of pocket for a serious accident that exceeds these limits.

This liability coverage excludes payouts for your own damage. Collision coverage pays for damage to your own property, while comprehensive coverage takes care of non-collision damage, such as from weather, theft, vandalism, or fire. Your agent can help you with coverage that fits your specific needs — minimum liability or full coverage car insurance in Georgia.

What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in Georgia?

Driving without liability insurance in Georgia is illegal. You may be faced with the following consequences if a police officer catches you driving uninsured:

• Fines of up to $1,000
• Loss of driving privileges
• Up to 12 months of jail time

After your first offense, rates for your mandatory insurance will be higher. Also, the state may require you to file a Georgia SR-22 insurance certificate, which your insurer must do on your behalf, as proof of coverage.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services maintains an electronic database that verifies your compliance. If your insurance is terminated or expires, this system notifies the state, and then you have 30 days to buy new insurance. If you fail to provide proof of new insurance during this time, you will receive a notice of pending suspension with vehicle registration suspension at the end of the second 30-day period. Driving with a suspended registration in Georgia is a misdemeanor, which may result in additional fines, additional time added to your driver’s license and registration suspension, and jail time.

What Factors Does Georgia Law Allow in Determining Your Premiums?

Insurers base your premiums on a number of factors, including:

• Your age
• Vehicle age
• Your gender
• Marital status
• Your residence address
• Vehicle make and model

Besides your personal information, insurers review stats in your area, such as accident, theft, and vandalism rates. You are likely to pay more in an area with a large population, such as Atlanta, than if you live in a less populated area, such as Broxton.

What Happens If I Damage Property?

If you hydroplane on the flooded I-675 and crash into another vehicle, your liability coverage should take care of expenses for the damage — up to $25,000 for property damage if you have the minimum coverage. You will wind up paying out of pocket for your own expenses unless you have collision insurance for your vehicle damage and MedPay coverage for medical expenses.

Your agent can help you with full coverage car insurance in Georgia to give you peace of mind, whether you are traveling through snow flurries near Hogpen Gap or facing severe winds in metro Atlanta.

How Many Crashes Occur in Georgia?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,491 fatal motor vehicle crashes in Georgia in 2023. The chart below shows the number of fatal accidents in some Georgia cities that same year:

City	Annual Average Number of Fatal Car Crashes
Atlanta	80
Columbus	25
Savannah	21
Marietta	14
Gainesville	9
Evans	0
Buford	5

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists in Georgia

In 2023, 19% of Georgia’s drivers had no insurance, ranking it 11th among the 50 states for the highest number of uninsured drivers. That means almost one-fifth of drivers you encounter on the road have no insurance. But you can protect yourself by having the proper insurance — ask your agent about adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

FAQs

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Georgia?

Drivers pay about $2,739 for full coverage and $1,058 for minimum liability car insurance in Georgia.

What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Georgia?

The state mandates that drivers must carry 25/50/25 liability coverage — $25,000 in bodily injury or death to one person in an accident or $50,000 for two or more persons in an accident, plus $25,000 for property damage or loss in one accident.

Is Georgia an At-Fault or No-Fault State for Car Insurance?

While Georgia is considered an at-fault state, it follows a modified comparative negligence system that splits fault between parties through which payouts are determined.

What Factors Influence Car Insurance Rates in Georgia?

Insurers consider many factors when determining rates, some of which are personal to you (e.g., your age, gender, marital status, and driving record) and some of which are statistics around your residence address (such as crime rates and risk of severe weather).

Auto Insurance Info by City