Georgia Car Insurance
Having Georgia car insurance is very important for Georgia drivers. If you are ever in a car accident in Georgia and you do not have the car insurance required by Georgia, then there will be serious consequences. For example if you choose to drive in Georgia without car insurance you can be liable for all damages that occur in an accident and you will also be ticked by the state of Georgia and most likely have your driver’s license revoked as well.
The state of Georgia has specific set minimums of auto insurance coverage required by all of its drivers and Georgia is a state that tracks all individuals who have a registered vehicle via computer. This means that if you purchase or register a vehicle in Georgia, the department of transportation is automatically alerted to your Georgia car insurance status.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements for Georgia
Georgia drivers must meet the following minimums with their Georgia car insurance:
- $25,000 per person bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident property damage
If you purchase Georgia car insurance and it lapses (without an accident occurring) then you will incur the following penalties:
First offense:
- $25 lapse fee
- $60 fee for reinstatement
Second offense:
- $25 lapse fee
- $110 fee for reinstatement
Third offense:
- $25 lapse fee
- $160 for reinstatement
- Six month vehicle registration suspension
Of course, driving without Georgia car insurance is a misdemeanor and can result in the following penalties:
- A conviction
- A fine of $200 to $1000
- A jail term of up to one year
- All of the above
It is always recommended that car insurance carriers in Georgia maintain a larger coverage amount than the minimum requirements. This is to ensure that if you are in a serious car accident both your medical bills and those of the people with you are safely covered by the insurance that you carry.
In addition, it is recommended that you carry the lowest possible deductible on your car insurance as well. Carrying a high deductible will save you money in the short term, however if you are in an accident and cannot afford your high deductible, then you could find that you cannot repair your vehicle if the damages are under the amount of your deductible.
If you file a claim with your Georgia car insurance company and then do not get your car repaired, they will not be required to cover your car in the event another accident occurs.
Georgia Car Insurance Policy Coverage Options
There are also Georgia car insurance policies that are called full coverage insurance by some. However, there is no such thing as full coverage insurance in the sense that full coverage implies that everything in your car is covered. In truth, GA car insurance policies only cover specific portions, such as:
- Comprehensive coverage – coverage for theft or damages caused by acts of God
- Collision – coverage for collision with an object (tree or house, etc.
- Roadside assistance – vehicle is towed in case of a breakdown (usually available 24/7)
- Rental reimbursement – if it is no longer possible to drive the vehicle this coverage pays for a rental vehicle for a limited time. If the vehicle is totaled then the coverage usually lasts for one week to give the driver time to find a new vehicle. If the vehicle is being worked on, coverage will typically last until the insured vehicle is fixed
- Uninsured motorist coverage – coverage that covers a vehicle that is hit by an uninsured motorist. This coverage also protects the driver and passengers of the insured vehicle.
- Underinsured motorist coverage – this coverage ensures that if a vehicle carries only the minimum coverage and the damage is higher, the insured vehicle coverage will cover the difference no matter who is at fault
- Medical payment coverage – covers the medical costs of the driver and passengers in the insured vehicle.
- Bodily injury coverage – this coverage pays the medical bills of the persons in the other vehicle if you are at fault for the accident
- Property damage – covers damage to the vehicle or property (i.e. a house) that has been damaged by the at fault driver.
- Gap insurance – this coverage is not offered by all insurance companies but is a valuable coverage if you are financing your vehicle. Gap insurance covers the difference between the value of your vehicle and what you actually owe.
Determining the Cost of GA Car Insurance Rates
The cost of Georgia car insurance varies depending on your situation. Insurance companies take certain information into consideration before giving an actual quote to the driver.
- Age of the vehicle
- Age of the driver
- Sex of the driver
- Driver’s driving history
- Who else will be using the car
- How the vehicle is being used
- How many miles will be placed on the vehicle daily
Georgia car insurance costs also vary between insurance companies so getting an exact quote requires using a comparison site, such as this one to determine exactly how much you may have to pay for your car insurance. Why not use the use the free quote tool above to start getting GA car insurance quote comparisons right now?