Car insurance protects drivers and passengers in case of collision and is required in Georgia. In 2015, there were more than 385,000 collisions on Georgia’s roads, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities and 19,000 serious injuries. Georgia’s car insurance laws rely on what’s known as a tort system. At least one driver must be held responsible or at-fault after the car accident happens.
Minimum Georgia Car Insurance Requirements
If you are a motorist in Georgia, it is important to know the minimum Georgia car insurance requirements. These requirements establish the minimum levels of insurance coverage that every motorist must buy. In some states this coverage will protect you against property damage, personal injury, and damages caused by uninsured motorists. Due to the rising costs of healthcare and auto repair, your insurance agent may recommend higher liability limits to better protect your financial interests. Be sure to discuss all your options with a licensed agent if you’re unsure of the best coverage levels for you.
Georgia law states that all drivers must have at least the following minimum Georgia car insurance requirements:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability for one person in one accident;
- $50,000 bodily injury liability for all persons injured in one accident; and
- $25,000 property damage liability for one accident.
Bodily injury insurance pays for injuries to other people when you are at fault for a crash. Property damage liability insurance pays for property damage when you are at fault.
Optional Car Insurance Coverage
You may also buy additional insurance that is not required by the state. Having higher limits of car insurance can protect you financially. We don’t like to think about it, but driving is dangerous. The expenses that could arise from a serious accident could be astronomical. The state minimum levels of car insurance only require liability insurance. Liability insurance will not cover your car if it’s damaged. So, whether you’re in an accident or something else happens to the vehicle – a tree falls on it, it gets stolen, you hit a deer — you would be on your own to cover the costs of repairing or replacing your car. To protect yourself financially and protect your investment in your car, you would need to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also worth considering.
- Collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage helps repair or replace your car if something other than an accident damages it. So, if your car gets damaged by a falling tree branch, is vandalized, stolen, catches fire, or hits an animal, you could be covered.
The purpose of car insurance is to protect you financially in case of an accident. If you’re driving with the Georgia minimum limits of car insurance, you may not be fully protected if you get into a serious accident or if you get sued. Your car is also not protected if you forego collision and comprehensive insurance and only get liability insurance. Consider getting higher limits of car insurance. You may find that there isn’t too much difference in the premium between the minimum limits and adding tens of thousands of dollars of car insurance — and peace of mind — to your policy.
