Understand Georgia’s Insurance Requirements
Know what’s mandatory. The only mandatory coverage is Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverage (BI/PD) if you own a car. It pays for injuries or other damage you cause in an accident, up to policy limits.
Optional coverages offer important protection. Injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver are covered by Uninsured + Undersinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage. Uninsured Property Damage coverage (UMPD) pays for damage to your car, caused by an uninsured driver, if you don’t have Collision coverage. Medical Payments coverage pays for medical and other expenses from an accident regardless of fault. Comprehensive and Collision coverages protect your car from damage, theft or other loss not caused by another driver.
Keep Your Insurance Current
It’s the law. The minimum requirement for Georgia drivers is 25/50/25 which is $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person, up to a total of $50,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage. If you are caught driving without auto insurance, you could lose your driver's license for 60 to 90 days. Your car may be impounded and you can't renew, replace or transfer your current tags.
The Minimum Is Not Enough
Understand when to buy more. While minimum limits of liability coverage will keep you legal, the amount of coverage you buy should match the financial risk you face if you’re responsible for an accident. As a homeowner, you’ll want to protect your investment by buying more than the Georgia state minimums. If you injure several people and the medical expenses exceed your policy limits, you can be held personally liable for the balance. That cash may come in the form of your home.
Always buy UM/UIM to protect yourself and your passengers from the estimated 14 percent of Georgia drivers who are without insurance. And, if you don’t have Collision coverage, buy UMPD to cover damage caused by an uninsured motorist.