Georgia Auto Insurance Requirements

Georgia state

Motorists in the Peach State are required by law to maintain automobile insurance in order to register a vehicle or obtain state license plates, and failure to do so could prevent a resident from renewing, transferring, or replacing any existing license plates or tags. If a driver is caught without the proper protection they may be fined or the vehicle in question may be impounded. In order to avoid these repercussions and operate a motor vehicle, residents are strongly encouraged to purchase a suitable policy. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, all vehicle protection plans must include $25,000 of bodily injury liability for a single person, $50,000 for two people or more, and $25,000 for property damage liability.

As part of the process of ensuring that motorists are properly covered, all vehicle owners must carry an insurance card within their automobile at all times which details one’s policy, including the names of the insured persons, the coverage start and expiration dates, and a number of other important details. Having this card alone, however, may not suffice as proof of coverage. When a motorist signs up for Georgia auto insurance their automobile’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is transmitted by the coverage provider to be cross referenced with the state’s GEICS Insurance Database which is then available to law enforcement officers and the county tax commissioner. It is through this database, along with one’s coverage card, that a vehicle owner is able to prove that they are properly insured.

Being Responsible with GA Car Insurance

Simply fulfilling the state requirements may not be enough coverage for many GA motorists. Because these limits have the potential of being quickly exceeded, many vehicle owners raise them in order to provide additional protection for what often amounts to only a few extra premium dollars a year. Furthermore, in order to be prepared for various occasions, motorists may want to look into other forms of additional coverage. Although Georgia has fairly extensive ways of determining whether an individual is insured or not, there are still an alarming number of motorists who choose to go without coverage entirely, amounting to nearly 12% of the state’s driving population. Having uninsured/underinsured coverage insures policyholders against collisions with such motorists up to the limits of the policy.

Motorists are encouraged to remain responsible drivers by having enough coverage to protect against unfortunate repair or medical costs after an accident, as well as ensuring that the details of one’s policy are accurate and up to date. To check this information a resident may either contact the Georgia Department of Revenue or verify their Vehicle Insurance Status over the Internet. If any information is incorrect, residents should immediately contact the Department of Revenue in order to correct these mistakes and ensure that there are no lapses in coverage. Periodically making sure that this information is correct can help prevent potential mishaps. Learning of errors beforehand is almost always preferred over discovering such information after being pulled over by a law enforcement officer.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/georgia/