Automobile owners in Georgia must maintain liability insurance coverage on vehicles at all times in order to legally operate a motor vehicle and to register and obtain license plates (tags). This requirement also applies if a resident wishes to renew, replace, or transfer existing license plates. Policies must also be issued by a company licensed by the state to provide liability coverage and a consumer should always ensure that a carrier is licensed prior to purchasing a policy.
All Georgia auto insurance policies must consist of no less than the minimum liability limits set by the state. Current requirements are set at $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people and $25,000 for property damage. These are the absolute minimums, although higher limits can be purchased for an additional premium and can be beneficial in covering expenses that exceed the minimum requirements. Liability only covers the injuries and damages sustained by a third party where the insured is found to be at-fault. In order to cover the physical damage or bodily injury sustained and caused by the policyholder, additional coverage would need to be purchased such as comprehensive and collision and medical payments.
The state has implemented a database that allows coverage information to be submitted electronically by insurers directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue. When a policy is written a carrier is required by law to electronically notify the department within thirty days of the date the effective date of the coverage. The insurer must also notify the state if there is a termination and addition or deletion of vehicles from existing policies. This allows law enforcement agencies and the office of the county tax commissioner to access and verify that any vehicle registered in GA is covered by a liability insurance policy.
The goal of developing such a database is to encourage Georgia’s drivers to constantly maintain the mandatory coverage on vehicles at all times. This helps keep uninsured automobiles off of the roadways and helps protect residents from being involved in a traffic accident with a driver lacking coverage. The Georgia Department of Revenue suggests that motorists also check to make sure that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is correctly submitted by the insurer to the the department which can be done by visiting the online Vehicle Insurance Status Inquiry screen. If there is any type of discrepancy with the information submitted by the policy provider the consumer should address this issue immediately because the database cross-references the VIN and if the number is incorrect it will show the vehicle as uninsured.
Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/georgia/
