If you are a driver in Georgia, so long as you operate your vehicle off your private property, you are going to need to follow the state’s laws. Not only does this mean obeying traffic rules but you must also obey car insurance laws. Drive around without proper car insurance and you could end up in jail, paying fines, and losing your privilege to drive.
In Georgia, drivers must purchase a car insurance policy that is at least 25/50/25, which means:
- $25,000 in coverage is provided for a single person’s injuries
- $50,000 in coverage is provided for all injured parties in the accident
- $25,000 in coverage is provided for all property damage
Additionally, Georgia is one of several states that encourages its drivers to purchase uninsured motorist insurance coverage. For uninsured motorist bodily injury, the acceptable minimum is 25/50 insurance. For uninsured motorist property damage, you must have $25,000 with a deductible that varies between $250 and $1,000. It should be noted that insurance companies in Georgia have the right to reject uninsured motorist coverage claims; this denial usually only occurs if the claim amount is less than the deductible.
What Happens If I Get Caught with No Car Insurance?
It can be considered a criminal violation to drive without auto insurance in Georgia. However, it is not common for a criminal process to follow a police stop that discovers a driver has no insurance. Instead, administrative penalties are enacted by the Department of Revenue (DOR) for having a “lapse in coverage” and your driving privileges will be suspended.
The following may occur if you are found driving during your lapse of coverage:
- First occurrence: Pay lapse fees and reinstatement fees.
- Second occurrence in 5 years: Pay lapse fees, pay reinstatement fees, and wait for 90-day suspension period to end.
- Third occurrence in 5 years: Pay lapse fees, pay reinstatement fees, and wait for 6-month suspension period to end.
If you have more questions about car insurance laws in Georgia and how they might pertain to a car accident case, contact The Manton Law Firm, LLC and our personal injury attorney in Cumming, Georgia today.