Best Auto Insurance Rates in Georgia

On average, your neighbors pay $70 a month.

See Your Rates
Local Insurance Information

Compare Auto Insurance in Georgia

Thursday, July 12 2018 By Larry Canonica

Looking for auto insurance in Georgia? We have everything you need to know to get a sweet deal on car insurance in the Peach State.

This page touches on coverage requirements, state insurance laws, risks, and other useful info for Georgia drivers.

Average Georgia Car Insurance Rates

How much does car insurance in Georgia cost? Average rates in the state are a hair above the rest of the country. Auto insurance rates average $896.50 a year in Georgia. The national annual average is $889.01

The type of car you own, driving history, zip code, and number of claims can affect your rate.

Georgia Average Annual Car Insurance Rates
Coverage Rates
Liability $557.38
Collision $331.83
Comprehensive $159.18
Total Cost Per Year $896.50
Price Per Month $74.70
Source: Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance

This graph shows the increase in car insurance rates from 2011 to 2015, the most current data available. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Georgia car insurance rates went up from $754 in 2011 to $896 in 2015, an 18.89 percent jump.

Georgia average car insurance rates

In order to get the best quote available to you in Georgia, you'll have to shop around. Getting individual quotes from top insurance companies is a time-consuming process. But QuoteWizard makes it easy to compare rates from multiple companies.

Last year, over 110,000 drivers used QuoteWizard to compare car insurance quotes in Georgia to get the cheapest rates.

Best Car Insurance Companies in Georgia

These are the most popular insurers reported by QuoteWizard users in Georgia in 2017. Out of the 115,555 Georgia drivers that used QuoteWizard last year, 11,251 were uninsured.

  1. State Farm
  2. GEICO
  3. Progressive
  4. Allstate
  5. Nationwide
  6. Liberty Mutual
  7. Farmers
  8. COUNTRY Financial
  9. Esurance
  10. 21st Century
Get a quote from some of these top rated insurers! Request Quote Get a Quote From Top Insurers

Top 10 Vehicles in Georgia

These are the most commonly owned cars of Georgia drivers wanting car insurance quotes through QuoteWizard last year.

  1. Ford F150
  2. Honda Accord EX/LX
  3. Chevrolet Silverado
  4. Ford Ranger
  5. Ford Explorer
  6. Toyota Camry LE/XLE/SE
  7. Ford Mustang
  8. Nissan Altima 2.5 S
  9. Ford Taurus
  10. Chevrolet Impala
Get a quote for your vehicle. Request Quote Get a Quote For Your Vehicle

Best High-Risk Insurance Companies

If you have marks on your driving record, insurers may consider you high-risk. It costs more for insurance companies to cover high-risk drivers, and some may refuse a policy altogether. The Georgia Automobile Insurance Plan helps high-risk drivers get minimum coverage.

These companies offer insurance policies for high-risk drivers in Georgia:

Best Teen Driver Insurance Companies

Insurers consider teens to be higher-risk drivers than most other groups. As such, teens tend to pay more for auto insurance. Between accidents and tickets, teens are an insurance liability.

Our study found that teens pay $438 a month for an individual policy. The amount drops to $278 if they get on a parent's plan. No matter how you approach it, insuring a teen driver is expensive. Fortunately, many companies offer a discount for students with good grades.

These insurance companies offer good policies for Georgia teens:

Georgia Car Insurance Rate Factors

Why is car insurance so expensive in Georgia? With sprawling communities and few public transportation options, commutes are longer for Georgians. This leads to more time on the road and, subsequently, higher insurance rates.

Georgia also ranks 25th in the nation for the most uninsured drivers. Twelve percent of Georgian drivers being uninsured is going to affect rates statewide.

Georgia drivers saved up to $383 on their car insurance policies by comparing rates through our simple form.
Ready to see if you're eligible?
Click Here

Georgia Car Insurance Laws

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Georgia

Georgia state law requires drivers to carry minimum coverage of 30/60/25. This means your auto policy must have:

  • $30,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 of coverage for property damage liability per accident

Recommended Coverage Levels

While minimum coverage is cheap, it probably isn't your best option. Minimum coverage does not include comprehensive or collision. If you have an accident, you can wind up paying a lot out-of-pocket.

Minimum coverage is there to pay for damages to other people, their car, and their property. It does nothing to cover you, your injuries, your vehicle, or your property. If you have an accident and all you have is minimum coverage, you'll have to pay for your own expenses.

Collision coverage pays for damages to your car after an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages when another car isn't involved in the accident. This includes natural disasters, theft, falling trees and branches, and more.

To cover your bases, we recommend that Georgia drivers buy the following coverage:

  • Individual Body Injury Liability: $100,000
  • Total Bodily Injury Liability: $300,000
  • Property Damage Liability: $100,000

If it's in your budget, buy comprehensive and collision coverage. Look for a good deductible. You should also look for uninsured/underinsured coverage, if possible. This helps cover damage caused by drivers with little or no auto insurance. Medical payment coverage and personal injury protection to cover medical bills from accidents.

Required Proof of Car Insurance

Georgia drivers need to have an insurance identification card when driving. You'll get the ID card when you get your insurance policy. The card must include the following:

  • Your full name
  • The vehicle's identification number (VIN)

If you cannot show proof of insurance, fines can be as much as $160. If you don’t have minimum insurance coverage, you'll risk suspended or revoked registration.

SR-22 Requirements

Georgia drivers with suspended licenses must file an SR-22 form. "SR" is short for safety responsibility. It certifies that a driver has the minimum required amount of insurance.

Georgia State law requires the carrying of an SR-22 for three years. Failure to pay your premium during this time will result in an invalid SR22 and a suspended license.

Totaled Cars with Rebuilt or Salvage Titles

In Georgia, a formula is used to calculate total loss. Combine the repair costs with the car's salvage value. If that number is greater than the car's actual cash value, your insurer will consider it a total loss.

Buying insurance for a rebuilt or salvage title in Georgia is tricky. Some insurance companies won't cover such vehicles. Expect to pay higher rates if your car has a rebuilt or salvage title.

State of Georgia Traffic Safety Laws

Distracted Driving Laws

To cut down on distracted driving accidents, Georgia outlaws the use of handheld devices while driving. Law enforcement can pull you over and cite you if they see you driving with a phone in hand. The same applies to texting while driving. Driving with a hands-free device is the safest way to go.

Georgia's distracted driving laws are more extensive than other states. Other activities they consider distracted driving include:

  • Eating or drinking
  • Adjusting the stereo
  • Talking to passengers
  • Grooming

DUI Laws and Penalties

If you drive in Georgia with a Blood Alcohol Content level of 0.08 percent or higher, you're guilty of DUI. Penalties for DUI include jail time, fines, license suspension, and an ignition interlock device. If you get multiple DUIs, punishment is more severe.

On top of that, a DUI will raise your insurance premiums. Our study shows that drivers can expect to pay an extra $830 per year for car insurance after a DUI.

Senior Drivers in Georgia

Car insurance rates normally increase once a driver turns 65. In Georgia, once you turn 64 you're required to pass a vision screening each renewal period. Drivers must have at least 20/60 vision in one eye, and field vision of at least 140 degrees. If drivers can’t pass the vision test, they'll need to obtain paperwork from an optometrist.

Vehicles Registered in Another State

When driving a vehicle registered out-of-state in Georgia, you must have the type of insurance required by that state as well as correct proof of insurance.

Car Insurance Risk in Georgia

Best and Worst Drivers in Georgia

Our study shows that Georgia has the 11th worst drivers in the country. On top of that, Atlanta is the 26th worst driving city in America. Rankings account for accidents, DUIs, speeding tickets, and citations in Georgia.

If you live in an area with bad drivers, expect to pay more for car insurance. Sharing the road with bad drivers makes you more likely to file a claim.

Traffic Fatalities 

In 2017, there were 1549 traffic fatalities in Georgia. It’s a slight decrease from 1561 in 2016, but an 8.17 percent increase over fatalities in 2015.

  2014 2015 2016 2017
Total Fatalities 1,170 1,432 1,561 1,549

Areas with a high rate of traffic fatalities often face higher insurance rates

Vehicle Thefts

Georgia had 26,801 vehicles stolen in 2016, ranking it fifth for most motor vehicle thefts in the nation. This is less than a 1% decrease under the 26,854 vehicle thefts Georgia had in 2014. Since insurance covers theft, rates rise in areas with lots of stolen cars.

Ten Most Stolen Vehicles in Georgia

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau- Hot Wheels Report 2016

  1. 2004 Ford Pickup (Full Size) 
  2. 1997 Honda Accord 
  3. 1994 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
  4. 2016 Toyota Camry 
  5. 2015 Nissan Altima
  6. 1998 Honda Civic
  7. 2016 Dodge Charger 
  8. 2008 Chevrolet Impala 
  9. 2016 Toyota Corolla 
  10. 2005 Dodge Pickup (Full Size) 

Save Money with Discounts

If you're looking for cheap auto insurance, Georgia drivers have many options:

  1. Compare competitive auto quotes in Georgia
  2. If you own multiple cars, see if you can get a multi-car discount
  3. Bundle your auto insurance with your home or renters policy. Bundling can save you up to 15 percent
  4. If you’re married, many insurance companies offer discounts for married couples
  5. If you’re 55 or older, look into the discounts available to you
  6. Take a defensive driving course
  7. Many insurers give lower rates for clean driving records
  8. Making sure your car has proper safety features can get you a discount
  9. If you live in a low-crime neighborhood, you may get a discount
  10. Consider dropping your comprehensive coverage

Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner

Website:
https://www.oci.ga.gov/
Insurance Commissioner:
Ralph T. Hudgens
Mailing Address:
Two Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
West Tower, Suite 704
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Contact Consumer Services

Phone:
(404) 656-2070
Toll Free:
(800) 656-2298
Email:
Consumer@oci.ga.gov

File an Insurance Complaint

Website:
Complaint Portal

 

Sources:

QuoteWizard.com LLC has made every effort to ensure that the information on this site is correct, but we cannot guarantee that it is free of inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. All content and services provided on or through this site are provided "as is" and "as available" for use. QuoteWizard.com LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this site or to the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. You expressly agree that your use of this site is at your sole risk.