Georgia Auto Insurance Requirements

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Georgia requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance with minimum limits of 25/50/25 — that's $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. The state also requires insurers to offer uninsured-motorist coverage; the driver can decline in writing. Georgia uses an electronic verification system called GEICO Plus that flags lapses to MVD within days.

Minimum liability limits

$25,000 bodily injury per person.
$50,000 bodily injury per accident.
$25,000 property damage per accident.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — must be offered by the carrier; the policyholder can decline in writing but cannot be denied the option.

These limits are unchanged in recent years and apply to every privately registered vehicle. Most insurance professionals recommend carrying limits of at least 100/300/100 — a single serious accident can quickly exceed the state minimum.

GEICO Plus electronic verification

The Georgia MVD runs GEICO Plus, an electronic insurance verification system that queries every registered vehicle's coverage status against carrier databases multiple times per year. If a vehicle shows uninsured for more than 30 days:

MVD sends a verification letter to the registered owner.
Non-response within 30 days triggers an automatic registration suspension.
Any traffic stop on the vehicle during the suspension can result in license-plate seizure and impoundment.

Reinstatement requires submitting proof of insurance and paying a $25 lapse fee for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third within 5 years.

Penalties for driving uninsured

Misdemeanor with up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Mandatory $200 civil reinstatement fee for the registration.
60-day suspension of driver's license on first offense.
90-day suspension on second offense within 5 years.
Required filing of an SR-22 financial responsibility certificate for at least 3 years.

SR-22 filing

An SR-22 is a certificate filed by an insurance company directly with DDS, attesting that the driver carries the required minimum liability coverage. Georgia requires an SR-22 for at least 3 years after:

A DUI conviction or Administrative License Suspension.
Driving without insurance and being involved in an accident.
An at-fault accident judgment that wasn't fully paid.
Reckless driving conviction.
A Habitual Violator declaration.

A standard auto policy typically costs 25-50% more when an SR-22 is filed — the carrier sees the underlying offense and prices accordingly. Georgia carriers also charge a $25-$50 administrative SR-22 filing fee. If the policy lapses, the carrier files an SR-26 with DDS, which automatically suspends the license until a new SR-22 is in place.

Common optional coverages

Beyond the state minimums, most Georgia drivers carry:

Collision coverage — repairs your vehicle after an at-fault accident.
Comprehensive coverage — non-collision damage (theft, hail, fire, falling objects, deer collision).
Medical payments (MedPay) — covers medical bills regardless of fault, up to the chosen limit.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage — Georgia requires UM bodily injury offer but UMPD is optional.
Rental reimbursement and roadside assistance.

Average premiums

Georgia auto insurance averages $1,800-$2,100 per year for a typical driver — a bit above the national average. Atlanta metro premiums run roughly 35% above the statewide average due to higher claim frequency and theft rates. Rural North Georgia and South Georgia drivers see the lowest rates. Georgia is a "use and file" state for rate changes — carriers don't need prior approval to raise rates, but the Georgia Department of Insurance reviews filings after the fact.

How insurers learn about violations

Most Georgia insurance carriers pull a 7-year MVR at policy renewal (typically every 6 or 12 months). New convictions and accidents that appear on the MVR drive premium changes. A successfully pled nolo contendere on a non-DUI moving violation does not appear on the public MVR — that's the main reason drivers use the nolo plea on a first offense.

For broader insurance comparisons, see the national car insurance guide.