Georgia Auto Insurance Quotes

Georgia Car Insurance Requirements

Any individual who owns a registered vehicle in the state of Georgia is required to have what is often referred to as 25/50/25 coverage. This means that all registered drivers in the state must at least have the following coverage:

* A minimum of $25,000 in Bodily Injury Liability coverage per injured person.

* A minimum of $50,000 in Bodily Injury Liability coverage, to cover bodily injury to two or more people in an accident.

* A minimum of $25,000 in Property Damage Liability coverage.

After an automobile accident in Georgia, steps are taken to determine which driver was at fault. The driver who was at fault is responsible for the damages caused by the accident.

Georgia does not have a no-fault car insurance system in place. So it is generally recommended that Georgia drivers acquire personal liability insurance above the minimums required by state law.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services is notified immediately when a registered driver buys insurance, adds a vehicle to their existing policy, deletes a vehicle from their existing policy, or terminates their existing policy.

An individual who cannot prove to the Georgia Department of Driver Services that they have Georgia auto insurance may have their vehicle registration terminated. The owner of the vehicle will then have to obtain car insurance, and pay fines to have their vehicle registration reinstated. If an individual lets their insurance lapse three times, they will have the registration of their vehicle suspended for 6 months.

If an uninsured vehicle is involved in an automobile accident, the vehicle will be impounded, and the owner will be subject to fines.

Car Insurance Companies Operating in the State Of Georgia

Georgia drivers with registered vehicles have many reputable car insurance companies to choose from. In fact, most nationally known car insurance companies offer insurance coverage to Georgia drivers. The following ten auto insurance providers often rate highly in consumer surveys.

* Access Insurance Company

* Allstate Insurance

* Bristol West Insurance Group

* Esurance

* Geico Direct

* GMAC Insurance

* Infinity Insurance

* Progressive Insurance

* Unitrin Specialty

* Western United Insurance

Typical Georgia Car Insurance Rates and Requirements

The average insurance premium in the United States is $1,677.92. The average insurance premium in Georgia is a little lower than that, at $1,593.45.

An individual's Georgia auto insurance ratings can be affected by many things, including:

* The age of the driver. Many insurance companies consider younger drivers to be more of a risk than older drivers.

* The gender of the driver. Male drivers are considered more likely to get into accidents than female drivers.

* The driver's driving history. Things like speeding tickets and past auto accidents can affect insurance rates.

* The driver's place of residence. Those living in high crime areas, especially those where car theft is common, often pay more for auto insurance.

* The state the driver lives in. Those who live in states with high auto theft rates tend to pay higher auto insurance rates than those who don't.

* The type of car the driver drives. Those with expensive cars tend to pay higher auto insurance rates.

* The driver's marital status. Insurance companies assume those who are married and have children take fewer risks behind the wheel.

Other factors that can affect Georgia auto insurance ratings include the driver's occupation and their credit history.

Finding Cheap Georgia Car Insurance

In order to ensure that they'll get the fairest rate for their car insurance, it's important for an individual to obtain Georgia car insurance quotes from as many different auto insurance companies as possible. By comparing quotes from different companies, an individual can compare and contrast to find the absolute best deal. They can evaluate how much coverage they really need, and how much they should be paying for that coverage.

There are many online resources that make it possible to quickly and easily compare Georgia auto insurance quotes from different auto insurance providers. This is one of the best ways to find cheap Georgia auto insurance.

The auto insurance company that offers the cheapest rates won't always be the company that best meets a buyer's needs. It's important to study each auto insurance policy carefully, and choose the one that offers the most benefits for the most reasonable price.

Obtaining good but affordable auto insurance can save hundreds of dollars a year. And there are many ways to find affordable Georgia auto insurance.

* Look for Discounts. Many people never think to look for discounts when shopping for car insurance, but it can be a great way to save money. Some insurance companies will give a discount on car insurance if an individual also buys another policy from them. Others will give discounts depending on the buyer's driving record, or the type of car they drive. When speaking to an insurance agent, request a list of all available discounts.

* Raise the deductible. This will allow an individual to pay less for insurance. However, they could end up paying more out of pocket if they are ever involved in an automobile accident.

* Reduce coverage. Reducing coverage can help to save on auto insurance. For example, if an accident leaves an individual without a vehicle, some insurance policies will pay for them to rent a car. However, if they can find other means of transportation, a rental might be unnecessary. So they can save money by dropping rental car coverage from their policy.

Georgia Insurance Regulator

In Georgia, insurance regulatory duties are handled by the Office of Insurance and Safety. This agency is responsible for licensing the insurance companies that operate in the state, making sure they comply with Georgia Laws and Regulations.

Visit Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety website here:

http://www.inscomm.state.ga.us/

Drivers in Georgia

According to statistics, driving fatalities in Georgia were lower in 2011 than they were in 2010. This is attributed to both public awareness, and continued improvement of the state's roads and highways.

Here are some interesting facts about Georgia drivers:

* According to the FBI, 28,712 DUI arrests were made in Georgia in 2010.

* According to statistics, there are approximately 5.9 million licensed drivers in the state of Georgia.

* Georgia has a population of approximately 9 million people, while there are about 8 million registered cars in the state. This means there are almost as many registered vehicles in the state of Georgia as there are people.

Seat Belt usage in Georgia

In Georgia, anyone riding in the front seat of a passenger vehicle (which includes cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks) is required to wear a seat safety belt. However, there are exceptions.

Passengers making deliveries that require them to frequently exit and re-enter a passenger vehicle don't have to wear seat belts if the vehicle never exceeds 15 miles per hour.

And if a person has medical or physical issues that will make wearing a seat belt harmful or painful to them, they might not have to wear a seatbelt. The individual must possess either a written statement from a physician, or an official certificate or license endorsement from the appropriate agency.

Children under the age of 8 must use a passenger restraining system appropriate for their weight and height that has been approved by the US Department of Transportation.

Not wearing a safety belt when required can result in a fine.

Until recently, drivers and passengers in pickup trucks weren't required to wear seat belts in the state of Georgia. But Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed into law a bill requiring seat belt usage in pickups.

Roads in Georgia

Georgia has several major roads and highways. Some of them include:

* Interstate 75

* The I-95 corridor

* Interstate 20

* I-85

* Interstate 16

Road Conditions in Georgia

Since 2006, there has been a major effort to improve the conditions of roads and highways throughout the state of Georgia. These efforts are often partially credited for the state's decreasing rate of automobile-related fatalities.

The Georgia Department of Transportation keeps drivers apprised of road conditions across the state.

Car Theft in Georgia

Auto theft is the most common crime in the United States. In fact, a car is stolen every 30 seconds in the US.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Georgia has one of the highest auto theft rates in the US. And Macon, Georgia was on the 2010 list of the 20 worst cities for stolen cars.

Many auto insurance policies cover auto theft. However, most will only cover the depreciated value of the vehicle. Rather than receiving the full replacement cost for a stolen vehicle, the car owner will receive the vehicle's depreciated cost.

Also, while some auto insurance policies will pay for an individual to rent a vehicle if theirs has been stolen, some will not. This is especially true if a policy offers minimal coverage.

Since Georgia has a high auto theft rate, residents tend to pay more for auto insurance than those living in states with low auto theft rates. Having a car known to be attractive to auto thieves can also raise insurance rates.

Using anti-theft protection devices on a car can lower insurance rates by as much as 30%.

Most Stolen Cars In Georgia

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the cars stolen most often in the state of Georgia in 2011 were:

1. 1996 Honda Accord

2. 1996 Chevrolet Pickup

3. 2000 Honda Civic

4. 1997 Ford F150 Series Pickup

5. 1999 Toyota Camry

6. 1999 Dodge Caravan

7. 2003 Dodge Ram

8. 2002 Ford Explorer

9. 1997 Ford Taurus

10. 2004 Chevrolet Impala