Georgia Car Insurance: A Quick Guide to the Ins and Outs of Insurance

Like most states south of the Mason-Dixon Line Georgia enjoys a tremendous crush of traffic every tourist season. With its brilliant beaches, warm weather and diverse scenery Georgia is a must-see for anyone migrating south for the winter. For the residents of Georgia, however, this crush of traffic can be a nightmare as they try to go about their daily lives. The quantity of accidents which occur increases exponentially with the influx of visitors, which is why GA has established car insurance requirements for all of its residents.

Finding a company through which to purchase an insurance policy is incredibly simple. Listings can be found in the yellow pages of the telephone book or on the internet, and there are usually advertisements to be seen on television or on billboards from companies vying for business. If a driver is planning on purchasing insurance via the internet it is essential that they are familiar with their state’s minimum requirements. These requirements can be obtained in greater detail from the Georgia Department of Insurance in Atlanta at 404-656-2070 or by visiting their website at http://www.inscomm.state.ga.us/.

All Georgia drivers are required to maintain a liability policy on their vehicle. Depending on the company from which it was purchased the liability benefits may or may not extend to drivers of the vehicle other than those listed on the policy. The minimum coverage required by the state is higher than in many other parts of the country, with twenty five thousand dollars being allotted for bodily injury suffered by a single occupant of a car in the event that the insured was responsible for the accident, fifty thousand dollars to cover the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of the car, including the driver, if the vehicle contained multiple passengers, and twenty five thousand dollars to cover the cost of any property damage caused by the insured, including (but not limited to) public property, other vehicles or private property, such as mailboxes or fences.

It is recommended that all drivers carry more than the minimum amount of insurance. It is also recommended, but is not required, that all drivers possess collision and comprehensive insurance. While a liability policy will pay for repairs to the other motorists vehicle in the event of an accident, the one who caused it is usually left holding the bag concerning repairs to their own vehicle. GA collision and comprehensive insurance will pay for these repairs, sparing the owner what may be a great expense.

In the event that a vehicle must be totaled the insurance company will award to the owner the blue book value of the car. Depreciation being what it is the blue book value may be less than the amount owed on the lien for the vehicle. Gap coverage is offered by some insurance companies to “bridge the gap” between the value of the car and the cost of the lien when a vehicle is deemed irreparable.

Along with comprehensive insurance it is suggested that all drivers carry an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, which will provide coverage in the event that a driver is involved in either a hit and run or an accident with a driver who either does not have insurance or whose insurance will not extend to the full cost of the damages inflicted. Without this insurance drivers are often left holding the bag for the cost of their vehicle repairs.