Whether tourists enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountain area or they come to enjoy the warm weather and sandy beaches of Georgia’s ocean coastlines, these tourists add to the traffic already existing on Georgia highways. Residents and the State of Georgia alike notice the many tourists. Georgia drivers must be sufficiently covered to meet the high traffic volume that frequents their state each and every year. Georgia drivers are lucky enough to live in one of the states where auto insurance is well below the national average. In 2006, the average auto insurance rate was $1705 and it went down by $4.8% to $1627 in 2007, which is $269 less than the national average.
Georgia Auto Insurance Requirements
Georgia auto insurance coverage minimums are higher than many states due to the fact that the state pulls in a lot of tourists. The possibility of collisions on the road increases as the traffic volume increases. Georgia mandates a 25/50/25 ratio for minimum coverage on bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
- Bodily Injury Liability covers at fault drivers for medical expenses incurred to the person in the other vehicle.
- A total amount of $50,000 is allocated for medical expenses to more than one injured party in the other car. It does not however, exceed this amount regardless of how many people have been hurt.
- Property Damage Liability covers up to $25,000 for damages incurred by the at fault driver to both private and state property, such as private homes, public buildings, road signs, and the other motorist’s car.
These minimum limits will not cover the large amounts sustained from major accidents and so more than the minimum auto insurance should be obtained to protect Georgians from large lawsuits.
Not only do other cars get damaged, so does the at fault party’s car as well. The State of Georgia recommends that Georgians take out Comprehensive and Collision insurance to protect from damage done to their vehicle due to natural phenomena such storms or wildlife colliding into the car.
Georgia auto insurance should also include Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist protection in the event that the at fault drivers does not have any auto insurance or enough insurance to cover the damages they are responsible to pay on your vehicle.
If you are still paying on a loan for you car, it would be prudent to take out Gap Insurance. This insurance will cover your damages if your car has been totaled in an accident and your auto insurance company only pays you the Kelly Blue Book listed price for your car. This amount due to depreciation is oftentimes less the loan you still must pay on your car.
