Auto Insurance in Georgia — Why You Need Liability Insurance in the Peach State

You need liability car insurance in Georgia because it is mandated by law. Aside from that, liability auto insurance will go a long way to helping your finances if you are found to be at fault in an accident. 

There’s more than just Southern hospitality and fabulous food in the peach state! There are other drivers on the road making bad decisions, storms that can make visibility difficult, and just plain user error. Let’s look at how Georgia auto insurance can protect you and give you the peace of mind you deserve while you get where you want to go. 

What is Liability Insurance? 

In short, if you are at fault in a car accident, liability insurance pays for damage up to the dollar amounts stated in the insurance policy for the other driver and passengers. This can include damage to property (i.e., the other person’s car) or medical expenses (i.e. if the person or people in the other car are physically injured). Liability insurance is required by law. 

The minimum limits of liability insurance required under Georgia law are: 

• Bodily Injury Liability – $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident 
• Property Damage Liability – $25,000 per incident 

Do You Need Georgia Auto Insurance if You Get into an Accident and Damage Another Person’s Vehicle? 

Yes. You had better have liability insurance, or it will cost you. Let’s say you are usually a safe driver, but you don’t anticipate that the car in front of you will stop when it does. You rear-end the car (which means that it is legally your fault regardless of how the other person was driving, the road conditions, etc.). 

Even if you just scratched or barely dented the other car, it could cost a lot of money to get it fixed, and you will be on the hook for every penny of it if you don’t have liability insurance. It’s amazing how fast costs can rack up in the event of an accident. Emergencies happen. If you do everything you can to prepare for them in advance, including having the Georgia auto insurance coverage that you need, you will be better off financially and have the peace of mind that you deserve. 

What Happens if You Get into an Accident and Someone is Injured? 

If you are at fault in the accident, you can be liable for not only the cost of repairs to the other person’s car but their medical bills as well. If you don’t have the money, you could find yourself in the nightmare position of having harmed someone and then having your future wages garnished to pay for it. If something like this happens, you need the peace of mind of being properly insured so you can focus on what is important — helping the person get medical attention, not worrying if this one mistake will cost you everything. 

What Happens if You Get Pulled Over By a Police Officer? 

Getting pulled over is never fun, but by having proof of liability insurance, you can help change this situation from a potentially major problem into a minor inconvenience. Regardless of whether you were driving a little (or a lot) above the speed limit, you had a taillight out, accidentally crossed the center line while you were reaching for a diet coke in the cup holder, or any of a dozen of other mistakes, knowing that you are properly insured will help you to weather this situation well and make it less stressful. Without proof of liability insurance, you could find yourself with fines or even having your car impounded and needing a ride home on top of everything else. 

Do You Need Georgia Auto Insurance to Renew Your Driver’s License or Car Registration? 

In a word, yes. To renew your driver’s license or your car registration, you must provide written proof of current liability insurance because it is a legal requirement for driving. And for yearly car registration, you’d better believe that authorities keep an eye out for those little stickers on your license plate and will pull you over if they spot one that is out of date. Having proper liability insurance can reduce your chances of getting pulled over by a police officer.