Georgia law requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage. This insurance financially protects drivers and others when collisions occur, causing bodily injury and property damage. If a driver fails to comply with what is commonly called the “25/50/25” rule, they cannot legally operate a motor vehicle on Georgia’s highways, streets, and roads.
A driver makes a potentially costly mistake when they fail to follow Georgia’s auto insurance requirements. If drivers bear most of the blame in a car accident, they could be on the hook for someone else’s injuries and vehicle damage and face criminal penalties.
What Is Bodily Liability Coverage?
Bodily injury liability coverage pays for the costs associated with injuries that a driver causes to another person in an accident. It helps cover medical bills, hospital costs, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages if the accident leaves the injured party unable to work. In some circumstances, bodily injury coverage may also include legal defense fees if the injured person decides to file a lawsuit.
Georgia law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance. These limits represent the first two numbers in the “25/50/25” rule. The required limits are:
- $25,000 per person for injuries
- $50,000 per accident for injuries if more than one person is hurt.
Bodily injury liability coverage does not pay your medical bills if you suffer injuries in a crash that you caused. Instead, it protects other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians from the financial impact of your negligence.
What Is Property Damage Liability Coverage?
Property damage liability coverage pays for repairing or replacing another person’s property when you are at fault in a crash. This car insurance coverage pays for repairing damage to another driver’s vehicle or replacing the vehicle if it is a “total loss.” This insurance can also cover damage to structures such as fences, buildings, or mailboxes. Like bodily injury liability coverage, this insurance protects other people from losses you cause, not the losses you experience due to an accident that was your fault.
Property damage is the third number in the “25/50/25” rule. Under Georgia law, all drivers must carry at least $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident.
If the cost of repairing or replacing the other person’s property exceeds your auto insurance policy limit, you may be personally responsible for paying the difference. So, a low amount of coverage could expose one to personal liability.
What Insurance Covers Damages to My Car If I Share Fault?
Because liability insurance pays for someone else’s losses, rather than your own, you might worry about paying for damage to your car. Collision coverage may provide some peace of mind.
Collision coverage helps pay for repairs or compensates you for the actual cash value of your car if it’s totaled in a motor vehicle accident. You can turn to this coverage regardless of who caused the crash.
Georgia law doesn’t require drivers to purchase collision coverage or its close cousin, comprehensive coverage (which protects against non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, or weather-related damage). Still, many lenders require it as a condition for providing financing.
These optional forms of protection can prevent steep out-of-pocket costs after an accident or unexpected event. Without them, drivers must pay entirely for their repairs or get a replacement vehicle.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage (and Is It Required in Georgia)?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you if a driver who doesn’t have car insurance hits you. This coverage may cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some cases, it can also cover property damage to your vehicle. It’s often paired with underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which steps in when the other party’s policy limits fail to compensate you fully.
In Georgia, uninsured motorist coverage is not mandatory. However, insurance companies must offer it with every car insurance policy. Drivers have the option to reject it in writing. While the coverage is optional, UM insurance provides an important safeguard, especially given the number of uninsured or underinsured drivers in Georgia.
What Are the Penalties for a Driver Who Does Not Carry the Minimum Required Auto Insurance in Georgia?
Driving without the required liability insurance in Georgia is a serious offense. A first violation is considered a misdemeanor and can lead to fines ranging from $200 to $1,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both. In addition, the state may suspend an uninsured driver’s license for 60 days and require them to pay a reinstatement fee of $210 ($200 if paid by mail) before they can legally drive.
Repeated violations could lead to harsher consequences. A driver caught multiple times without coverage may face longer registration suspensions, higher fines, and extended incarceration. Law enforcement may also impound the vehicle until the driver provides proof of insurance.
Uninsured drivers who cause accidents also face significant financial exposure. An injured person who files a car accident claim can seek to hold the driver liable for their medical bills and property damage, which often far exceed the costs of maintaining even the minimum required insurance coverage.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
If another driver hits you, you may face a lengthy physical recovery period and stress about how you’ll pay your medical bills, especially if your injuries prevent you from working. An experienced Georgia car accident attorney at Spiva Law Group can help. Our team has supported injured people in Savannah and statewide since 1984, and we’ve recovered more than $500 million for our clients.
In the aftermath of a collision, you may worry about adding the cost of a car accident lawsuit to your growing financial burden. Spiva Law Group charges no fees upfront. We won’t get paid unless we recover compensation from you. There’s no financial risk in seeking the justice you deserve.
Contact Spiva Law Group 24/7 to arrange a free consultation with an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer and learn what we can do to support your recovery.
Site by 
