The Cheapest Car Insurance in Georgia in 2023

Auto Insurance in Georgia: What You Need to Know

Securing car insurance in Georgia is a little tricky. State minimum requirements are relatively simple, but drivers who opt for only state-minimum coverage are vulnerable to financial loss. Add to this the fact that many factors can influence the rate of car insurance, and it’s easy to see how confusing the process of purchasing Georgia car insurance can be.

In this article, we demystify the entire process from start to finish. You’ll learn about:

• State minimums and why you likely need more
• How your driver profile affects your premium costs (and what to do about it)
• All the ways Georgia drivers can save on car insurance

By the end, you’ll also know how to quickly get great coverage at a low cost. So let’s get started.

Key Takeaways:

• Car insurance costs about $240 a month on average for Georgia drivers — or $2,886 a year.
• Auto-Owners Insurance offers the lowest rates on average to Georgia drivers.
• Cordele, Tifton, and Americus drivers pay the lowest average monthly premiums.
• No matter your driving record, you can lower your rates by securing discounts, comparison shopping, and other simple tricks.

Georgia Auto Insurance Requirements

Georgia has relatively low minimum insurance requirements:

• Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person
• Bodily injury liability of $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability of $25,000 per accident

But these state minimums leave drivers vulnerable to financial loss in the event of an accident — no matter who’s at fault. First, you may want to increase your liability coverage limits, especially if you often drive with passengers.

Second, consider adding the following optional coverages:

• Uninsured motorist protection covers you when a driver without insurance hits your car.
• Underinsured motorist protection protects you when a driver hits your car and doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover damages.
• MedPay, or medical payments coverage, pays your medical bills, no matter who’s at fault for an accident.

Insurance Requirements from Lenders

Whether you have a lease or loan on your vehicle, your lender will require you to carry both collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle after an at-fault accident. And comprehensive coverage pays for damages from a noncollision event, such as hail or vandalism.

Gap coverage pays the difference between the principal balance on a car loan and the value of your car when it’s totaled or stolen. This may also be a requirement from your lender.

Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Georgia

Driving uninsured in Georgia comes with severe consequences, including:

• Misdemeanor conviction
• $200 to $1,000 fine
• Up to 12 months of jail time

Insurance companies report to the Department of Driver Services (DDS) when there’s a lapse in your insurance coverage. Drivers receive a 30-day grace period to purchase a new car insurance policy. But if you don’t reinstate your policy in time, your license may be suspended. To reinstate driver’s licenses in Georgia, drivers must pay a $60 reinstatement fee and a $25 fee for the lapse in coverage.

The Average Cost for Georgia Car Insurance

The average annual cost for car insurance in Georgia is $2,886. But many drivers pay more or less depending on their driver profile, vehicle, and policy choices.

Georgia’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

Some companies stand out because they regularly offer more affordable rates than others. Let’s take a closer look.

How We Chose the Cheapest Companies in Georgia

After examining rates from over 65 of Georgia’s leading car insurance companies, our team compiled a list of the five most affordable choices for drivers of different age groups, insurance needs, marital statuses, credit histories, and driving records.

The analysis uses individuals who drive a 2016 Honda Accord and require either liability or full coverage, with Georgia’s minimum policy limits.

Cheapest Overall Auto Insurance Rates in Georgia: Auto-Owners Insurance

According to our research, whether you need minimum insurance coverage or a full-coverage policy, Auto-Owners Insurance provides the cheapest car insurance rates in Georgia.

Of course, the cheapest on average doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the most affordable. That’s why comparing quotes is essential before deciding on your policy.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Minimum Coverage: Auto-Owners Insurance

Minimum coverage refers to state-minimum requirements — i.e., the least amount of insurance you can buy to legally operate your vehicle in the state.

Keep in mind that this is a liability-only car insurance policy. It’s most appropriate for cars owned outright and valued at less than $5,000. We recommend increasing liability limits and adding valuable coverage options, such as uninsured motorist protection, to your policy.

Often, these additional coverages cost little to add, but they can provide an enormous amount of protection.

Here are the best rates for minimum coverage.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full Coverage: Auto-Owners Insurance

Full-coverage policies include liability insurance, collision insurance, and comprehensive coverage; it’s usually required for financed and leased cars.

Here are the cheapest auto insurance companies for full-coverage policies.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Age is one of the most significant determining factors for your car insurance premium. Your age corresponds to your experience on the road. The more experience a driver has, the less likely they are to cause a claim.

Let’s take a closer look at how premiums change depending on how old you are.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Georgia Teens: Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance

Auto premiums for teen drivers are notoriously expensive. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find savings. Below are the companies that offer the cheapest average rates to drivers under 20.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Young Drivers in Georgia: Auto-Owners Insurance

Car insurance premiums decrease as you get older, and they drop even more once you reach 20 years old. Here are the cheapest companies on average for young drivers between 20 and 25 years old.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Georgians in Their 40s: Auto-Owners Insurance

Rates continue to fall in your 30s and 40s. That’s because drivers in this age group and beyond have accumulated valuable driving experience that helps them reduce the risk of being in a car accident. Here are the cheapest options for drivers in their 40s.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Retirement-Age Drivers in Georgia: Auto-Owners Insurance

Once you reach 65, car insurance premiums may begin to rise. That’s because drivers who are of retirement age have an elevated risk of filing an at-fault insurance claim.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving history has a major impact on your premium rates as well. Drivers with clean records tend to pay the lowest rates overall. Premiums then increase based on the severity of the driving infraction, with more severe incidents leading to higher premiums.

Remember, maintaining a clean record is the best way to lower rates after you receive a mark on your record.

Now, let’s look at the difference in cost for drivers with different types of driving records.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Good Drivers in Georgia: Auto-Owners Insurance

Drivers with a clean driving record tend to pay the lowest premiums, but some companies offer more affordable rates on average. Below are the cheapest options on the market in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Georgia Drivers After a Ticket: Auto-Owners Insurance

Even getting a ticket can increase your insurance rates for one to three years. Receiving more serious tickets or having multiple on your record can lead to even higher rates.

Below are the cheapest insurance companies for drivers with at least one ticket in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Georgia Drivers After an Accident: Auto-Owners Insurance

After an at-fault car accident, rate hikes tend to last for at least three years. However, many insurance companies offer reasonable rates to drivers with an accident. Here are some of the best.

And don’t forget to compare rates often! Different companies use different factors to assess risk, and some companies offer lower rates more quickly to drivers with an accident on their record.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company After a DUI in Georgia: State Farm

Getting caught driving under the influence has many costly ramifications, such as high insurance rates. But that doesn’t mean drivers can’t find affordable coverage.

Below are insurers with the most affordable premiums for drivers with at least one DUI.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates by Marital Status

Your marital status affects your car insurance. Since married people are less likely to file an at-fault insurance claim than single drivers, they pay lower premiums. Let’s take a closer look at each profile.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Married Georgia Drivers: Auto-Owners Insurance

Married, widowed, and divorced drivers pay less on average than single drivers who have never been married. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers who have tied the knot in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Single Georgia Drivers: Auto-Owners Insurance

Single drivers tend to pay more than married drivers, all else being equal. But some car insurance companies offer better rates to single drivers than others. Here are the most affordable insurers we found.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates by Credit Score

Your credit score can impact how much you pay for auto insurance in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Good Credit: Auto-Owners Insurance

Drivers with good credit enjoy a ton of cost-saving benefits, including lower car insurance rates on average. Below are the cheapest rates for drivers with high credit scores.

Cheapest Car Insurance Company for Bad Credit: COUNTRY Financial

Having a lower credit score is associated with filing more car insurance claims. That’s why car insurance premiums are higher for drivers with bad credit. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a good deal.

Below are the best rates for Georgia drivers with low credit scores.

The Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Georgia

Your address has a significant effect on the cost of car insurance. Local statistics, such as claim rates, average vehicle value, and weather patterns, can all cause rates to increase or decrease.

Here are the cheapest cities on average in Georgia.

The Best Car Insurance Discounts Georgia Drivers Can Use to Save Money

No matter who you are, a car insurance discount is available to you. Here are our favorites.

• Telematics: With telematics programs, car insurance companies monitor your driving habits via a mobile app or small device installed in your car. You can save up to 30% on your premium depending on the insurance company and how well you drive.
• Good driver: This discount is available to drivers without a history of traffic violations or at-fault car insurance claims. You can save up to 30% with some car insurance companies.
• Billing and payments: Paying in full, setting up automatic payments, and signing up for electronic statements typically earn policyholders a discount of 1% to 10% off premiums.
• Vehicle safety: If your car comes equipped with airbags, antilock brakes, and daytime running headlights, you can earn a discount of up to 25% from some insurance companies.

Companies Offering the Most Discounts to Georgia Drivers

Policyholders love discounts, so insurance companies love to offer them. Below are the Georgia car insurance companies with the most discount opportunities.

Top 5 Tips to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Georgia

No matter who you are, there are always ways to get cheaper car insurance. Here are our best strategies for drivers in Georgia.

1. Use discounts: There are dozens of car insurance discounts, so obtain as many as possible. Don’t hesitate to call your insurance agent to double-check which discounts you’re eligible for.
2. Adjust your policy: Raising your deductibles (the amount you pay out of pocket in case of a claim) typically lowers your premium costs.
3. Compare quotes: Comparing quotes for multiple insurance companies before buying makes it easier to ensure you’re finding the most affordable policy.
4. Try usage-based insurance (UBI): With UBI, how and when you drive your car determines your premium. Policyholders who practice safe driving habits and put in fewer miles behind the wheel than average can save a ton on car insurance.
5. Keep a clean driving record: Maintaining a clean driving history means you’ll have access to lower rates and valuable discounts, like the safe driver discount.

How to Compare Cheap Georgia Car Insurance Quotes Online

The easiest way to compare car insurance options is to compare policies online. You can use our auto insurance comparison site to generate real quotes from over 65 top auto insurers, and it only takes 5 minutes.

Once you pull up your coverage options, be sure to consider the essential differences between each policy based on:

• Coverage levels: What are the coverage limits of each coverage type?
• Coverage types: What types of coverage does this policy include?
• Customer service: What are the customer service satisfaction scores?
• Claims service: What are the claim service satisfaction scores?
• Customer reviews: What are customers saying about the company on sites like Trustpilot?
• Customer complaints: How does the company respond to complaints on sites like the Better Business Bureau?

Compare.com’s Top 5 Best Car Insurance Companies in Georgia for 2023

The companies on this list earn high marks from their customers. Below, we give a general overview of each, but you can learn more by reading about the best Georgia car insurance companies.

State Farm

State Farm enjoys one of the highest renewal rates of any other car insurance company in the nation. Customer loyalty is probably due to its high customer and claims satisfaction levels. State Farm excels at customer service and offers many discount programs, including two telematics programs: Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear.

The company doesn’t offer as many policy riders and coverage options, but it’s an excellent choice for drivers needing straightforward car insurance.

GEICO

Well known for offering low rates and lots of discount opportunities, GEICO also provides an excellent mobile app and website. The company makes it super easy for Georgia drivers to manage their car insurance policies — and any other policy they purchase with the company.

GEICO also offers plenty of discount opportunities for drivers of all backgrounds, including special discounts for first responders and federal employees. Policyholders can also get rare coverage options, such as rental car reimbursement.

Allstate

Allstate offers policyholders many discount opportunities, including the telematics program Drivewise. It also provides one of the largest selections of car insurance coverage options and additional insurance products, including affordable renters insurance policies.

Customers also enjoy self-managing their policies and claims using the mobile app or website. Perhaps that’s why claim satisfaction is so high with Allstate — the claim satisfaction guarantee offers a six-month credit toward premiums if you’re unhappy with your claims process.

Nationwide

With Nationwide, policyholders can access a top-notch website, mobile app, and customer service team. They can also fulfill other insurance needs, including pet and farm insurance. Plus, valuable add-ons, like identity theft coverage, are available.

Auto-Owners Insurance

In addition to offering the cheapest rates on average to drivers, Auto-Owners Insurance boasts excellent customer satisfaction. The company also has an extensive range of insurance products, including home, life, and business insurance. It also boasts tons of discount opportunities.

Other Common Types of Georgia Car Insurance

The state minimum is rarely enough coverage to keep drivers fully protected. Depending on your situation, you may need some or all of the following coverage types.

• Comprehensive coverage
• Collision coverage
• Gap coverage
• Uninsured motorist protection
• Underinsured motorist protection
• Medical payments coverage
• Roadside assistance
• Rental reimbursement coverage

SR-22 Auto Insurance in Georgia

Drivers caught committing a serious traffic offense must typically file proof of insurance with the Georgia DDS via an SR-22 document. The SR-22 must be submitted on your behalf by your insurance company.

SR-22 insurance is typically more expensive than car insurance for drivers with clean records. But State Farm, ACCC Insurance Company, and Auto-Owners Insurance offer competitive rates to these drivers.

No-Fault Insurance in Georgia

Georgia is an at-fault state, which means that the driver found to be at fault for a car accident is responsible for covering the damages done to others. But car accidents are rarely the result of one driver’s error, so what happens when both drivers are found responsible for an accident?

Georgia is a comparative-fault state, meaning drivers are responsible for the percentage of damages they cause in an accident. Let’s look at how this would play out in an accident where damages totaled $10,000.

How PIP Works in Georgia

Because Georgia is an at-fault state, personal injury protection, or PIP, is not required. The drivers found at fault for the accident are responsible for covering damages.

But drivers might not carry enough insurance to cover your losses. And suing for reimbursement may not get you anything if the driver has no assets. That’s why it’s so important to purchase uninsured/underinsured coverage. MedPay is also an inexpensive way to get added protection.

Helpful Resources for Georgia Drivers

• Georgia Drivers Handbook
• Georgia Insurance Requirements
• Contact Georgia DDS
• Testing and License Requirements Overview
• Certified Driver Training Schools
• Vehicle Tag & Title Registration
• Driver’s License Renewal

Georgia Auto Insurance FAQs

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company in Georgia?

Auto-Owners Insurance Company regularly offers Georgia drivers the cheapest car insurance rates, at just $79 a month on average for state-minimum coverage. But the cheapest for most may not be the most affordable for you. Always compare rates from several companies before you buy.

How much is car insurance in Georgia monthly?

The average monthly premium for Georgia car insurance is $240. But many drivers pay more or less than the average. Many factors can contribute to premium costs, including the driver’s age, location, driving history, and vehicle.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Georgia?

On average, drivers in Cordele pay the least for car insurance, at just $66 a month. Factors that keep costs low here include the town’s smaller size, shorter average commute times, and less expensive vehicles.

How much car insurance is required in Georgia?

In Georgia, drivers must carry 25/50/25 minimum-liability coverage, meaning $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 bodily injury liability per incident. Plus, they need $25,000 of property damage liability.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Georgia?

Drivers found driving without insurance in Georgia can face a misdemeanor conviction, a fine of $200 to $1000, and up to 12 months of jail time. Additionally, they must pay $85 in fees to reinstate their license.

Methodology

All data referenced in this article comes from a combination of proprietary data — which is aggregated from millions of real customer quotes through Compare.com — and additional data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant.