Georgia’s auto insurance costs slightly less than the national average, but drivers are always looking for more ways to save money on their auto insurance. Some are easy, like choosing a car with good crash-test scores, since insurance companies assign lower premiums to safer cars. Driving safely and keeping a clean record helps quite a bit, and fighting against insurance fraud helps keep insurance costs lower for everyone. Anyone who is aware of fraudulent insurance activity can report it to law enforcement agencies or Georgia’s State Insurance Department and participate in the effort to keep insurance affordable.

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Georgia’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

The state of Georgia requires drivers to maintain a minimum specified level of insurance coverage. Every driver must carry liability insurance with coverage limits of 25/50/25. This means the insurance company will pay $50,000 total for each accident, with up to $25,000 for each person involved. Additionally, the policy will pay $25,000 for any property damage for the other person’s car. Drivers must make sure to carry at least the state minimum required insurance, or risk having their license suspended.

Additional Coverage Types

Having a driver’s license suspended because of being caught driving without insurance is no fun. However, getting into an accident without enough insurance is even worse. Some states require drivers to carry additional insurance, in the form of personal injury protection, no-fault or uninsured motorist coverage. Georgia does not require these types of insurance, however, they might be a wise investment. Comprehensive and collision insurance cover the policyholder’s car for any damages sustained in a collision. Additionally, if the car is vandalized, damaged by an animal or falling debris in a storm, for example, comprehensive and collision insurance provide coverage. If a car is financed or leased, these extra types of insurance are usually required to protect the car until it is fully paid off. Accidents can be expensive, and serious accidents could cost more than limited insurance can cover. Having adequate insurance coverage is the least expensive way to protect drivers from the possibility of huge financial losses.

Factors Affecting Auto Insurance Rates

The good and bad news is that many factors that play a part in how insurance companies determine the cost of insurance for any given individual. Females tend to have lower insurance rates since they are statistically safer drives (sorry guys). Additionally, the car a person drives can make a big difference in premiums. Choosing the safest car, such as the Toyota Sienna or the Audi A3 can result in lower insurance costs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety publishes an annual list of the safest cars to drive and the report is available online. Of course keeping traffic tickets and accidents off your record keeps premiums lower and even a person’s credit record is looked at these days when insurance companies calculate their premiums. Apparently, people with poor credit seem to have more auto accidents. Overall, watching over the factors which drivers can control helps keep the costs of auto insurance as low as possible.

Latest Georgia Auto Insurance Legislation

Senate Bill 360 in Georgia prohibits any driver of age 18 years or younger from using a mobile text messaging device while driving. This type of legislation is starting to show up in every state, since distracted driving has caused a larger proportion of auto accidents in recent years. If a driver in Georgia receives a conviction for this violation, he will get four points on his driving record.

Average Auto Insurance for Georgia

According to average insurance premiums provided by CarInsurance.com, Georgia’s average cost of auto insurance is $1,298 in 2011. This estimate comes from a survey of insurance quotes for drivers in Georgia, whether or not they actually purchased the insurance. This compares to a national average of $1,440 in 2011 using the same methodology. The report is updated each month, and the trend for Georgia’s insurance premiums shows a general lowering of insurance rates continuing for the near future.

Georgia’s Auto Accident Statistics

Georgia had 1,284 traffic fatalities in 2009. Slightly more of these fatalities took place in Georgia’s rural areas, rather than the busy urban centers of the state. This may be due to the delay in receiving prompt medical care for critically injured accident victims in rural settings. Georgia has a slightly higher fatality rate than the nation overall, with 13.06 traffic fatalities per 100,000 population as compared to the state average of 11.01 traffic deaths per 100,000 population.

How much does Auto Insurance cost in Georgia?

According to Georgia’s Insurance Information Service, auto insurance costs more for drivers in Atlanta than in other parts of the state, primarily due to the higher risk that comes with driving in the high-traffic area. Overall, however, Georgia’s average cost for auto insurance is quite reasonable. For 2011, the annual cost average of $1,298 translates to $108.16 per month for auto insurance. This compares to $120 for the nation on average.

Finding Good Rates on Auto Insurance

Finding affordable auto insurance is always important. There is no benefit for overpaying on the same insurance that can be had elsewhere for less. People often have changes in their lives that affect insurance rates, such as shorter commutes to a new job, a move to a new neighborhood, or a traffic ticket that has just come off of their driving record. Any time these events take place is the time to look around for lower-priced insurance. Quotes can be found online in minutes from several insurance providers. Additionally, even if negative events have happened such as a speeding ticket or a DUI, drivers can benefit from working with insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers, as they might find surprisingly affordable rates from these companies.

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