What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

If you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills.

What happens if an uninsured driver hits you in Georgia?

Georgia does not require UM coverage but roughly 12 percent of Georgia drivers carry no insurance.

What happens if a Georgia crash costs more than my liability limits?

Your insurer pays up to your liability limit and stops. The remaining balance becomes a personal debt collectible through a court judgment.

What should I do if my car is towed to a shop I did not choose?

In Georgia, you have the right to choose where your vehicle is repaired. If it was towed to a facility you did not select, you can request a second tow to your preferred shop, though you may be responsible for additional tow costs.

What does a telematics app actually track?

Mileage, speed, braking and acceleration, time of day, and phone handling while the car moves. Carriers weight the factors differently, and the program terms disclose what is collected and how it is used.

Auto FAQs

Does auto insurance follow the car or the driver in Georgia?

All FAQs

Quick answer: The policy on the vehicle usually responds first in a Georgia accident, with the driver's own coverage as backup. Permission and household rules decide the exceptions.

Does auto insurance follow the car or the driver in Georgia?

In Georgia, auto insurance generally follows the car, not the driver. The policy attached to the vehicle is the first to respond when that vehicle is in an accident, regardless of who was behind the wheel, as long as they had the owner's permission to drive it.

The practical effect: if a friend borrows your car and rear-ends another vehicle, your collision and liability coverage steps in first. Your friend's own policy may act as secondary coverage, but only after your limits are exhausted. This means a serious wreck caused by someone else in your car can still trigger a claim on your policy, and potentially raise your premium at renewal.

What is permissive use and why does it matter?

Insurance policies distinguish between permissive use and unauthorized use. Most personal auto policies in Georgia cover drivers who have the vehicle owner's explicit or implied consent. A household member who regularly uses your car typically qualifies. A stranger who takes the vehicle without asking does not, and a claim arising from that situation may be denied or sharply reduced.

For example, if your neighbor borrows your car with a quick verbal okay and gets into an accident, that falls under permissive use and your policy responds first. If someone takes the car without asking and causes a crash, the carrier may deny the claim based on unauthorized use.

What situations shift how coverage applies?

Excluded drivers. If you formally exclude a driver from your policy in writing, coverage generally does not apply when they drive your car. Georgia insurers can require you to exclude a household member with a poor driving record as a condition of coverage.
Rental and borrowed vehicles. When you drive a car you do not own, your own liability coverage may extend to that vehicle. Personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage also typically travel with the person rather than the car.
Rideshare and delivery driving. Standard personal auto policies typically suspend coverage during the period when the app is on and a passenger or delivery is accepted. A rideshare endorsement or commercial policy fills that gap.
Non-owner policies. Drivers who do not own a car but regularly borrow or rent one can purchase a non-owner auto policy. It provides liability coverage that follows the person, not a specific vehicle.

Are Georgia's minimum liability limits enough to cover a serious accident?

Georgia's minimum liability limits are 25/50/25: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Whether those minimums are adequate for a given driver's exposure depends on assets, household members, and how the vehicle is used.

For example, a single emergency room visit after a collision can exceed $25,000. A driver carrying only minimum limits would be personally responsible for any amount above that limit if they were at fault in the accident.

How do I confirm my current policy handles permissive-use drivers correctly?

If you want to understand how your current policy handles permissive-use drivers or whether your limits match your situation, a coverage review with a licensed advisor can clarify both. A review also identifies whether your deductible levels are appropriate for how the vehicle is used.

Schedule a coverage review with an Olive Cover advisor.