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 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 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.

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 is the difference between towing coverage on my policy and roadside assistance towing?

Policy towing coverage reimburses a tow following a covered claim. Roadside assistance towing is a separate benefit that covers non-accident situations like breakdowns, dead batteries, or lockouts, often without requiring a claim.

Auto FAQs

What happens if an uninsured driver hits you in Georgia?

All FAQs

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

When an uninsured driver hits you in Georgia, the at-fault driver's policy - the one that's supposed to pay for your injuries and vehicle damage - doesn't exist. What happens next depends entirely on whether you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own policy. Without it, your only path is suing the at-fault driver directly, a process that's often slow and produces nothing if that driver has no meaningful assets. With UM, your own insurer steps in and pays your claim up to your policy limit.

What happens if the driver leaves the scene (a hit-and-run)?

When an at-fault driver leaves the scene and cannot be identified, there is no liability policy to make a claim against at all. UM coverage applies to qualifying hit-and-run situations the same way it applies when a driver is identified but uninsured - Georgia treats a qualifying hit-and-run as an uninsured motorist event, allowing a claim to be filed with your own insurer. Most policies require physical contact between vehicles to trigger UM in a hit-and-run, so reviewing your policy language before a loss gives you a clear picture of what applies.

For example, a driver rear-ends your vehicle on I-285 in Atlanta and leaves the scene before you can record any information. Your UM coverage pays for medical bills and vehicle repairs up to your policy limit, reduced by your deductible. See how deductibles work in auto claims at the deductible FAQ.

What is the financial exposure without UM coverage?

Without UM, the primary option is suing the at-fault driver directly, which is time-consuming and often produces nothing if the driver has no assets. Health insurance may cover medical bills but generally does not cover vehicle damage or lost wages, leaving those costs uncovered.

For example, an uninsured driver runs a red light in Decatur and causes $80,000 in injuries and vehicle damage to another motorist. With $100,000 in UM coverage, that motorist's own policy pays the claim up to the limit. Without UM, those costs fall on the victim unless a lawsuit succeeds, which can take years with no guaranteed recovery.

Why does this happen even though Georgia requires insurance?

Georgia's minimum auto liability requirement is 25/50/25: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. A meaningful share of Georgia drivers carry only those minimums or no insurance at all - one emergency room visit and hospital stay can exceed $25,000 on its own. UM coverage on your own policy closes that gap. See the full breakdown at the Georgia auto minimum limits FAQ.

What should I do to confirm I'm protected on Georgia roads?

UM/UIM coverage protects you and your passengers, not the other driver, and it pays off exactly when the at-fault party cannot. A coverage review can confirm whether your current UM limits match your risk exposure on Georgia roads.