AUTO INSURANCE

Auto insurance that actually matches how you drive.

State minimum liability limits were set decades ago in most states. Medical costs and vehicle repair costs ran past them long ago. We place auto coverage that would actually hold up in a real claim, not just a coverage card you hand to a police officer.

Auto Insurance

What it covers

What a standard auto policy includes.

What it covers

Liability coverage

Pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an at-fault accident. The most important coverage on your policy. State minimums are almost never enough to cover a serious accident.

What it covers

Collision and comprehensive

Collision pays for damage to your vehicle from an accident. Comprehensive pays for damage from theft, vandalism, weather, animals, and falling objects. Both are typically required if you have a loan.

What it covers

Uninsured and underinsured motorist

Pays your medical bills and lost wages if you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance. About one in eight drivers is uninsured. This coverage protects you, not them.

What it covers

Medical payments and PIP

Pays medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. Some states require Personal Injury Protection. Either way, this is the coverage that pays first if anyone in your car is hurt.

Where policies have edges

What a standard auto policy does not cover.

Not covered

Business use

Using your personal vehicle for business deliveries, ride-share, or regular client visits is excluded under personal auto. You need a business auto policy or a ride-share endorsement.

Not covered

Mechanical breakdown and wear

Auto insurance covers sudden accidental loss, not the cost of normal repairs, maintenance, or parts wearing out. Mechanical breakdown coverage is a separate product.

Not covered

Intentional damage

Damage you intentionally cause to your own vehicle or someone else's is excluded. So is racing, speed contests, and using the vehicle to commit a crime.

Not covered

Custom equipment beyond standard limits

Aftermarket stereos, custom paint, lift kits, and other modifications are typically capped at $1,000 to $1,500 unless you specifically schedule them with the carrier.

Who needs this

Who needs Auto Insurance.

Anyone who owns or regularly operates a vehicle. Almost every state requires at least minimum liability coverage to register a vehicle, but most drivers should carry significantly more than the legal floor.

What it costs

What you can expect to pay.

Varies widely by state, driver age and history, vehicle type, and coverage limits. Most drivers pay between $700 and $2,500 per year for a typical personal auto policy.

If You Need to File a Claim

Claims tips

What you do in the first hour after an accident shapes what happens with your claim for the next year. The order matters.

  1. Make sure everyone is safe. Move to a safe location if the vehicles are drivable and you are uninjured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first.
  2. Call the police even for minor accidents. A police report is the single most useful piece of evidence in any disputed claim. Get the report number on scene.
  3. Photograph everything. All damage, all vehicles, the scene from multiple angles, license plates, the other driver's insurance card, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
  4. Exchange information but stay neutral. Names, phone numbers, insurance carriers and policy numbers, license plates. Do not admit fault, apologize, or speculate about what happened. Stick to facts.
  5. Get witness contact info. Independent witnesses are extremely valuable. Anyone who saw what happened, get their name and phone number.
  6. Notify your carrier promptly. Even if the other driver was at fault and you do not plan to file a claim through your own policy, your carrier needs to know. Most policies require prompt notice.
  7. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. You are not required to. Talk to your own carrier or agent first. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny their payout.

GEORGIA · STATE NOTES

Georgia auto minimums: 25/50/25, at-fault state, credit scoring allowed

Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes an accident is financially responsible for damages. This is different from no-fault states and affects how claims work: the at-fault driver’s insurance pays for the other party’s injuries and damages, and Georgia law allows injured parties to sue the at-fault driver directly.

Georgia’s minimum required limits are 25/50/25: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. These minimums have not changed in decades and are genuinely insufficient for any serious accident. A single hospital stay can exceed $100,000. Georgia’s minimum is 25/50/25. Many drivers carry more, such as 100/300/100 or higher with matching uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, because a single serious accident can exceed the state minimum quickly. A free coverage review sets the right limit for your situation.

Georgia allows credit-based insurance scoring. Your insurance score (similar to but distinct from your credit score) affects your premium. Drivers with strong credit pay significantly less than drivers with weak credit for the same coverage. If you’ve recently improved your credit, it’s worth re-shopping.

Georgia’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage has a specific distinction: ‘added on’ UM stacks on top of the at-fault driver’s liability, while ‘reduced by’ UM subtracts the at-fault driver’s limits from yours. Added-on is better coverage and worth the modest extra premium. We default to added-on UM for every Georgia client unless they specifically opt out.

Georgia HB 1409 (2024) modified third-party bad-faith claim procedures, affecting how insurers must respond to settlement demands. This primarily matters if you’re involved in litigation after an accident.

  • Minimum limits: 25/50/25 (bodily injury/accident/property)
  • At-fault state, driver who caused accident pays
  • Credit-based insurance scoring permitted

If you have a claim in Georgia

Your insurer must acknowledge a claim within 15 days and decide it within 30 days.

Your rights as a Georgia policyholder during a claimGeorgia is governed by the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (O.C.G.A. Section 33-6-30 to 37) and rules issued under Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. 120-2-52. These give you specific timelines and rights when you file a property and casualty claim.Acknowledgment. Your insurer must acknowledge receipt of your claim within 15 calendar days. They must also provide proof of loss forms within 15 days of your notification.Decision. For first-party property damage claims, the insurer must affirm or deny coverage within 15 days of receiving a completed proof of loss, or within 30 days of the claim being reported if proof of loss is not required. If they need more time, they must tell you within 5 business days and give a reason.Written denial. A denial must be in writing and must explain the specific policy provisions the carrier is relying on.Bad faith remedy. Under O.C.G.A. Section 33-4-6, if the carrier refuses to pay a covered claim, you may make a written demand for payment. If they fail to pay within 60 days and a court later finds the refusal was in bad faith, the carrier owes a penalty of up to 50 percent of the claim plus reasonable attorney’s fees.How to escalate. If you cannot resolve a dispute with your insurer, file a complaint with the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. Filing is free. They investigate and can require corrective action against the carrier. A complaint is regulatory and does not directly compensate you, but it creates a record and applies pressure.What an independent agent adds. Olive Cover reads your policy with you, helps you document the loss, follows up on stalled timelines, and pushes back when the carrier’s position does not match the policy. We are not your lawyer or the public adjuster, and we will tell you when one of those is the right next step.

Georgia Department of Insurance: (800) 656-2298 · File a complaint

Common Auto Insurance Questions

Explore Auto Insurance facts and statistics, each cited to a government or research source →

Common Questions

Auto Insurance: frequently asked questions

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.

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Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Georgia?

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

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Are Georgia minimum auto insurance limits enough?

Georgia minimum limits are 25/50/25. A single accident with injuries can easily exceed $100,000 in medical bills alone.

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Does my auto policy cover a rental car?

Usually yes, if you have comprehensive and collision on your policy.

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

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.

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Send us your current auto declarations page. We will tell you where you are underinsured.

Most drivers we review are carrying liability limits that were set when the policy was first written and never updated. Send the declarations page. We will show you what raising UM and liability actually costs.