Are Georgians required to have driver's insurance?

I am often asked about what kind of drivers' insurance is needed in Georgia. Here's the scoop.

All Georgians must have automobile liability insurance for at least the minimum limits required by law:

• Bodily Injury Liability of $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per occurrence and
• Property Damage liability of $25,000 per occurrence.

Your Liability Insurance is insurance that pays damages to others, for injury to or damaged property of others, up to the policy limit, which you may have caused by your negligence or may protect you against claims made against you by someone who alleges you are at-fault.

Your Physical Damage Insurance is insurance to pay for loss or damage to your own vehicle. Physical Damage Insurance consists of two types. The first part which pays for theft, vandalism and fire type losses (referred to as "comprehensive" or "other than collision coverage"). The second part is "collision" coverage. Physical Damage Insurance is not required by State law, but is usually required by a lender if there is a loan on the vehicle, or by the leasing company if it is leased. You can file a claim under your own Physical Damage Insurance coverage even if someone else may have caused the accident.

What is Uninsured motorist insurance?

Uninsured Motorist Insurance may also be included on your policy. Although Georgia requires all drivers to have "liability insurance" to drive, there are unfortunately those who either do not obey the law or may have unknowingly allowed their insurance to cancel. Uninsured Motorist protects you when an "uninsured" driver causes an accident, damaging your vehicle or injuring you or your passengers. This coverage protects you for loss or damages in an accident.

If you are injured by someone who carries minimal or no insurance, your own insurance company protects you with the Uninsured Motorist portion of your policy. You should plan on having between $250,000 and one million dollars in uninsured / underinsured coverage. This is NOT umbrella coverage, as most umbrella policies do not provided uninsured motorist coverage.

This is very confusing, and some of you may think that higher coverage is too expensive. Check your driving history and with your insurance company and if it's not affordable now, check again in six months or a year. You do not want to be an unfortunate car accident injury victim where the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance coverage.

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