Georgia requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 of property damage liability, often written as 25/50/25. Uninsured motorist coverage is part of every Georgia policy unless you reject it in writing.
Georgia tracks coverage electronically. Insurers report policies to the Department of Revenue, so a lapse on a registered car can lead to fines and a suspended registration even if you’re never pulled over.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia requires 25/50/25 liability coverage. Drivers convicted of DUI since a 2025 law took effect must carry higher limits for three years.
- Uninsured motorist coverage is included unless you reject it in writing. By default, it pays on top of what the at-fault driver’s insurance pays.
- The state fines you $25 for a lapse on a registered car, meaning a gap of 10 or more days between policies or no new policy on file within 30 days after the old one ends. If you don’t pay the fine within 30 days, your registration is suspended and you’ll owe a reinstatement fee too.
- Knowingly driving uninsured is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. A conviction usually suspends your license, and a second one requires an SR-22A for three years.
Georgia Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | Included at $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage unless you reject it in writing |
| After a DUI conviction since the 2025 law took effect | $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 after a first conviction, or $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 after a later one, for three years |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire lists the 25/50/25 minimums. A 25/50/25 policy pays up to $25,000 for each person you injure, up to $50,000 for everyone injured in one accident and up to $25,000 for property damage. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how those numbers work.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Georgia
Under O.C.G.A. 33-7-11, every Georgia auto policy includes uninsured motorist (UM) coverage unless an insured named in the policy rejects it in writing. The minimum is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage.
Georgia also lets you choose how your UM coverage works alongside the other driver’s insurance:
- The default: your UM pays in addition to whatever the at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays.
- The other option: you can choose, in writing, UM that pays only the difference between the at-fault driver’s liability limits and your UM limits.
Here’s a hypothetical example. You carry $50,000 of UM, and the driver who hits you has a $25,000 liability limit. With the default coverage, your UM could pay up to $50,000 on top of that driver’s $25,000. With the difference option, it could pay up to $25,000 more. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage explains how UM works in general.
Proof of Insurance in Georgia
Georgia law requires you to keep proof of insurance in your vehicle, and O.C.G.A. 40-6-10 lets you show it in paper or electronic form, including on your phone. That in-car rule doesn’t apply when Department of Revenue records show your coverage is in effect, and an officer can’t cite you just because they couldn’t get your coverage information from those records. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
Registration works differently. Insurers send your coverage to the Department of Revenue electronically, and that’s what the state relies on. The department says insurance cards by themselves aren’t acceptable proof for most vehicles, but it also tells drivers to keep a card in the vehicle at all times. Carrying one is the safe choice, because the legal exception helps only when the state’s records show your coverage. You can check whether the state has your coverage on file through the DRIVES e-Services website. RateFrog’s guide to insurance and car registration covers how this works in other states.
What Happens If Your Coverage Lapses
According to the Department of Revenue, owners and lessees must keep continuous Georgia liability coverage on any vehicle with an active registration. A lapse costs you even if the car sits in the driveway:
| Situation | Cost |
|---|---|
| A lapse of 10 or more days between policies, or no new policy on file within 30 days, while the car is registered | A $25 fine |
| The fine isn’t paid within 30 days | Your registration is suspended. Reinstating it costs the $25 fine plus a $60 fee. |
| Third or later suspension within five years | The $25 fine plus a $160 reinstatement fee |
The department says the registration is reinstated once your insurance is in its system and the fees are paid. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Georgia
Under O.C.G.A. 40-6-10, knowingly driving an uninsured vehicle, or letting someone else drive it, is a misdemeanor. The penalty is a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. If you had coverage when you were cited and show the court proof of it, the court can fine you no more than $25, and your license won’t be suspended.
A conviction also affects your license. The Department of Driver Services lists these rules:
| Conviction | License suspension | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|---|
| First | At least 60 days before you can reinstate, and you must show proof of insurance | $200 by mail or $210 in person |
| Second or later | At least 90 days before you can reinstate, plus an SR-22A for three years | $300 by mail or $310 in person |
The department says a limited permit isn’t available for these suspensions. It also says a nolo contendere (no contest) plea avoids the suspension if it’s your first no-insurance offense within five years. See its pages on first convictions, second convictions and reinstatement fees for details.
SR-22 and SR-22A Filings in Georgia
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state to show you carry liability coverage. Georgia uses two versions:
- SR-22A: required after a second or later conviction for driving without insurance. You keep it for three years from the conviction date. Department of Driver Services rules require the first SR-22A filing to show six months paid in full, and after that they allow a premium-financed SR-22A if it’s clearly marked that way. If the policy is canceled during the three years, your insurer reports it and your license is canceled.
- SR-22 after a DUI: required for three years from the conviction date, with the higher liability limits listed above, under Department of Driver Services rules. Those limits come from a 2025 state law and apply to convictions on or after the date it took effect.
If you don’t own a car, the department says you can meet the requirement with a non-owner SR-22 or SR-22A policy, prepaid every six months. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how filings work, and its guide to non-owner car insurance covers policies for people without a car.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Georgia Automobile Insurance Plan provides coverage to eligible drivers who can’t get it in the regular market. According to AIPSO, any agent with a valid Georgia property and casualty license can write coverage through the plan. The plan’s phone number is (800) 301-6477.
How Georgia Insurers Set Rates
The Georgia insurance office lists common rating factors that include your driving record, where you live, your gender and age, your marital status, your prior insurance coverage, how you use your car and its make and model. Because prior coverage is on that list, a lapse can cost you when you buy your next policy. RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates explains how these work.
If your insurer cancels for nonpayment, Georgia law requires at least 10 days’ notice. If your policy has been in force at least 60 days, or is a renewal, and you think a cancellation or nonrenewal is improper, O.C.G.A. 33-24-45 lets you ask the Insurance Commissioner to review it within 15 days of receiving the notice, and the policy stays in force during the review. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Is Georgia’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
A 25/50/25 policy can run out quickly after a serious crash, and $25,000 of property damage coverage may not cover a newer car. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. On the protection side, keeping UM at the default setting and raising its limits gives you more coverage when the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Georgia insurance office takes consumer calls at (800) 656-2298 or (404) 656-2070 and accepts complaints through the Consumer Complaint Portal linked from its complaint page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Georgia?
It’s included in every policy unless an insured named in the policy rejects it in writing. You can also choose in writing a version that pays only the difference between the other driver’s limits and yours.
What Happens If My Insurance Lapses in Georgia?
You’ll owe a $25 fine for a lapse while the car is registered. The Department of Revenue counts a gap of 10 or more days between policies, or no new policy on file within 30 days after the old one ends, as a lapse. If you don’t pay the fine within 30 days, your registration is suspended, and reinstating it costs the fine plus a $60 fee, or $160 for a third or later suspension within five years. Driving without coverage during any gap is still illegal.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia law accepts electronic proof on a mobile device. For registration, though, the state relies on the coverage your insurer reports electronically.
What Insurance Do I Need After a DUI in Georgia?
If your conviction came on or after the date Georgia’s 2025 DUI insurance law took effect, you need higher limits for three years: $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 after a first conviction, or $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 after a later one, with an SR-22 on file.
Sources
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire: Auto Insurance
- O.C.G.A. 33-7-11
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-10
- O.C.G.A. 33-24-45
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Vehicle Insurance Requirements
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Insurance Coverage
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Lapse or Loss of Insurance Coverage
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Registration Reinstatement
- Georgia DDS: No Proof of Insurance, First Conviction
- Georgia DDS: No Proof of Insurance, Second Conviction
- Georgia DDS: Reinstatement Fees
- Georgia DDS Rules, Chapter 375-3-3
- Georgia Senate Bill 121 (2025), as signed
- AIPSO: Georgia Automobile Insurance Plan
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance: File a Complaint