Georgia Car Insurance
A real understanding of Georgia car insurance, from a Georgian
Georgia State Flag
Speaking as one who has been there; leaning on both sides of our warm state's car insurance laws, I can tell you that it is much better to be found in the right than it is to be found dead wrong. After having experiences on both sides of the spectrum, I'm in the unique position of being able to provide the voice of experience for other drivers who will come along after me. Many of us go along on our happy way without realizing the full extent and details of Georgia car insurance regulations; this article was put together to help my fellow Georgians to gain a proper understanding of the rules and regulations that we are obliged to obey. Having had intimate experience, I have gained a greater understanding and appreciation for each and every segment of the laws that were constructed to protect and assist me in providing a safe and secure atmosphere for my family and myself.
Below we will go over some of the finer areas of the Georgia car insurance code, so that we all will be a little safer in a little more knowledgeable on the road.
First and foremost, the state has set up very firm minimums that have to be adhered to in order to be a legal driver in our state. Starting in 2010 all drivers became required to carry a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury insurance that would cover one person harmed in an accident caused by you, as the driver. Along with a minimum of $25,000 for one person, every driver in the state is also required to carry a minimum of $50,000 for bodily injury to two parties or more. This means that if someone is injured in an accident as caused by your negligence, then your insurance company will cover these amounts, but if the damages exceed these amounts, you'll be obligated to pay the balance out of pocket. Now you might find that Georgia carries some of the highest requirements for bodily injury coverage, but you have to consider the state's demographics and road statistics in order to gain an understanding of why these limits are as high as they are.
The state of Georgia currently ranks significantly high when it comes to vehicle accidents; this is likely due to the strong areas of traffic congestion that center around the capital city of Atlanta. Metro Atlanta has the highest population density of anywhere in the state, and the vast majority of the citizens working inside of Atlanta are commuting from the surrounding suburbs, near and far. It is common knowledge that with a longer commute, the odds of eventually being involved in some form of vehicle collision are drastically increased, especially in an area where traffic is as dense as it is in and around Georgia's capital.
Another interesting point to note is the Georgia car insurance law regarding nonresident plates; if you are a nonresident of Georgia, but working inside the state and commuting back to your home state on a daily basis, you will only be able to drive in the state or up to 30 days before being required to obtain Georgia license and plates; the only exception to this rule applies to nonresident military personnel who happen to be stationed in Georgia, and students attending school in Georgia. They are given the option of obtaining plates in their home state or in Georgia. Also, visitors who are driving in the state of Georgia are obligated to obtain Georgia registration for their vehicles after 90 days. It seems that this would indicate that after 90 days you are no longer considered a visitor.
The last area that we will cover regarding Georgia car insurance is the rule pertaining to insurance cards; while every auto insurance company issues a car to clients as a way of proving that they do indeed have insurance, the state of Georgia looks at these cards a little bit differently. In when insurance company issues in insurance card, it is primarily a source of information that covers the details pertaining to your individual policy; it shows what vehicle is insured and the policyholder is, etc. But with Georgia's sophisticated system, the state is able to eat immediately receive notice or indication of whether or not you as an individual have insurance coverage on your vehicle. I can tell you this from first-hand knowledge, discovered when I accidentally allowed my Georgia car insurance to you temporarily lapse. When there is a lapse in insurance, apparently the state receives notice of this right away from the insurance company, with databases obviously tied into the state. Once the state receives this notice that your insurance has lapsed they will immediately issue a ticket to your last known mailing address, fining you for the lapse in coverage.
This is how I discovered that regardless of whether or not you have an insurance card on your person, if your insurance is not actually in effect, the state will know. So if you happen to be pulled over by a police officer in the state of Georgia, and you have allowed your insurance to become inactive, do not think that getting in possession of a little piece of paper that says that you are sure is going to be sufficient to avoid getting into deep trouble. It is likely that before the officer has even pulled you over, he has already been able to ascertain whether or not you have car insurance. So don't try and wave a card that you know means absolutely nothing and think that it's going to help you get out of the ticket; it may just guarantee you one instead.
To avoid any issues with Georgia car insurance laws as simple as a method is just to go out and obtain the right policy, that will allow you to avoid any unnecessary troubles with the law. This information should help you as you seek out a policy that works best for you.
