How Much Is Car Insurance in Georgia? (Updated in 2024)

Whether you’re purchasing a new vehicle, moving to the state, or getting your license for the first time, you’re going to need car insurance. But it’s an expense that not everyone thinks about right away, and sometimes, it can ruin your budget.

So, how much can you expect to spend on car insurance in Georgia this year, and what else do you need to know about car insurance in the Peach State? We break it all down for you here.

The Importance of Car Insurance

If you’re operating a motor vehicle, few things are as important to get as car insurance. If you’re driving without insurance and get into an accident, you’re personally on the hook for all the damages.

Since damages can cost tens of thousands of dollars, a single accident without insurance can be financially devastating. Not only are you on the hook for damages to a vehicle, but you could also need to pay for medical bills.

Car insurance covers all of this for you, so a single accident won’t ruin you financially. But even if that wasn’t enough of a reason, you’re legally required to have car insurance to drive on the road in Georgia.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?

Many factors go into how much you can expect to pay for car insurance, including your age, sex, driving history, and marital status.

Here, we highlighted a fictional 28-year-old male living in Auburn, Georgia. We got quotes from three of the largest car insurance companies in the state. This is to cover a 2018 Ford Explorer, and our male is single.

We ran the quote three different times for each company, first with a clean driving record, next with a single at-fault accident, and finally, with two at-fault accidents and a speeding ticket. We did our best to match up the coverages as close as possible, but there are slight differences between the coverage options.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

When you’re looking for a car insurance plan, something that you’ll want to consider is the cost to actually use the plan. Many car insurance companies try to keep their rates lower by giving you a higher deductible.

While the lower monthly premium is nice if you don’t have the cash on hand to cover the deductible, you’re going to be in trouble when you get into an accident.

Car insurance deductibles range from $100 to well over $1,000, which can make a big difference if you get into an accident. Also, keep in mind that after you get into an accident, your rate will likely go up.

Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness, but this is usually something that you need to pay for before you get into an accident. For companies that don’t offer this perk, you can expect your premium to jump anywhere from 50% to 75% after an accident.

How Often Should I Get Car Insurance Quotes?

If you don’t pay attention to your car insurance, chances are that the price is going to creep up on you. We highly recommend getting a few car insurance quotes every year or two.

This ensures that you’re getting the best possible rate combined with excellent coverage. Even better, if you find a better rate and go to switch, your current car insurance company may offer to lower your rate!

While you can’t always count on this, either way, you’ll end up with a lower monthly premium. It doesn’t take long to get a car insurance quote, and it can save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year.

Does Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?

It depends on the policy. As a general rule, car insurance plans do not cover rental cars. But it’s low-priced plans that typically don’t have this coverage. High-priced plans often offer some sort of maximum rate for rental car coverage.

For instance, the quoted plans in the chart include maximum daily reimbursements of either $30 or $40. If you can get a rental car for less than this amount, you’re covered; if not, they’ll cover the maximum allowed amount, and you’re on the hook for the rest.

Just look into the policy coverages for your specific plan to see if it has rental car coverage. Of course, if you don’t need the additional coverage, you can drop it from most plans and save yourself a bit on your monthly premium.

How to Keep Your Car Insurance Rates Down

By far, the most important thing that you can do to keep your car insurance rate down is to have a clean driving record. Avoid speeding tickets and accidents, and you should see your rates drop a little each year.

Another thing that you can do to try to lower your car insurance rate is to sign up for a safe driving program that most car insurance programs have or attend a defensive driving course. The safe driving programs typically involve installing an app that tracks you while you drive.

As long as you’re driving safely, it usually will lower your rates. Still, if you want to keep your rates low, it’s all about keeping a clean driving record.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about what to expect with car insurance in Georgia, it’s time for you to head out and get your own quotes! We highly recommend getting at least three different car insurance quotes, but the more, the better.

No matter what company you go with, don’t skimp on car insurance. Get the coverage that you need to protect yourself and everyone else on the road.

Featured Image Credit: ElisaRiva, Pixabay