Georgia Auto Insurance

An auto insurance policy in Georgia is just as important and mandatory as a driver's license, just like in most other states in the US. It's required by law. But there are other things that buying an policy does, besides confirming you as a law-abiding driver. Here's how Georgia car insurance works to your benefit:

- Provides for the medical expenses of the driver and the involved third parties such as passengers, etc in the event of any mishap. 

- Safeguards you against a huge financial blow in case of any unintentional damage to property or death of a person caused when you are in control of the insured vehicle.

Check out the following important points when planning to avail yourself auto insurance in Georgia.

What's compulsory as per the Law

The law mandates you to have proof of financial responsibility. This means that you must carry proof that you have the funds to cover damages, should any untoward incident happen. This implies the legal necessity to buy a Georgia car insurance policy that provides the following minimum liability coverage:

• $50,000: Bodily injuries to two or more people per accident
• $25,000: Bodily injury per person
• $25,000: Property damage per accident

If you do not insure your vehicle by the given minimum liability coverage, or you a lapse in Georgia auto insurance coverage, you could attract a penalty of registration suspension, fines, and misdemeanor charges.

What's NOT compulsory as per the law

• No Fault insurance (Georgia is a Tort state, which means that the driver found guilty of the accident is responsible for the victim's medical expenses. The latter also has the right to sue the guilty for further compensation)
• Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (however, many people choose to buy them for additional protection)
• Physical damage auto insurance/comprehensive or collision insurance (it pays for any damage or loss to your own car. Buying this auto insurance isn't compulsory from the point of view of the Law; however, your lender or leasing company might prefer that you add its cover)

What determines your premium rate

Georgia auto insurance companies determine your rate by considering factors such as:

• Age
• Type of vehicle you drive
• Driving record
• Claims history
• Location

Georgia Auto Insurance

Why you must drive ONLY when sober

If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs when driving, operating, or in actual physical control of any vehicle, you may get arrested for Driving Under Influence (DUI). A minimum Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% can permit a police officer to charge you with Driving Under Influence (DUI). DUI is a serious offense and you must take all possible steps to prevent it.

Here's what may happen if a police officer suspects you of driving under influence:

• The officer asks you to take a field sobriety test.
• If you refuse to take the test, the officer has the right to take 'reasonable steps' to conduct the test without your consent. In any case, a refusal to test leads to the suspension of your license for a year and penalties similar to a DUI conviction. The severity of the punishment increases with each event of offense.
• If you take the test and your BAC is found more than 0.08%, you will be subjected to a severity of penalty depending on your past record, as tabulated here.

Penalty	1st DUI Offense	2nd DUI Offense	3rd DUI Offense	4th DUI Offense
Imprisonment	10 days to 1 year	10 days to 1 year	120 days to 1 year	1 to 5 year(s)
Fine	$300 to $1000	$600 to $1000	$1000 to $5000	$1000 to $5000
License Suspension	Up to 1 year	Up to 3 years	Up to 5 years	-
Community service	Minimum 40 hours	Minimum 30 hours	Minimum 30 hours	Minimum 60 hours
License reinstatement fee	$210	$210	$210	-
Completion of treatment program or evaluation	Not required	Required	Required	Required
Any other	-	Ignition interlock device upon court approval	Newspaper coverage	Felony conviction

What helps you reinstate driving privileges after a conviction

If you are ever convicted for an offense such as DUI or an uninsured auto accident, leading to the suspension of license, you need to file an SR22. This helps reinstate the driving privileges by certifying that you have the minimum amount of vehicle liability insurance. SR22 is an important document often required by Georgia's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Requirement of the SR22 in Georgia

SR-22 is a monetary task and high-risk or complicated car insurance. It is also a guarantee that the owners of the motor vehicle have the ability for at least pay the smallest amount coverage. In case of State of Georgia, it's is illegal for the owners to drive a motor vehicle without a minimum compulsory coverage. In this regard, Georgia laws offer two types of SR22 policies: first to the actual owners of the motor vehicle and second to the non-owner of the motor vehicle or only the operator of the motor vehicle. In this regard, the motor vehicle owner is requires to files their SR22 and other required document to the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles. SR22 is the right option for the candidates who have suffered from the extremely most important to a DUI case. With the help of the SR-22 car owners can easily get back their suspended driving license in case of it's filed already before.

Helpful Tips for Drivers in Georgia

• Some factors might help you get Georgia car insurance at lower premiums; it sure pays to know them. Here they are:
• A reliable and low profile vehicle that isn't exactly attention seeking from thief or other anti-social elements.
• Vehicles installed with safety and anti-theft measures.
• A sufficient health insurance that makes any overlapping medical payments redundant
• A lump sum payment of premium to eliminate service fees and other costs associated with monthly payments
• An infrequent necessity of using the vehicle
• Completion of approved courses such as Defensive Driving
• Once you buy Georgia car insurance, you will a proof of insurance card from the company. Keep this with you at all times when driving. You don't want to pay fines for not carrying them if an officer pulls you over.
• Maintain a good credit history and a good driving record. This will help your pitch for a discount on auto insurance premiums.
• If you use the same company for purchasing your vehicle, home and life insurance services, you can get more than 10%-15% rebate on your total cost.