The Best Cheap Car Insurance in Georgia for 2021

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Individuals cannot drive on Georgia highways or public roads without auto liability insurance. Liability-only coverage will pay for damages to others for bodily injuries and property damage if you cause an accident. For your own medical expenses and vehicle, you would have to get additional coverage. The cheapest policy option for most Georgia drivers for the state minimum of 25/50/25 coverage is from GEICO, at an average of $722 per year. If you opt for 50/100/50 coverage, your cheapest option is State Farm, with an average annual premium of $902.

Average Cost for Liability Coverage

MoneyGeek utilized several factors, including prices, customer service ratings, the ability to pay claims and financial strength to determine the best car insurance companies in Georgia.

To score each factor, MoneyGeek used information from J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study to assess customer satisfaction, claims ability and affordability, along with AM Best’s financial strength ratings. These studies and additional internal criteria combine for the final score out of 100.

While USAA scores highly in many areas, this provider is only available to military members, veterans and their families.

Market Share by Company

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Farm Group operates as the largest auto insurer in Georgia. The group wrote more than 1.3 million direct premiums in 2018. Check out the other top insurers in Georgia below.

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Several unique factors play a role in deciding insurance premium costs. For the sake of this study, MoneyGeek calculated the average costs for a 40-year-old male with a clean record driving a Toyota Camry. The costs are for 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision insurance. Your costs can be higher or lower based on the coverage level you choose and your age, location and driving record.

• Average Driver: $1,638
• DUI: $2,929
• Speeding Ticket: $2,110
• Poor Credit Score: $2,695
• Seniors: $1,756
• Students: $4,256

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly 3,241 people died in Georgia due to alcohol-involved crashes from 2009-2018. The rate of deaths per 100,000 people due to drunk driving sits higher than the national average. In addition to facing prison time, fines, fees and license suspension, those convicted of a DUI can also expect their insurance to go up. The following table looks at approximate costs of car insurance for those with a DUI conviction.

Average Car Insurance Rates With a DUI

Finding cheap car insurance with a DUI in Georgia can feel nearly impossible since there are manycosts associated with a DUI, but keeping a pristine driving record and taking part in an alcohol awareness driving course can help. DUIs currently stay on your record for a decade in Georgia, after which time your rates should reduce further.

If you get a ticket in Georgia for speeding or distracted driving, finding cheap car insurance may take some extra work, but it can be done. Georgia instituted a new law in 2018 prohibiting motorists from using their cellphones while driving, causing distracted driving tickets to increase. First-time offenders must pay a $50 fine and receive a point on their license. Getting such a ticket can impact your insurance rates. The following table looks at a few approximate costs for coverage for those with tickets.

Average Car Insurance Rates With a Ticket

The high toll of distracted driving can add up, but it will go away in time – provided you don’t get another ticket. The Georgia Department of Driver Services assigns various points for driving infractions, but residents can obtain a points reduction of up to seven points once every five years.

Credit scores act as an important component for insurance companies when developing quotes because the scores help them assess an applicant’s ability to pay their monthly premiums. Experian states that a credit score of 670 serves as the lowest number considered “good.” As of 2019, Georgia holds an average credit score of 682. The higher your credit score, the lower the auto insurance premiums you will likely have to pay.

Check out the following estimates on what Georgia drivers with low credit scores may have to pay for auto insurance.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With Bad Credit

Improving your credit score takes time, but it can be done. Making timely payments, keeping your credit card utilization rates down and using credit responsibly can help raise your score.

Georgia seniors accounted for 13.5% of the 2,283 drivers involved in fatal Georgia crashes during 2017. This equates to 308 seniors total.

While the majority of seniors are competent and safe drivers, Georgia auto insurance companies sometimes charge this demographic higher rates. Factors such as the driver’s age, the type of car they drive, the amount of driving done and their driving record all affect senior auto insurance rates. The following table showcases what seniors in Georgia can expect to pay for car insurance.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Seniors

The Georgia Department of Driver Services requires residents aged 64 and older to pass a vision screening test each time they renew their license. There are other car insurance basics for seniors to be aware of, like choosing a safe vehicle and enrolling in a safe driving course.

Georgia uses a graduated driver's license program for drivers aged 18 and younger. The Teenage and Adult Driving Responsibility Act (TADRA) was passed in response to the high number of fatal vehicle crashes involving young drivers in Georgia. The program provides a way for teens to gain experience driving under the safest conditions and avoiding high-risk situations.

To graduate from a learner's permit to an intermediate license in Georgia, you must complete at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least six hours at night. If you want to get your intermediate license at age 16, you must complete a driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services. Anyone under age 18 who wants a driver's license must also be enrolled in school.

To keep insurance rates as low as possible, AAA advises Georgia parents to ask their insurance agent about raising their deductible, seeing if their teen qualifies for a good student discount, and signing a parent-teen driving agreement. This may help keep rates down and children safe by preventing collisions and DUIs.

Even though your child is going off to college, don't expect your insurance premiums to decline quite yet. Unfortunately, statistics show that drivers under age 25 — especially males — are more likely to get in accidents, so expect their insurance rates to remain high for quite a while.

Students can help offset those costs by getting good grades. In Georgia, insurance companies must offer discounts on liability, first-party medical, and collision coverage to good students. The requirement extends to college students. Qualifying learners must rank in the upper 20% of their class, have a "B" or 3.0 GPA or better, or make the Dean's list or honor roll. If your child meets the criteria, ask your insurer about the discount.

Georgia drivers under the age of 20 accounted for roughly 8% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes during 2019. Young drivers do not possess the depth of experience held by those who have been behind the wheel longer. Because of this, expect auto insurance rates to sit higher for teens than adults. The table below gives a few approximate costs for young drivers in Georgia.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Students

Georgia currently has nearly 130,000 active, reserve and civilian-military personnel. If you are in the Armed Forces, ask your insurance agent how the company handles military deployments and insurance. Make sure you stay on top of premiums and renewals and ask if you will be penalized for allowing your policy to lapse while on deployment.

In Georgia, you may cancel your registration while on deployment as long as the vehicle will not be driven on public roads during your absence. You must submit a form to the Tax Commissioner's office in your home county and have your commanding officer certify your deployment.

The following table features estimates of what military drivers and veterans can expect to pay for auto insurance in Georgia.

Average Rates for Georgia service members

25 years$1,604
50 years$1,235

25 years$1,441
50 years$1,273

Expert Advice on Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Georgia

To help you find trustworthy and accurate information on car insurance in Georgia, MoneyGeek collected expert advice from proven professionals. The views and opinions shared are those of the individual contributor.

1. What are the key factors drivers in Georgia should look for when searching for the best auto insurance coverage?

   Wendy Habegger

   First, drivers should educate themselves on the different kinds of insurance that exist: Comprehensive, Collision, Bodily Injury Liability, Property Damage Liability, Uninsured/underinsured, Medical Payments. Next, drivers should look for a balance between an affordable deductible with the insurance coverage they need based upon their lifestyle and driving needs and habits. A deductible should be something that the driver can afford while continuing to pay insurance premiums and monthly car payments. Having a higher deductible may lower the premium, but are the tradeoffs worth it? What good is having a low premium if one cannot afford the deductible to initiate repairs? Paying monthly car payments and insurance premiums for an inoperable car just adds insult to injury.

   Jeffrey Diamond

   The key factors would include: A. Available coverages and policy limits B. Premiums and deductibles C. The insurer’s documented record of service to its policyholders, including reported Complaints to the Department of Insurance D. What would be the nature of the relationship with an insurance agent who would advise and educate the policyholder as well as support and guide the policyholder in the event a claim is reported E. What optional coverages might be available and recommended to maximize insurance coverage protections.

   Richard McGrath

   The best policy fits your personal finances and driving habits and does the best job of minimizing the risks that matter most to you. Make sure you compare apples to apples when shopping for policies. Look at all the rates for different components of the policy, not just the bottom line. Ask for written quotes with detailed rate information. Is everything you need there?

   Do you really need comprehensive insurance? If you wreck your car, can you afford to replace it without having to depend on an insurance payout? This answer helps you decide when to drop your comprehensive coverage and focus more on liability, and it will probably change as your vehicle ages.

   Do you have enough liability insurance? Do you have other financial assets at risk that could be compromised by a bad accident? You may need more than the minimum liability insurance or a separate umbrella policy to go with your auto insurance. This is particularly true as you age and your financial wealth builds toward retirement.

   Are you a very safe driver and are mostly worried about accidents caused by others? Are you an inattentive driver who is prone to accidents?

2. What steps can drivers in Georgia take to find affordable car insurance?

   Wendy Habegger

   • Ask around. Talk to friends and family about their auto insurance and get some recommendations.
   • Decide the coverage needed before shopping around. Knowing what is needed ahead of time will reduce the likelihood of buying unnecessary insurance.
   • Shop around. Armed with advice from friends and family and a list of what is needed, get quotes from multiple companies and compare each premium.
   • Do not over-insure. Insure based upon what is most likely to happen given one's driving history, habits, and lifestyle.
   • If one already has an existing insurance policy of any type, go to the provider and ask about bundling with an auto insurance policy. Many insurance providers provide discounts with the bundling of multiple policies.

   Jeffrey Diamond

   A driver would need to undertake his or her own exhaustive research regarding premiums charged and coverages provided on an “apples to apples” basis. Drivers can do so by contacting the Department of Insurance, research comparison studies available on the Internet, confer with trusted people in their life (e.g. family, teachers, counselors, friends) and performing side-by-side comparisons between insurance companies using the same facts and criteria to complete the most accurate comparisons possible.

3. How do regulations and rules in Georgia impact insurance pricing and how consumers might shop for coverage?

   Wendy Habegger

   In the short run, the addition of regulations and rules tends to increase insurance pricing. However, regulations and rules are usually reactionary and when implemented, are meant to solve an existing problem. So if regulations and rules requiring insurance are present, then that means that the absence of insurance is a problem that causes material impact on lives and costs. In the long run, auto insurance and laws reinforcing compliance at the risk of punitive consequences should reduce the costs we collectively pay due to uninsured drivers.

   Because Georgia is a state that requires liability coverage at a minimum, this means that the cost of owning and operating a vehicle in Georgia may be higher than other states that may have fewer or no insurance requirements. If drivers do not like the costs in Georgia, they have a few options. They do not have to drive and can take an alternate mode of transportation. They can find someone, like an agreeable family member, to add them to their insurance policy. Or they can find another state whose auto insurance regulations and rules they might prefer. However, I have yet to meet someone who moved to a different state just because the cost of auto insurance was lower. Auto insurance is a cost that most drivers accept as the cost for the privilege of being able to drive where they live.

   Jeffrey Diamond

   When insurance companies seek to increase their policy premiums, they usually must receive authorization from the State Department of Insurance. But, as outlined above, the same steps would need to be taken by the consumer to shop for the best insurance coverage at the most affordable price.

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Wendy HabeggerLecturer at James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta UniversityREAD ANSWERS

Jeffrey DiamondAdjunct Professor, Atlanta's John Marshall Law SchoolREAD ANSWERS

Richard McGrathProfessor of Economics at Georgia SouthernREAD ANSWERS

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