Car Insurance in Florida vs. Georgia: Costs, Laws and Resources

If you’re considering moving from Florida to Georgia, or vice versa, you need to consider the different car insurance coverage requirements in each state.

Both states require property damage liability but Georgia requires a higher coverage amount. A major difference is that Florida requires personal injury protection (PIP) in its minimum car insurance policies, while Georgia requires bodily injury liability.

MoneyGeek analyzed costs to find the cheapest companies in these two states and the difference between car insurance laws and requirements in Florida vs. Georgia.

Florida car insurance laws require drivers to obtain property damage liability and personal injury protection (PIP). While Georgia car insurance laws require drivers to obtain property damage and bodily injury liability coverage per person and per accident.

Although Florida requires less minimum coverage, the cost of a minimum car insurance policy is more expensive in Florida vs. Georgia. On average, Florida drivers pay $1,123 per year for a minimum car insurance policy, while Georgia drivers pay $977 per year for a policy.

Due to a variety of factors including specific minimum coverage requirements, population density and frequency of accidents, Florida’s car insurance rates are much more expensive than in other states like Georgia.

Car insurance can also differ because each state follows different car insurance laws.

For example, Florida’s car insurance policies are more expensive because it is a no-fault state, meaning regardless of who caused an accident, drivers file claims with their own car insurance companies.

Georgia, on the other hand, is a tort state, which means drivers that are found at fault in an accident are responsible for paying the other driver’s medical expenses, damages, lost wages and any other associated costs.

According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest car insurance companies for an average minimum policy in Florida and Georgia are the following:

• Cheapest in Florida: GEICO ($590 per year)
• Cheapest in Georgia: GEICO ($722 per year)

Eligible military members may qualify for a much cheaper option from USAA at $406 per year in Florida and $493 per year in Georgia.

Although GEICO is the cheapest in both states, Georgia's insurance rates are much higher than in Florida. This shows how rates can vary for the same provider by state.

The amount of coverage you need will affect the cost of your insurance. Drivers with a minimum coverage policy pay an average of $1,123 per year in Florida and $977 in Georgia. Meanwhile, drivers with full coverage policies pay roughly $2,208 per year in Florida and $1,638 in Georgia.

Generally, Florida has higher car insurance rates in most states, ranking as the fourth most expensive state for car insurance in the U.S.

There are various factors that affect car insurance rates, so it’s impossible to pin it on just one factor. More expensive states and no-fault states generally require more insurance coverage. As such, the cost of car insurance is higher in Florida, a no-fault state.

Florida also has more dense highways, accidents and natural disasters than Georgia, which contribute to the higher cost of car insurance.

Car insurance rates not only differ between states but also within cities.

In Florida, Gainesville offers the cheapest policies at $693 per year, while Hialeah offers the most expensive policies at $1,461 per year. As for Georgia, Athens has the cheapest policies at $679 per year, while Atlanta has the most expensive policies at $977 per year.

Car insurance requirements are the same everywhere in a state and therefore do not affect costs. However, densely populated areas like Florida are more likely to have higher car insurance rates.

Drivers moving from Florida to Georgia or vice versa will need to transfer their license and registration.

If you’re happy with your current policy, you may want to stay with the same insurer. However, your rates and coverage options may change to reflect the new state’s requirements.

If you need to shop for a new insurer, MoneyGeek gathered resources to help you find the best fit, depending on your driving background.

MoneyGeek answered the most frequently asked question to help you better understand car insurance in Florida vs. Georgia.

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across Florida and Georgia, MoneyGeek collaborated with Quadrant Information Services to collect auto insurance quotes from both locations. We used a sample profile for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and minimum coverage unless modified by criteria like coverage level, age, driving offenses and credit score. Learn more about how costs are calculated in our MoneyGeek car insurance methodology.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state were sourced from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the respective state.