For drivers in Georgia, cheap liability car insurance can be an appealing option. This guide walks you through Georgia’s minimum coverage requirements, the companies that offer cheap liability car insurance in Georgia, and methods for lowering your rates even more.
What Is Liability Car Insurance?
Liability insurance protects drivers if they’re found to be at fault after a car accident. If the accident causes an injury or damage to a car, car insurance can cover some or all of the medical bills or repairs. In many states, liability insurance is also legally required. When deciding if you want liability insurance or more coverage, remember that liability insurance won’t cover repairs to your own vehicle, only someone else’s.
What Is the Minimum Required Coverage in Georgia?
Georgia requires that drivers have liability insurance that covers both bodily injury and property damage. For bodily injury, drivers need a minimum coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. They also need $25,000 per accident to cover property damage. According to ValuePenguin, drivers in Georgia spend an average of $60 per month on minimum liability car insurance.
Who Offers The Cheapest Minimum Liability Coverage In Georgia?
Here are the companies with the best rates for minimum coverage car insurance in Georgia, according to ValuePenguin:
- USAA: $557 per year (for former and current military members and their families only)
- Farm Bureau: $562 per year
- State Farm: $640 per year
- GEICO: $708 per year
- Progressive: $939 per year
- Allstate: $958 per year
What Affects The Price Of Car Insurance?
Here are a few factors that can affect your car insurance rates:
Age and Experience
Insurance companies often give higher rates to young and first-time drivers. Their inexperience may mean they’re more likely to engage in risky driving behavior, making them potentially more expensive for insurance companies. Some insurance companies also give higher rates to elderly drivers.
Driving Record
Your driving record can have a major impact on your car insurance rates. Some violations may only cause a minor increase, such as speeding tickets. Other violations, like a DUI or hit-and-run, can almost double your insurance rate or even make it difficult to find insurance at all.
Credit Score
Many insurance companies check your credit score before giving you a quote on your car insurance. They consider someone with a low credit score to be less financially reliable and a higher risk to insure. There are insurance companies that don’t check credit scores, so if you have a low credit score, it’s worth comparing those policies.
Vehicle Make and Model
Another factor that can affect your insurance is the make and model of your car. Insurance companies usually provide lower rates if you have a car with a high safety rating, since this helps you avoid accidents and reduces the risk of extensive damage. They also prefer cars that are less likely to be stolen, so high-end cars are often more expensive to insure. Luxury upgrades and upgraded technology can also increase your rates, since those features are usually more costly to repair after an accident.
How Can You Bring Down the Cost of Your Car Insurance?
Here are several ways you can help lower your car insurance rates:
Take a Defensive Driving Course
Many insurance companies offer a discount to drivers who take a defensive driving course or a driving safety course. Call your insurance company or visit their website to find out about their approved courses and consider completing one.
Maintain a Clean Driving Record
One of the best ways to keep your car insurance rates low is to maintain a clean driving record. This includes major violations, like DUIs, but can also include minor violations, such as following another car too closely. The more you’re able to avoid violations, tickets, and citations, the cheaper your car insurance is likely to be.
Bundle Your Insurance
If you own a home, then a great way to lower your car insurance might be purchasing your home insurance from the same company. Many insurance companies offer deals for people who bundle their insurance. If you don’t own a home, you may also be able to bundle your car insurance with insurance for a motorcycle, boat, RV, ATV, or other cars you own.
Join Another Driver’s Plan
This option is especially useful for young and first-time drivers whose premiums are higher because of their inexperience. When you join the insurance policy of a more experienced driver, you may be able to get a lower insurance rate. Young drivers should consider talking to their parents about being added to their plan.
Check Your Discount Eligibility
Many insurance companies offer a wealth of discounts, and you might be eligible for one or more of them. Some common discounts include a safe driver discount and discounts for military personnel. If you’re a young driver or have one on your policy, consider pursuing the good student discount, which rewards students who have good grades with a lower car insurance rate.
Here are some other examples of ways you might be eligible for a discount on your car insurance:
- Buying insurance online
- Agreeing to paperless billing
- Having a membership in approved organizations or groups
- Using very little mileage
- Installing anti-theft devices
Increase Deductibles
If you’re able, increase your insurance deductible to lower your premium. Your deductible is how much you have to pay before your insurance starts covering anything that may happen to your car. A lower deductible means insurance pays quickly, but it also usually means a higher premium. For some drivers, choosing a higher deductible that lowers their premium is the best financial move.
Improve Your Credit Score
A higher credit score can mean a lower insurance rate, depending on which company you use. Even if your policy is with a company that doesn’t penalize you for a low score, they may offer discounts for high ones. Methods for improving your credit score include paying bills on time, limiting how much credit you use on your credit cards, and not requesting a credit increase on your cards.
Now that you know the minimum requirement for coverage in Georgia, you can determine which option to pursue. Once you find a company you want to use, you can implement plenty of strategies to help you lower your rate, so it’s more affordable while providing the coverage you need.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
