Best car insurance in Georgia for 2023

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Georgia car insurance laws require you to carry at least a minimum level of auto insurance. As a licensed driver in the Peach State, you must carry at least the minimum required levels of bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. Minimum coverage generally costs less than buying higher limits or full coverage, but it may not provide you with enough financial protection to pay for the costs of an at-fault accident.

If you cause injuries or damages that exceed your coverage limits, you will be responsible for the overage out of pocket. Most insurance professionals advise that you purchase higher liability limits if you can afford them.

Because your finance company or lessor has a financial interest in your vehicle, your finance or leasing company will likely require full coverage car insurance. Full coverage is a general term describing an insurance policy that includes comprehensive and collision coverage along with liability coverage. These coverage types help mitigate the bank's financial risk of a borrower being unable to repair the vehicle if damaged. If you lease your vehicle, your lessor might also require you to carry higher levels of liability coverage — usually 100/300/50.

Additionally, you may want to consider gap insurance to safeguard yourself from an upside-down car loan. Gap coverage pays the difference between your new vehicle's actual value and the outstanding loan or lease amount owed if your car is totaled from a covered claim. Gap may be especially helpful if you plan on making a downpayment for a car that is less than 20 percent or will have a high interest rate.

Each driver has different needs and situations, so finding a car insurance company to meet your unique needs is essential. Do you have a new driver in the home? Then, you may need car insurance for teen drivers that offers plentiful discounts for students and young drivers. If you have a challenging driving record, you may need a company that provides high-risk auto insurance and SR-22 filings. Understanding your individual circumstances and deciding what coverage types, discounts and policy features you are looking for may help you choose which companies to get quotes from.

The cheapest car insurance in Georgia will vary from person to person, as insurance providers weigh several factors according to their own rating systems and state laws. Factors considered may include your driving record, car make and model, claims history, age, gender and more.

Aside from shopping around with other insurance providers for a lower insurance rate, there may be ways to save money on your current insurance policy. First, do a thorough policy review and update any information that is not accurate. Life changes such as moving, having adult children move in or out of the home, getting married or starting a new job can impact your insurance rate.

From there, make sure you are comfortable with your level of coverage. The higher your liability limit, the better your financial protection, so we don't recommend lowering your liability limits. Moreover, lower limits typically won't save that much money off your insurance rates. Instead, consider removing redundant coverage. You might not need rental reimbursement insurance if you have more than one car. Check with your credit card companies to see if they offer towing as a benefit, if so, you could remove it from your auto policy. Work closely with a licensed agent to find additional discounts and ways to pair down your auto policy without losing out on important coverage.

You would be responsible for the expenses that exceed your policy limits. This is why most insurance professionals recommend that you purchase higher limits of liability, if you can afford to do so. State minimum coverage might be cheaper, but you could be left with high out-of-pocket bills if you cause an accident. Getting quotes for a few different levels of liability may help you choose an option that is right for your risk-tolerance level and your budget.

Driving without insurance is illegal in Georgia. Drivers in Georgia are legally required to carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident for bodily injury liability, and $25,000 per incident for property damage liability. Consequences for driving without insurance may include fines and driver’s license and registration suspensions. Drivers could also face jail time of up to one year.

When you request free car insurance quotes, different car insurance providers may ask for different information during the process. When requesting insurance quotes, you will likely need to provide contact information, such as your name, phone number or email address and physical address. You may also have to provide your driver’s license number, date of birth, Social Security number, and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each vehicle that you want to insure. You may also have to fill out personal information such as name, date of birth and license number for every driver in your household.