Best car insurance in Georgia for 2024

Our 2024 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. 

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. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average 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, Demotech 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 and home 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.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Georgia car insurance laws require you to carry at least a minimum level of liability auto insurance. These include 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 damage or injuries that exceed your coverage limits, you will be responsible for paying the remainder out of pocket. Most insurance professionals advise that you purchase enough liability coverage to protect your net worth or the highest liability limits you can afford.

Because your finance company or lessor has a financial interest in your vehicle, the stipulations of your loan or lease will likely require full coverage car insurance. Full coverage is a general term describing an insurance policy that typically 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 down payment that is less than 20 percent of a new car’s purchase price or have a high-interest loan.

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. Or maybe your vehicle is older and paid off, which means you might no longer need comprehensive or collision coverage.

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.

On average, Auto-Owners, Mercury and USAA offer some of the cheapest car insurance in Georgia. However, actual rates 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. Plus, you might be eligible for discounts like a bundling discount, good student discount or loyalty discount, which could greatly reduce the price of your insurance premium. To ensure that you’re getting the cheapest insurance for you, shop around with several providers, asking for quotes for the same coverage types and policy limits in order to make a fair comparison.

In Georgia, you might approach finding cheaper car insurance in several ways. Georgia allows insurers to utilize credit-based insurance scores in determining rates, so improving your credit can lead to lower rates. Likewise, avoiding citations and pursuing discounts may equate to savings with your current provider. However, in some cases, it may be best to switch carriers to one that offers lower rates for the types of coverage you need.

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.

Although the information required to get free car insurance quotes in Georgia can vary, 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 the driver’s license number, date of birth, Social Security number for each household driver and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each vehicle that you want to insure.

Before purchasing your policy, you’ll have to select your coverage type and amounts, and when you would like coverage to start. To finalize your policy, most providers ask for an initial payment. Then, the company will issue you your policy documents and insurance cards.