Best car insurance in Athens, GA (2024)

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Nicole WakelinAutomotive journalistNicole Wakelin is an automotive journalist who has covered the industry for over a decade. She’s always loved cars and the fact that they regularly hand her the keys to shiny new automobiles so she can write about them is a constant source of amazement. She covers breaking news, writes reviews, and attends auto shows and new vehicle launches across the country. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications both online and in print. These include U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe, TrueCar, Kelley Blue Book, and Autobytel. In addition, she speaks to all things automotive at conferences, on the radio, and on podcasts, including co-hosting the weekly Wheel Bearings Podcast. Nicole is a current member and former Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. She is also a juror for both the Women’s World Car of the Year and the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing Editor & Auto Insurance ExpertAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
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Reviewed by

Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|2 min read

Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.

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A full coverage car insurance policy in Athens costs an average of $1,461 per year, $164 less than the Georgia state average of $1,625 per year. But car insurance rates vary widely from driver to driver, so the cheapest company for one person isn’t necessarily the cheapest for another.

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The best way to get the lowest rate on a car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Policygenius makes this easy by showing your quotes from top insurance companies so you can compare cost and coverage and choose the policy that’s best for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto-Owners Insurance has the lowest average rate for full coverage car insurance in Athens at $983 per year

  • 30602 is the Athens ZIP code with the cheapest car insurance, with an average rate of $1,424 per year

  • Georgia requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 for property damage per accident, $25,000 bodily injury per person, and $50,000 bodily injury per accident

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Athens, GA

What you pay for car insurance depends where you live, your age, your driving record, and the type of car you drive. But insurance companies each have their own formulas for coming up with your rate so you may get different quotes from different companies even for identical amounts of coverage. That’s why it’s so important to shop around and find the cheapest company for you.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Auto-Owners Insurance

$983

865

USAA

$1,163

890

Central Insurance

$1,198

--

COUNTRY Financial

$1,256

--

GEICO

$1,272

874

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Athens, GA

Insurance companies use your ZIP code to determine the risks of a claim in your neighborhood. They look at thing like reports of theft and vandalism and the number of accidents and traffic tickets issued where you live. The table below shows car insurance rates for ZIP codes in Athens.

ZIP code

Average cost

30602

$1,424

30606

$1,434

30601

$1,439

30605

$1,443

30607

$1,507

30609

$1,520

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Athens, GA

Finding the right car insurance company isn’t as hard as you might think. There’s a few key factors to consider when you’re shopping:

  • Cost: Get quotes from multiple insurers so you don’t end up paying too much for car insurance

  • Coverage: The higher your limits, the more protection you’ll have, so choose as much coverage as you can get within your budget

  • Service: When you’re filing a claim, the last thing you want is bad service. Check claims satisfaction and customer service ratings before you settle on a policy.

Policygenius makes it easy to figure out which car insurance company is best for you by showing you quotes from multiple top insurers. 

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Athens, GA

If you don’t have a great driving history, you’re going to pay more for car insurance. Speeding tickets, accidents and other violations all raise your rates. The cleaner your driving history, the less you’ll pay for car insurance.

Violation

Auto-Owners Insurance

USAA

Central Insurance

COUNTRY Financial

GEICO

At-fault accident

$1,300

$1,748

$1,866

$1,749

$2,012

DUI

$1,821

$2,429

$2,594

$2,146

$3,971

Suspended license

$1,821

$2,308

$2,594

$2,146

$2,459

Open container

$975

$1,793

$2,594

$1,815

$1,311

Expired registration

$975

$1,512

$1,533

$1,815

$1,311

Driving without lights

$975

$1,512

$1,616

$1,815

$1,311

Running a red light

$975

$1,512

$1,616

$1,815

$1,311

Following too closely

$975

$1,512

$1,616

$1,815

$1,311

Hit and run

$1,821

$2,553

$2,594

$2,146

$3,971

Not-at-fault accident

$975

$1,227

$1,280

$1,384

$1,163

Passing a school bus

$1,077

$1,793

$1,616

$1,815

$2,459

Reckless driving

$1,821

$1,793

$2,594

$2,146

$2,459

Speeding

$1,246

$1,512

$1,616

$1,815

$2,459

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Athens, GA

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,821

COUNTRY Financial

$2,146

USAA

$2,429

Central Insurance

$2,594

GEICO

$3,971

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Athens, GA

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,246

USAA

$1,512

Central Insurance

$1,616

COUNTRY Financial

$1,815

GEICO

$2,459

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Athens, GA

Bad credit can raise your car insurance rates, which makes it all the more important to shop around to make sure you’re not missing out on a better rate. The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies in Athens for drivers with poor credit.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$1,566

Safeway Insurance

$1,908

Nationwide

$1,932

COUNTRY Financial

$1,979

USAA

$2,224

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Buying car insurance in Athens, GA

In Georgia, drivers are required to have car insurance and meet the following minimum coverage amounts:

  • $25,000 in property damage liability per accident

  • $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person/$50,000 per accident

Even if you don’t drive often or temporarily take your car off the road, you need to have insurance in order to be able to register your vehicle.

How to get cheap car insurance in Athens, GA

There are several ways to get cheap car insurance in Athens, including:

  • Drive carefully: Keep to the speed limit and avoid accidents so your driving record stays clean and you’ll save on car insurance

  • Compare companies: Get multiple quotes so you know for sure you’re getting the best rate

  • Take advantage of discounts: Members of the military, low mileage drivers, safe drivers, good students, and professional groups including firefighters, teachers, and police officers can get discounts on their car insurance 

  • Bundle policies: If you have other insurance policies for things like your house or condo, then bundling them with your car insurance from the same company can save you money

Frequently asked questions

How can I save money on my car insurance rates in Athens?

Maintain good credit and be a careful driver (meaning avoid speeding tickets or accidents) to save on your car insurance. You should also shop around and compare rates before you buy to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Is Georgia a no-fault state?

No, Georgia is not a no-fault state. That means that if you’re at-fault in an accident, your insurance company is responsible for paying for the other driver’s repairs and medical bills, up to the limits of your policy.

Does the State of Georgia require car insurance?

Yes, Georgia requires car insurance for all registered vehicles. The minimum amounts required are $25,000 for property damage liability per accident, $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person, and $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

How much is car insurance per month in Georgia?

The average cost of car insurance in Georgia is $135 per month, or $1,625 per year.

Authors

Nicole Wakelin is an automotive journalist who has covered the industry for over a decade. She’s always loved cars and the fact that they regularly hand her the keys to shiny new automobiles so she can write about them is a constant source of amazement. She covers breaking news, writes reviews, and attends auto shows and new vehicle launches across the country.

Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications both online and in print. These include U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe, TrueCar, Kelley Blue Book, and Autobytel. In addition, she speaks to all things automotive at conferences, on the radio, and on podcasts, including co-hosting the weekly Wheel Bearings Podcast.

Nicole is a current member and former Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. She is also a juror for both the Women’s World Car of the Year and the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.

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