The best car insurance in Georgia for 2023

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Gianetta PalmerContributing WriterGianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.&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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Britta M. MossBritta M. MossProperty & casualty claim consultant and expert witnessBritta M. Moss, CPCU, SCLA, AIC-M, has over 25 years of insurance industry experience. In her work as a property and casualty claim consultant, she provides consultation and expert witness services in claim handling standards, practices, and norms.  She has been retained by law firms representing plaintiffs and those representing insurer defendants involved in disputes or litigation regarding coverage analysis, investigation, liability determination, damage evaluation, negotiation and settlement.  She is a graduate of The Ohio State University. 

Updated|4 min read

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Georgia is $1,625 per year, which is just $13 cheaper than the national average. Whether you live in the Georgia mountains, the Atlanta area, or anywhere in between, the cost of car insurance can significantly impact your monthly budget.

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The easiest way to save money on your car insurance is by comparing rates between multiple companies in Georgia. Policygenius can help you compare quotes and choose the best protection for your needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto-Owners Insurance has the lowest average rates in Georgia for car insurance, at $1,061 per year

  • Auto-Owners also has the cheapest car insurance for drivers who have been in an at-fault accident

  • Georgia minimum liability car insurance requirements are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability

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 Georgia

If you own a car and want to drive it legally, then you’re going to need car insurance. The price you pay for that insurance depends on many factors, including your driving history, marital status, and the kind of car you drive. 

To lower the cost of what you pay for insurance, it’s best to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies, then choose the coverage that works best for you. The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies in Georgia.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,061

865

USAA

$1,137

890

Central Insurance

$1,319

--

COUNTRY Financial

$1,335

--

State Farm

$1,369

882

Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Georgia

Have you ever wondered why car insurance is so expensive for young drivers? Statistics show young, inexperienced drivers are more likely to be in an accident. Their driving habits and behaviors are seen as high-risk, so insurance providers charge higher premiums to help offset the risk.

Many companies offer young drivers ways to save on car insurance rates, such as good student discounts and accident forgiveness programs. The table below shows the company with the lowest rates in every age group.

Age

Cheapest company

Average cost

16

Auto-Owners Insurance

$3,342

18

USAA

$2,530

21

USAA

$1,616

25

USAA

$1,330

30

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,053

35

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,052

45

USAA

$1,074

55

USAA

$1,019

60

USAA

$1,013

65

USAA

$1,052

70

COUNTRY Financial

$1,184

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Georgia

State law requires all Georgians to have liability insurance to protect themselves and others in case of an accident — and most drivers need far more than the state minimums in order to be adequately protected.

Georgians spend a lot of time in their cars, so you want to be sure you choose the insurance company that offers the best possible coverage. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies and choose the best coverage based on your needs.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Georgia

Speeding in Georgia can be costly. A speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rates by hundreds of dollars, and if you’re caught speeding in a construction zone, ticket fines are often doubled and too many violations could lead to revocation of your license. Obeying posted speed limit signs and not driving while intoxicated are simple ways to avoid paying more for car insurance.

Below are the average rates for motorists in Georgia with moving violations or other infractions.

Violation

Auto-Owners Insurance

USAA

Central Insurance

COUNTRY Financial

State Farm

At-fault accident

$1,395

$1,710

$2,062

$1,858

$1,598

DUI

$1,944

$2,390

$2,872

$2,285

$1,480

Suspended license

$1,944

$2,268

$2,872

$2,285

$1,480

Open container

$1,053

$1,758

$2,872

$1,933

$1,480

Expired registration

$1,053

$1,481

$1,691

$1,933

$1,480

Driving without lights

$1,053

$1,481

$1,785

$1,933

$1,480

Running a red light

$1,053

$1,481

$1,785

$1,933

$1,480

Following too closely

$1,053

$1,481

$1,785

$1,933

$1,480

Hit and run

$1,944

$2,515

$2,872

$2,285

$1,480

Not-at-fault accident

$1,053

$1,200

$1,410

$1,472

$1,386

Passing a school bus

$1,160

$1,758

$1,785

$1,933

$1,480

Reckless driving

$1,944

$1,758

$2,872

$2,285

$1,480

Speeding

$1,338

$1,481

$1,785

$1,933

$1,480

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Georgia

If you’re consistently late on your bills and have filed for bankruptcy, there’s a good chance your car insurance rates are higher than other drivers. Car insurance companies will use your credit score to determine the rates you pay, and a lower score means higher rates. 

Some states don’t allow insurance companies to use credit scores to determine insurance rates, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan, but Georgia is not one of them.

To avoid paying higher rates, working to improve your credit score and paying your bills on time is a great place to start.

Below are the average rates for drivers in Georgia with poor credit.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$1,912

Nationwide

$2,015

COUNTRY Financial

$2,109

USAA

$2,165

Allstate

$2,310

Car insurance costs in Georgia cities

With so many factors that determine the cost of car insurance, it isn’t surprising that drivers in the city pay more for insurance than those in rural areas. More people potentially means more crime and more people on the road, which, in turn, leads to higher insurance rates.

Below are the average car insurance rates for the ten largest cities in Georgia, based on population size:

  • Atlanta $2,025

  • Columbus $1,645

  • Augusta $1,575

  • Macon $1,751

  • Savannah $1,847

  • Athens $1,461

  • Sandy Springs $1,832

  • South Fulton $2,010 

  • Roswell $1,779

  • Johns Creek $1,819

Atlanta has the highest rates in the state, which makes sense since it has the most people. The city’s crime rate also affects the cost of car insurance.

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Buying car insurance in Georgia

Georgia state law requires that every driver on the road have a valid driver’s license. The law also states that all vehicles have the following minimum liability insurance requirements:

  • Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per incident

  • Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per incident

These limits are just the basic required minimum rates, which cover damages you cause to other people and their property. However, if you have a car payment or a more expensive car, then you’ll need to have more than just liability coverage. 

Physical damage or full coverage insurance helps pay for loss or damage to your vehicle. There are two kinds of physical damage insurance:

  • Comprehensive: Sometimes referred to as "other than collision," this type of insurance covers theft, fire, vandalism, and other kinds of damage not caused by a collision.

  • Collision: This covers damage to your car from collisions with other vehicles or objects, no matter who was at fault.

Georgia is a fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that if you cause an accident (making you the at-fault driver), you must fully compensate the other driver for any damage to their property or personal injuries.

Keep in mind that you are responsible for all the damage you cause, which means carrying only the minimum required levels of liability coverage may leave you responsible for thousands of dollars out-of-pocket in the event of a serious accident.

Although car insurance is required in Georgia, some drivers still choose to drive uninsured. In order to protect yourself from uninsured or underinsured drivers, many companies offer uninsured motorist coverage at an additional cost. Working with an insurance expert can help you find the best coverage for your needs.

How to get cheap car insurance in Georgia

To help reduce the cost of car insurance in Georgia, many companies offer a variety of discounts: 

  • Bundling discount: Combining policies such as auto and renter’s insurance

  • Multi-car discount: Having more than one car on your policy

  • Military discount: A discount for active-duty military and their families

  • Low-mileage discount: This is available to drivers who have a shorter commute or drive less than 7,500 miles annually.

  • Safe-driver discount: For drivers without any accident claims during a given time frame

These are just a few of the discounts offered by insurance companies, so be sure and ask about what others may apply to you.

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Frequently asked questions

Who has the lowest car insurance in Georgia?

According to our research, Auto-Owners Insurance has the lowest rates in the state, at $1,061 per year for full coverage. That’s well below the average cost of insurance in the state.

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.

Is car insurance in Georgia expensive?

The cost of car insurance in Georgia is about the same as average. We found that the statewide average cost is just $13 cheaper per year than the national average.

Is car insurance cheaper in SC or GA?

Georgia has cheaper car insurance than South Carolina. Drivers in Georgia pay an average of $1,625 per year for car insurance, while drivers in South Carolina pay an average of $2,018 per year.

Authors

Gianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.

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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