Georgia requires liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Insurers report your coverage to the state electronically, so a gap of 10 days or more counts as a lapse. That brings a $25 fine, and an unpaid fine can lead to a suspended registration.

What do Georgia's minimum limits pay for?

The three numbers in 25/50/25 cover harm you cause to other people. None of them pay to fix your own car or treat your own injuries.

• $25,000 bodily injury for one person. That's the most your policy pays for one injured person's medical bills, lost wages and similar damages.
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident. That's the cap for everyone hurt in one crash, however many people that is.
• $25,000 property damage. This pays for the other driver's car, a mailbox, a fence or a guardrail.

The state insurance office points out that physical damage coverage, meaning collision and comprehensive, isn't required by law. If you have a car loan or lease, though, your lender will almost always make you carry it.

Is the state minimum enough?

That depends on what you have to lose. Georgia is an at-fault state. If you cause a crash on I-285 that sends two people to the hospital and totals a late-model SUV, the bills can blow past 25/50/25 quickly. The injured people can then come after you personally for the difference.

Lots of drivers ask for quotes at a few levels, such as 50/100/50 and 100/300/100, to see what the extra protection actually costs. Homeowners and people with savings often add an umbrella policy on top. Get the quotes side by side before you settle on the cheapest option.

How does Georgia know if your insurance lapses?

Insurance companies send coverage information to the Georgia Department of Revenue electronically. They have 30 days to report a new policy. You don't mail cards to the state. The DOR's system compares the dates instead.

Under DOR rules, a lapse happens when:

• There are 10 days or more between the end of your old policy and the start of your new one.
• Your policy ends and no new policy information reaches the state within 30 days.

If your new policy starts the same day the old one ends, there's no lapse. Swapping insurers is fine, as long as you don't leave a gap between the two policies.

What are the fines and fees after a lapse?

When the DOR spots a lapse, it mails a notice of pending suspension to the registered owner. The costs stack up the longer you wait.

• $25 lapse fine for a lapse while the vehicle is actively registered.
• Up to $160 more if the $25 fine isn't paid within 30 days.
• Registration suspension if the vehicle doesn't have continuous Georgia liability coverage or the fine isn't paid on time.

To get a suspended registration reinstated, the DOR says you need to:

• Get Georgia liability insurance and keep it in force.
• Pay the $25 lapse fine.
• Pay a $60 reinstatement fee, or $160 if you've had three or more suspensions in five years.
• Pay any other registration fees and ad valorem taxes you owe.

You can pay the fines online through DRIVES e-Services. Paying alone won't fix things, though. Your registration stays suspended until your insurer's coverage record shows up in the state system.

Can you get the fines refunded?

Sometimes. The DOR lists situations where you can ask the county tag office for a refund of lapse and reinstatement fees. They include:

• Your insurer later reports that you actually had continuous coverage.
• You voluntarily canceled the registration during the lapse.
• You were deployed on military duty and the car wasn't driven.
• The car wasn't on public roads because it was sold, wrecked, stolen, repossessed or stored, or because you moved out of state.

If you think the lapse notice is wrong, call your insurer first and ask them to resend your policy information. That fixes most mix-ups.

What should you do if you get a pending suspension letter?

Don't ignore it. The fees climb and a suspended tag can mean a ticket or a towed car.

• Find your policy dates and check them against the dates in the letter.
• If you had coverage, ask your insurer to send the information to the DOR again.
• If you really did have a gap, buy coverage now and pay the $25 fine before the 30 days run out.
• Keep your new insurance ID card in the car or on your phone.

FAQ

What are Georgia's minimum car insurance limits?

At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $25,000 for property damage liability.

How long a gap in coverage counts as a lapse in Georgia?

A gap of 10 days or more between policies, or no new policy reported within 30 days after your old one ends.

How much does it cost to reinstate a suspended Georgia registration?

A $25 lapse fine and a $60 reinstatement fee, or $160 if you've had three or more suspensions in five years. Other registration fees and taxes you owe are extra.

Is collision coverage required in Georgia?

Not by state law. Lenders and leasing companies usually require it while you still owe money on the car.

Next step

Before your next renewal, talk with a licensed local agent about whether 25/50/25 matches what you own. Ask for quotes at two or three liability levels, and ask them to confirm your new policy will start the same day your current one ends.

Sources: Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, auto insurance; Georgia DOR, lapse or loss of insurance coverage; Georgia DOR, registration reinstatement after suspension.

In Georgia, a car that's been in a wreck can be worth less even after it's fixed well. That loss is called diminished value. Georgia's Supreme Court has held that an auto insurer paying a physical damage claim on your own policy must consider that loss and pay it, even if you never ask.

What is diminished value?

Diminished value is the drop in a car's market value because it now has an accident history. Two identical cars with the same miles can sell for very different prices if one shows a major collision on a vehicle history report. Buyers and dealers often pay less for a repaired car, even when the repair work is excellent.

There are a few flavors people talk about:

• Inherent diminished value. The stigma of the accident history itself, after proper repairs.
• Repair-related diminished value. Extra loss because repairs were poor, used mismatched parts or left visible flaws.
• Immediate diminished value. The difference in value right after the crash, before repairs.

Most Georgia claims focus on inherent diminished value.

What did the Georgia Supreme Court decide?

In State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Mabry, decided in 2001, the court looked at Georgia auto policies that promise to pay for "loss" to your car. It held that the insurer's duty is to restore the car's value, not just its physical condition. Here's what that means in practice:

• When an insurer pays a first-party physical damage claim, it has to assess whether the car lost value and pay that amount along with repairs.
• You don't have to file a separate diminished value claim to trigger that duty.
• The question is value, not appearance. A car that looks perfect can still be worth less.

Mabry dealt with your own collision and comprehensive coverage. Claims against the at-fault driver's insurer rely on ordinary Georgia damages law, which also lets you recover lost market value. That's a separate claim with its own process.

How do insurers calculate it?

Insurers use different methods. Some use formulas that start with a percentage of the car's value and adjust for damage severity and mileage. Georgia courts have allowed insurers to use a formula as part of an evaluation, as long as the overall assessment is reasonable.

That said, a formula is only a starting point. Ask which inputs the adjuster used, like the base value, the damage rating and the mileage adjustment, and check each one against your car's real condition and market. Formula numbers often come in low, especially on newer or higher-value cars. You don't have to accept the first figure if you have good evidence for a higher one.

How do you back up a diminished value claim?

Treat it like a sale you're negotiating. Your goal is to show what the market would pay before and after.

• Ask for the insurer's evaluation in writing. Request the method and numbers they used.
• Get an independent appraisal. A licensed appraiser who does diminished value work can compare your car with similar sales.
• Collect dealer opinions. Some dealers will give a written trade-in offer that reflects the accident history.
• Keep repair records. The final repair invoice, parts list and photos show how serious the damage was.
• Check the history report. If the crash shows up, include it.

The newer the car and the more serious the structural damage, the bigger the claim tends to be. Minor cosmetic damage on an older high-mileage car may not show much diminished value at all.

What if the insurer won't budge?

Start with a written request for a supervisor review. Include your appraisal and evidence. If that doesn't work, a few options remain:

• Use your policy's appraisal clause, if it has one, for disputes about the amount.
• File a consumer complaint with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.
• Talk with a Georgia attorney, especially on high-value cars or when the insurer refuses to assess diminished value at all.

Georgia's bad-faith statute, O.C.G.A. 33-4-6, can also come into play if an insurer refuses to pay a covered amount within 60 days after a proper demand.

Does diminished value affect your next car purchase?

It can. If you plan to trade in the car soon, the accident history may hit you at the dealer. That's the loss diminished value is meant to cover. Keep your appraisal and settlement paperwork with the car's title records, so you can explain the history to a future buyer.

FAQ

Do Georgia insurers have to pay diminished value?

On first-party physical damage claims, yes. The Georgia Supreme Court held in Mabry that insurers must assess and pay diminished value along with repairs.

Do I have to ask for diminished value in Georgia?

No separate claim is required under Mabry. Still, it helps to ask for the evaluation in writing and give the insurer your own evidence.

Can I get diminished value from the other driver's insurer?

You can seek lost market value as part of a property damage claim against the at-fault driver. That runs under general damages law, not Mabry.

How do I prove my car's diminished value?

An independent appraisal, written dealer offers, repair invoices and the vehicle history report make the strongest case.

Next step

Before you settle a physical damage claim, ask the adjuster in writing how they assessed diminished value. Then talk with a licensed local agent about how your policy handles appraisal and disputes.

Sources: State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Mabry, 274 Ga. 498 (2001) (Justia); Georgia OCI, insurance claim tips; Georgia OCI, file a consumer complaint.

For Georgia home insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, an insurer that won't renew has to mail you notice at least 60 days before the policy ends. That's up from 30 days. The notice must give the reason, and state law bans several reasons outright, including some small claims that weren't your fault.

What changed in 2026?

Senate Bill 35, signed in 2025, amended O.C.G.A. 33-24-46. That's the Georgia statute on cancelling and nonrenewing property policies. The headline change is that the nonrenewal notice for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 has to be at least 60 days instead of 30.

The notice has to be delivered in person or sent by at least first-class mail to your last address on record, and to any lienholder like your mortgage company. It has to state the reason for the nonrenewal. It also has to include a short legal notice explaining that you can ask for the reasons and how to contest the decision.

When can an insurer cancel mid-term?

Cancelling during the policy term is different from refusing to renew. Once a policy has been in force for 60 days, Georgia limits mid-term cancellation to a short list of reasons:

• Nonpayment of premium.
• Fraud or material misrepresentation.
• A substantial change in the risk the insurer took on.
• Substantial breach of the policy's material terms.

What reasons can't an insurer use to nonrenew?

The statute and a 2024 bulletin from the state insurance office say an insurer can't refuse to renew a home policy for these reasons:

• Lack of supporting business, like you not also buying your auto policy from them.
• A change in underwriting rules, unless the change applies uniformly within a class or territory and the Insurance Commissioner has approved it.
• Two or fewer claims in 36 months that weren't caused by negligent or intentional acts by you or people living in your home.

The law also says a call reporting a loss, or a question about whether something is covered, isn't a "claim" for this purpose. You shouldn't be penalized just for asking your agent whether hail damage would be covered.

What else has to be in the notice?

Georgia added consumer protections beyond the 60-day period:

• Reduced coverage gets its own notice. If an insurer will renew but with less coverage, it must give at least 30 days' notice in a separate document headed "NOTICE OF REDUCTION IN COVERAGE" in capital letters at least 12-point.
• FAIR Plan information. A nonrenewal, or a cancellation for any reason other than nonpayment, has to tell you that you may be eligible for the Georgia FAIR Plan, the state's last-resort property insurance program, and give its contact address.

How do you contest a nonrenewal you think is illegal?

The statute gives you a way to push back, but the timing is strict. You have to send the insurer written notice before the nonrenewal takes effect, and that notice has to say how you think the nonrenewal breaks the law. If you skip that step, you can't bring a claim later. And in any later case, you're limited to the specific problems you raised in your notice. Here's a practical order:

• Read the stated reason and compare it with the banned reasons above.
• Pull your claim history for the past 36 months and note which claims were weather-related or not your fault.
• Send a written objection to the insurer by a trackable method, and keep a copy.
• File a complaint with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner if the insurer doesn't fix it.

Meanwhile, shop for replacement coverage. Don't let your home go uninsured while a dispute plays out, especially with a mortgage.

What if your agent is the reason for the change?

Sometimes a nonrenewal happens because the insurer ended its relationship with your agency, not because of anything about your home. Georgia law covers that. If you apply through another agent of the same insurer before the effective date, the policy is treated as a renewal. That protects your claim-free history and pricing with the company.

How do you shop after a nonrenewal?

Use the 60 days. Get your declarations page, roof age, and details on updates to plumbing, wiring and HVAC ready before you call around. Independent agents who work with several carriers can often find options quickly. If the private market won't write the home, ask about the FAIR Plan as a backstop.

FAQ

How much notice must a Georgia home insurer give before nonrenewing?

At least 60 days for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. Before that it was 30 days.

Can my Georgia insurer drop me for weather claims?

Not for two or fewer claims in 36 months that weren't due to your negligence, which includes claims from natural causes.

Does asking my agent about coverage count as a claim?

No. Georgia law says reporting a loss or asking a coverage question isn't a claim for nonrenewal purposes.

How do I contest a nonrenewal in Georgia?

Send the insurer written notice that you're contesting it before the nonrenewal's effective date, then file a complaint with the state insurance office if needed.

Next step

If a nonrenewal notice arrives, talk with a licensed local agent right away. Ask them to check whether the reason is allowed and to start quoting replacement coverage before your 60 days run out.

Sources: O.C.G.A. 33-24-46 (Georgia Commons); Georgia SB 35 (2025), signed legislation; Georgia OCI Bulletin 24-EX-2, nonrenewal requirements and prohibitions.

Under Georgia law, if your insurer refuses to pay a covered loss within 60 days after you demand payment, and that refusal is in bad faith, it can owe you a penalty. The penalty is up to 50% of what it owes or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. The demand and the timing matter a lot.

What does Georgia's bad-faith statute cover?

O.C.G.A. 33-4-6 applies to first-party claims, meaning claims you make on your own policy. Think home, auto physical damage, renters or business property. The basic rule has four parts:

• The loss has to be covered by the policy.
• You have to make a demand for payment.
• The insurer has to refuse to pay within 60 days after that demand.
• A judge or jury has to find the refusal was in bad faith.

If all four are met, the insurer owes the amount of the loss plus the penalty and your reasonable attorney's fees. If the insurer pays after the 60 days are up, that doesn't wipe out the bad-faith claim.

What counts as a proper demand?

Georgia courts have set some practical rules about demands:

• Timing matters. The demand has to come when payment is actually due under the policy. Sending one the day after a loss, before the insurer can investigate, may not count.
• A proof of loss isn't enough by itself. Filing a proof of loss form is part of the claim, but courts have said it isn't the same as a demand for payment.
• No magic words. You don't need special wording, but the letter should clearly say you're demanding payment of a specific claim and that the insurer may face a bad-faith penalty if it doesn't pay.

Send the demand in a way you can prove, like certified mail, and keep a copy. If a lawsuit follows, Georgia also requires the policyholder to mail a copy of the demand and the complaint to the Insurance Commissioner within 20 days of filing suit.

When is a denial not bad faith?

The penalty isn't automatic just because you disagree with the insurer. Courts have held that if the insurer had reasonable grounds to contest the claim, there's no bad faith. A real coverage question, a genuine dispute over the amount, or evidence suggesting the loss isn't covered can all count.

So the statute is strongest when the insurer has no good reason for sitting on a clear claim. It's weaker when the fight is about a close coverage question.

How should you document your claim from day one?

The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner gives claim tips that also help if you later need to prove bad faith:

• Report the loss promptly and write down your claim number.
• Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent more damage, like tarping a roof, and keep every receipt. Don't make permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected.
• Keep a claim diary. Note the date, time, name and summary of every call.
• Keep copies of everything you send and receive, including photos and estimates.
• Ask for denials in writing. A written denial should cite the specific policy language it relies on.
• Don't rush to settle. If an offer seems low, ask the insurer for an itemized explanation.

What can you do before it gets to a lawsuit?

Most claim disputes never reach the bad-faith statute. A few steps often move a stuck claim:

• Ask the adjuster, in writing, what specific information is still needed and when a decision will be made.
• Ask to speak with a supervisor if deadlines keep slipping.
• Use the appraisal clause, if your policy has one, for disputes about the amount of loss.
• File a complaint with the state insurance office. Its consumer services line is 404-656-2070 or 800-656-2298.

If a large claim is stalled, a Georgia attorney who handles insurance disputes can tell you when a formal 60-day demand makes sense.

Does this apply to liability claims against someone else's insurer?

Generally, no. This statute is about your own policy. Claims against another driver's insurer follow different rules, and Georgia has separate statutes for things like uninsured motorist claims and settlement demands in injury cases. Ask an attorney which rule fits your situation.

What should a demand letter include?

Keep it short and factual. A typical first-party demand lists:

• Your name, policy number, claim number and the date of loss.
• The amount you're demanding and how you got to it, with estimates or invoices attached.
• A clear statement that you're demanding payment and that the insurer may be liable for the penalty and attorney's fees under O.C.G.A. 33-4-6 if it refuses in bad faith.
• The date you're sending it, so the 60 days can be counted.

Many people have an attorney send it, since a defective demand can cost you the penalty.

FAQ

How long does a Georgia insurer have to pay after a demand?

The bad-faith penalty statute uses 60 days after a proper demand for payment on a covered loss.

How much is the Georgia bad-faith penalty?

Up to 50% of the insurer's liability for the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees.

Is filing a proof of loss the same as a demand?

No. Georgia courts have said a proof of loss alone isn't a demand for payment under the statute.

Can I complain to the state about a slow claim?

Yes. The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner takes consumer complaints at 404-656-2070 or 800-656-2298.

Next step

Start a claim file now with photos, receipts and a call log. If your claim stalls, talk with a licensed local agent about the policy wording, and with a Georgia attorney before you send a formal 60-day demand.

Sources: O.C.G.A. 33-4-6 (Georgia Commons); Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, insurance claim tips.

Every Georgia auto liability policy has to include uninsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing. The default type, called added-on, pays on top of the at-fault driver's liability insurance. Reduced-by coverage subtracts what that driver's insurer pays, and you only get it by choosing it in writing.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

UM coverage pays you when the driver who caused the crash has no insurance, not enough insurance, or can't be identified. Under Georgia law it covers bodily injury and death. It also covers damage to your car and to personal property inside it.

Georgia folds underinsured coverage into the same UM coverage. If the other driver carries only the 25/50/25 minimum and your injuries cost much more, your UM coverage is what fills that gap.

How much UM coverage do you get?

The statute gives you two options for your UM limits:

• At least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage.
• Limits equal to your own liability limits, if those are higher.

You can also pick UM limits lower than your liability limits if you say so. Many people don't remember making that choice. Look at your declarations page to see what you have.

Georgia also offers UM deductibles of $250, $500 or $1,000 at a lower premium, and some insurers offer higher deductibles with state approval.

What's the difference between added-on and reduced-by?

Here's a simple example. Say your injuries are worth $100,000, the at-fault driver has $25,000 in liability coverage, and you carry $50,000 in UM.

• Added-on (the default): The other driver's insurer pays $25,000, and your UM can pay up to its full $50,000 on top of that. You can recover up to $75,000.
• Reduced-by: Your UM is reduced by the $25,000 the other driver's insurer paid. Your UM pays only the $25,000 difference, so you recover $50,000 in total.

Added-on coverage still can't pay you more than your actual economic and noneconomic losses. Reduced-by usually costs less, but it pays less when you need it most.

How do you end up with reduced-by coverage?

The law says you must reject added-on coverage and select reduced-by coverage in writing. Insurers usually do this on a UM selection form when you buy the policy. Once you've made that choice with a company, it can carry over to renewals with the same insurer.

So if you signed a stack of forms quickly when you bought your policy, you may have reduced-by without knowing it. Your declarations page or your agent can tell you.

What if it was a hit-and-run?

Georgia treats a vehicle with an unknown owner or driver as uninsured, with conditions:

• There has to be actual physical contact between the unknown vehicle and you or your car.
• If there was no contact, your description of what happened has to be corroborated by an eyewitness other than you.
• The accident has to be reported as Georgia law requires, so call the police from the scene if you can.

Write down witness names and phone numbers on the spot. Without contact or a witness, a phantom-vehicle claim usually fails.

What if your UM insurer won't pay?

Georgia has a separate bad-faith rule for UM claims. If your insurer refuses to pay a covered UM loss within 60 days after you demand payment, and the refusal is found to be in bad faith, it can owe a penalty. The penalty is up to 25% of the recovery or $25,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. That's decided in a separate lawsuit after a judgment against the uninsured driver, so talk to an attorney early in a serious case.

How do you make a UM claim after a crash?

Treat it like any serious claim, and start early. Georgia's UM rules have procedural steps that trip people up.

• Call the police and get a report number, especially if the other driver fled or seems to have no insurance.
• Tell your own insurer about the crash quickly. Many policies set short notice deadlines for UM claims, and courts have enforced them.
• Get the at-fault driver's insurance information, if there is any, and find out their liability limits.
• Keep medical records, bills, repair estimates and proof of lost pay in one folder.
• If you settle with the at-fault driver's insurer, ask before signing anything. The wrong kind of release can cut off your UM claim.

In Georgia, a UM claim often runs through a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, with your UM insurer served a copy so it can take part. That's another reason a lawyer is worth a call when injuries are serious.

FAQ

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Georgia?

Insurers must include it in every auto liability policy. You can turn it down, but only by rejecting it in writing.

Which type of UM coverage is the default in Georgia?

Added-on coverage. It pays on top of the at-fault driver's liability insurance. Reduced-by coverage requires a written selection.

Does Georgia UM cover damage to my car?

Yes. It covers damage to your insured vehicle and personal property inside it, subject to any UM property damage deductible you chose.

Do I need a witness for a hit-and-run UM claim?

Only if the unknown vehicle never made physical contact with you or your car. Then an eyewitness other than you has to back up your account.

Next step

Pull up your declarations page and check two things: your UM limits and whether you have added-on or reduced-by coverage. Then talk with a licensed local agent about what it would cost to match your UM limits to your liability limits with added-on coverage.

Sources: O.C.G.A. 33-7-11, uninsured motorist coverage (Georgia Commons); Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, auto insurance.