In this guide 5 sections
Georgia's standard car insurance requirement is 25/50/25 liability coverage. That pays covered claims for injuries or property damage you cause to other people. It does not pay to repair your own car. Certain DUI convictions require higher limits, and a lender can require coverage beyond the state's minimum.
What does 25/50/25 mean?
The three numbers describe separate limits, not one shared amount you can spend on any part of a claim.
| Coverage | Limit | What the limit applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury, one person | $25,000 | Covered injuries to one other person in an accident you cause. |
| Bodily injury, one accident | $50,000 | Covered injuries to everyone else combined, subject to the per-person limit. |
| Property damage, one accident | $25,000 | Covered damage to other people's vehicles or property. |
These are the standard limits listed by Georgia's insurance regulator. You can buy higher limits. Meeting a legal minimum does not mean the policy will cover every dollar of a serious loss.
DUI exception: Georgia's 2025 SB 121 requires higher liability limits for qualifying DUI convictions after the law took effect. If this applies to you, check the required limits and proof of coverage with your insurer and the Department of Driver Services; do not assume 25/50/25 is enough.
Which coverage pays for your own car?
Collision covers damage from a collision. Comprehensive, also called other-than-collision coverage, covers losses such as theft, fire, or vandalism. Georgia does not generally require either coverage, but a finance or lease agreement usually does. Deductibles and policy terms affect what you receive.
Uninsured motorist coverage is another item to check if the driver who caused the crash has no insurance or insufficient coverage. Do not assume it is included because you carry liability insurance. Check your coverage selections, limits, and exclusions. The state's auto insurance guide explains these coverage categories.
Check coverage before a claim becomes a dispute
Find the declarations page, which summarizes your policy's vehicles, dates, coverages, limits, and deductibles. Keep the full policy and any endorsements with it. A coverage label alone does not tell you every condition that applies.
Georgia requires continuous liability coverage for vehicles with an active registration. A parked or unusable car is not a reason to cancel insurance while leaving its registration active. The Department of Revenue's insurance page explains registration cancellation and links to the state's insurance-status lookup.
What should you do after a Georgia accident?
If anyone is injured or killed, or the apparent property damage is $500 or more, notify the appropriate police agency immediately by the quickest available means. That is the rule in Georgia's crash-reporting statute, reproduced by GDOT. There is no general ten-day waiting period for making that notification.
For the insurance claim, collect the other driver's insurance details, photographs, and the police report number. Ask when the report will be available. Notify your insurer promptly, even if you believe the other driver caused the crash. Georgia OCI's claim-filing instructions explain what to record and why you should ask your insurer which documents it needs.
Keep a short claim record with these headings:
- Policy and claim: insurer, policy number, claim number, and adjuster's contact details.
- Damage and costs: photographs, repair estimates, towing or storage bills, and any valuation report.
- Open questions: the coverage being used, any deductible, documents still requested, and the next response date.
What if the insurer denies coverage or disputes the amount?
Ask for the insurer's explanation and the policy wording or valuation information it used. Keep the response with your records. If you cannot resolve the issue, review the Georgia OCI complaint process, including whether the department handles your policy. A complaint is a review of the insurer's handling of the matter, not a promise of payment.
If your car has been declared a total loss, use our free total-loss document checklist to organize the offer and supporting records. The tool helps you prepare; it does not file a claim or arrange a lawyer.
Disclaimer: TurnYourClaim is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page provides general educational information only. Laws vary by state and change frequently — always consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. This is not medical advice; if you have been injured, seek immediate medical attention.