Do You Need Teen Car Insurance in Georgia?
Reader’s Question:
I am concerned about my teenage son, who occasionally drives one of my newer model cars. There’s nothing much to worry about since he’s already added to my policy. My question is, what will happen if he crashes the car and causes damages to it? We live in Atlanta, GA.
Laura
Atlanta, GA
It is important to take precautions by knowing what to do should an accident involving a minor child happens. Since you mentioned that your teenage son is already listed as a driver on your policy, you’re correct, you may have nothing much to worry about as compared to those parents whose children were not added. Your car insurance company should cover the damages to him and your car based on the insurance limits purchased. As to the amount of the claim payments, these will be determined by first getting quotes from auto body repairs. You may be curious as to what will happen after that? Some insurance companies may try to get back the costs incurred by raising your premiums while some will choose to not renew your policy at its expiration. Other insurance companies will even require that you remove your teen minor from the policy before they renew your policy. Or, they will continue to renew your policy with your minor listed on the policy as a driver, but they will increase your car insurance rate premiums in Georgia.
Car Insurance For Suspended License in Georgia
Reader’s Question:
My driver’s license was suspended for two years for driving without license in another state. My driver’s license was issued in Louisville, KY. Does that mean I will not be able to get a driver’s license and car insurance in my new home state of Georgia? To my understanding, GA is not a reciprocal state for driver’s license records.
Kyle
Augusta, GA
No. You will not likely be allowed to obtain a driver’s license in Augusta, Georgia with your driver’s license in your previous state of Kentucky being suspended. Though you’re correct that Georgia is not part of the Drivers License Compact (DLC), GA, however is part of the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC). It has separate agreements with other states to share ticket information even without being part of the DLC. So, GA shares information about licensing and violation convictions with other states.
When applying for a Georgia license, you would need to inform the GA Department of Driver Services (DDS) about the suspension of your license in KY. Georgia state laws require a wait period until you can reinstate your KY license to drive again before you’re allowed to obtain a driver’s license in their state. To make sure that this is true in your specific situation and to see if you can obtain any kind of restricted license in the mean time, you may want to contact GA DDS.
Without having a valid driver’s license, it will be difficult if not impossible to get auto insurance since having a suspended license means you’re not supposed to drive a car.
Auto Insurance Effected By Open Container Ticket in Georgia?
Reader’s Question:
My friend received a ticket while driving my car and two other people in the vehicle got tickets as well for open containers of alcohol in Marietta, Georgia. I was not in the car when this happened. Will my insurance be affected?
Cary
Marietta, GA
The tickets received by the driver and passengers in your vehicle in Marietta, Georgia are not likely to affect your auto insurance rates because they were given to the driver and passenger of the car, which you were not one of. It seems like neither the vehicle nor you received any violations so in most states including Georgia there should be nothing to go on your driving record therefore nothing for the insurance carrier to see regarding the incident.
The driver and passenger in your vehicle though have to take care of the tickets they received. Depending in what state the infractions happened, the penalty for the tickets could be $25 to $500. This offense can be considered as a traffic violation or as serious as a misdemeanor. In Georgia, points can be place to your license
Car Insurance With DUI in Georgia
Reader’s Question:
I have an ongoing case on a DUI in MA from where I previously reside. I recently moved to Macon, Georgia and was wondering if I can obtain a license in GA by telling them that I never had a license. Could I do that?
Henry
Macon, GA
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) has a mandatory license suspension for a conviction of any of the following violation in the state of Georgia or any other state: fictitious or fraudulent use of, or application for a license.
According to the GA Driver Manual, the Department of Driver Services is authorized to terminate your license if you fail to provide the required or correct information needed in your application or if you are not eligible.
You may contact the Georgia DDS and speak with a representative regarding your Massachusetts situation to verify if with the DUI issues that are pending you can get a GA license or not. If your Massachusetts license is currently suspended, the state of Georgia will likely require you reinstate it before permitting you a license however get specific information from this state licensing agency.
Minimum Requirement on Georgia Auto Insurance Liability
Reader’s Question:
I just want to know what are the minimum requirements for car insurance in the state of Georgia?
Tom
Columbus, GA
Georgia state law requires motor vehicle owners and lessees to maintain continuous mandatory liability auto insurance coverage of at least the minimum limits in order to operate a vehicle in the state of Georgia highways or roads. The minimum liability limits set by the state of Georgia is commonly referred to as 25/50/25.
These minimum liability limits numbers stand for: bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person up to $50,000 per accident and liability limits of $25,000 per accident for property damage.
Auto Insurance Coverage In Georgia
Reader’s Question:
Does auto insurance cover the driver or car in Savannah Georgia?
Linda
Savannah, GA
Auto insurance can cover both the driver and the car. The vehicle is covered on a car insurance policy and those motorists are that are covered to drive the car are defined inside the policy coverage definitions.
Most insurance policies will cover all motorists that are not excluded but given permission to drive the car. There is no blanket answer to what or who a car insurance policy will cover so you would need to check your specific policy’s declarations and application.
If there are specific state insurance laws you want to check regarding your specific situation in Savannah Georgia you can contact the Georgia Insurance Commissioner whose consumer division should be able to assist you.
