Georgia is rich with history, tradition, and old-fashioned Southern charm. Protecting this way of life includes protecting your home, vehicles, and health with the right insurance coverage and amounts. But insurance in Georgia can be pricey—it ranks 8th in the nation for auto insurance premium costs, and roughly 1 in 3 Georgia residents don't have health insurance, even though many are employed.
But your Georgia insurance rates don't need to break the bank. Understanding the basics of Georgia insurance and how to save on your premiums by shopping around can help make insurance more affordable than ever.
Georgia Auto Insurance
Georgia is tough on drivers who take to the roads without proper insurance, which is probably why it has one of the lowest uninsured driver rates in the country. Driving without proof of insurance, for example, can result in fines and even six-month suspension on your registration.
Minimum requirements in Georgia are also higher than many other states. Coverage requirements to legally driver your car are:
- Bodily Injury Liability--$25,000/$50,000 (this covers medical costs and litigation up to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in the event you are at fault.)
- Property Damage Liability--$25,000
In addition, as of January 2009, Georgia now "stacks" coverage, meaning that uninsured motorist coverage (which is not required but highly recommended, even in a state with low uninsured rates) coverage can also be added to the amount of the at-fault driver's liability policy in the event that driver is underinsured. So let's say you are in an accident and the at-fault driver has the bare minimum $50,000 in liability, but your medical bills and lost wages far exceed this amount. If you have uninsured coverage for $50,000, this can be added to the at-fault driver's liability, meaning you now have $100,000 in coverage.
Georgia Homeowners Insurance
Georgia insurance rates for homeowners insurance are actually pretty affordable, at an average of $746 a year. Renters can expect to pay about $215 each year. You can still save money on your Georgia insurance in a number of ways, including:
- Anti-theft protection. You can increase the security of your home and lower insurance by around 10% if you install a burglar alarm, deadbolt locks, motion lights, and other security features.
- Enhanced safety measures. Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers in the home, and alarm systems that notify the fire department if smoke is detected can lower your insurance premiums by over $100 a year.
- Higher deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your premiums and monthly rates will be. Just make sure you always have enough cash on hand to cover the cost of your deductible in the event you need to file a claim.
Georgia Health Insurance
Many people in Georgia go without health insurance. It could be that their employer doesn't offer it, they are unemployed, or they can't find an affordable option. The good news is there are many affordable insurance options for Georgia residents, whether you need health insurance for yourself or your entire family, or you are an employer looking for group health insurance for employees. Wading through health insurance premiums, co-pays, inclusions, and so forth can be daunting. Localinsurance.com will give you all the information you need to compare the best rates for your health insurance.
Compare and Save
Regardless of the type of insurance you need, you can save money on your Georgia insurance rates by shopping around and comparing rates. Localinsurance.com makes this easy by allowing you to quickly compare rates for all types of insurance in your area for free.
