McKayla Girardin, Car Insurance Writer
@mckayla_girardin
No, it is not illegal to not have car insurance in Georgia as long as you do not drive at all or do not own a registered vehicle. Driving without insurance in Georgia is against the law, though, and the potential penalties include fines up to $1,000 and up to 12 months of imprisonment.
When You Do Not Legally Need Car Insurance in Georgia
- You do not have a driver's license or never drive. If you don't have a license, there is no need to have car insurance since you legally cannot be behind the wheel of a car anyway. Additionally, if you have a license but never drive, you have no need for car insurance.
- You do not own a registered vehicle. Georgia requires that all drivers show proof of insurance when registering their vehicle. If you own an unregistered car that you are just trying to re-sell or that is a project you are working on fixing, you do not need car insurance.
- You occasionally drive borrowed cars. When you drive another person's car with their permission, you are covered by their car insurance policy under permissive use, so you do not need to have your own car insurance. You can also get a non-owner policy, instead, to have additional coverage when driving borrowed cars.
- You drive rental cars. Rental cars can be covered by an insurance policy provided by the rental car company, so you do not need your own personal car insurance to rent a car.
If you plan to drive a registered vehicle in Georgia, you'll need to have at least the minimum amount of coverage required by Georgia law. You can check out WalletHub's picks for the cheapest car insurance companies in Georgia to compare your options.
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If you’re in an accident without insurance and you are at fault, you will need to pay out of pocket for any damage or injuries you cause. You will also face your state’s penalties for driving without insurance, which could include fines, a suspended license, and even jail time. If you are uninsured and the other driver is at fault, however, their insurance will cover your bills up to their policy limits.
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You cannot be without car insurance for any period of time if you have a car that is parked or driven on public property. Car insurance is mandatory in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia, and even driving off a dealership’s lot without insurance is illegal.
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No, you can’t get away with driving uninsured for a long period of time. Driving without insurance is illegal and always a bad idea because of the consequences you could face if you get caught, including hefty fines, a license suspension and even jail time. It’s sometimes possible to drive uninsured briefly, but your state DMV will eventually find out.
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