Not so long ago, Georgia was one of the states with the cheapest car insurance in America. But in recent years that situation has changed. The typical yearly expense for full coverage car insurance stands at $1,555, while the state-minimum coverage comes at an average of $801 annually. Notably, insurance for teen drivers averages a heftier $4,930 per year.
That makes shopping for the best car insurance in Georgia more important than it’s ever been. Fortunately, there are dozens of car insurance companies in Georgia to choose from. The key is to find the one that offers the best combination of comprehensive coverage with a reasonable premium level.
We’ve whittled the list down to seven companies we believe provide the best car insurance in Georgia. And consistent with that effort, each of the seven companies we present in this list has an average annual premium that’s lower than the statewide average.
The only way to know which company is the right car insurance provider for you is to get quotes from several. To make it easy for you, you can use the quote tool below from our insurance partner to check rates from several companies:
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The Most Important Factors When Deciding on Car Insurance in Georgia
Much like health insurance, car insurance is one of the more complicated coverages to buy. While you’ll naturally want to get the lowest premium possible, it’s also important not to skimp on coverage. You’ll get no more benefit from your policy than you pay for upfront, so it’s important to make sure it’s sufficient for any anticipated needs.
We recommend the following strategies when buying car insurance:
- Don’t use premium as your primary criteria. While it’s natural to want to save as much as possible, it’s equally important to make sure you have adequate coverage. As a general rule, the higher your net worth, the more coverage you’ll need. Remember that if you’re determined to be at fault in an accident, the victim can always recover additional money from you, over and above your policy limits.
- Get quotes from several companies. Yes, shopping for car insurance is not one of life’s more pleasurable experiences. But you owe it to yourself to investigate at least a few different companies. Once again, use the quote tool above to get multiple quotes before making your choice.
- Bundle and save. Most companies will give you a substantial discount if you have other types of policies with them. Most common are types of home-related policies, like homeowner’s, renter’s, or condo insurance. But having life insurance with the same company may also qualify.
The 7 Best Car Insurance Companies in Georgia
There is no one best car insurance company for all drivers or even for most. Many companies specialize in certain niches that will make them the best choice for you, so be sure to take a look at the policy options offered by each company. To help you in that effort, below is a list of the companies in Georgia we believe to be the best:
Author’s Pick:
Special Mention: USAA – The Car Insurance Choice for Current and Former Members of the Military
USAA would certainly be included as one of the top insurance companies in Georgia, except that coverage is only available for veterans and current members of the US military and their families. Since it’s not available to the general public, we’ve excluded it from our primary list.
However, they would have the second-lowest statewide average premium on our list, at $988 per year, along with a customer satisfaction rank of #2 in the southeast region. The company also has a top-of-the-line A++ financial strength rating, confirming its financial ability to pay claims. If you’re a member of the US military or an eligible veteran and you’re looking for car insurance, USAA should be your first choice.
1. Auto-Owners
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Classic cars Gap coverage Converted or modified vehicles Road trouble service New car replacement Rental car coverage Additional expense – to cover cost of your stranded away from home Diminished value – protects your vehicle value if it declines even after repair Loan/lease gap coverage Personal Automobile Plus – create a package of 10 optional coverages for one competitive rate; includes identity theft, rekeying locks, replacing your cell phone and more |
| Discounts | Multi-policy On-time payments (36 months or more) Paperless billing Multi-car Good student Student away at school Teen Driver Monitoring Paid-in-full premium Advance quote Vehicle safety features Favorable loss history |
Premiums: $847 (THE lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 852 (#6 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A++
Why It Made the List
Auto-Owners Insurance took top honors on our list of the best car insurance in Georgia. For starters, they have the lowest statewide average premiums in Georgia. But they also have a top-of-the-line A++ financial strength rating with A.M. Best and placed #6 on the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey for the Southeast Region.
They offer a solid lineup of both policy options and discounts, and place in several of our “best for” categories, including best overall, cheapest overall, and best for young drivers.
What Holds It Back
Auto-Owners Insurance makes car insurance available in about half the states in the US. If you have coverage with this company in Georgia, there’s about a 50% chance you’ll need a new carrier if you move to a different state.
2. Travelers
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Gap coverage Rental coverage Roadside assistance Medical payments Ridesharing New car replacement Accident forgiveness (one accident and one minor violation every 36 months) Decreasing deductible ($50 every six months up to $500 you’re accident- or violation-free), New car replacement (replace your new vehicle with a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model if yours is totaled within the first five years of ownership) |
| Discounts | Multi-policy (bundling) Multi-car Homeownership Safe driver (10% for no accidents in three years, 23% for five years) Continuous insurance (up to 15%) Hybrid/electric vehicle New car Pay in full Good payer discounts Early quote Good student Student away at school Driver training IntelliDrive Program (uses a smart app to capture and score driver behavior, and could result in a 20% premium reduction). |
Premiums: $1,305 (4th lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 822 (#15 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A++ (highest)
Why It Made the List
Travelers took the number two spot on a combination of factors, including having the fourth-lowest average premium of the companies on our list, and the highest financial strength rating by A.M. Best (A++). But the company also has plenty of policy options, including accident forgiveness and decreasing deductibles.
And a very long list of discounts likely goes a long way toward explaining why they’re one of the lower-cost providers in Georgia. They’re also one of only three insurance companies on our list that provide coverage for ridesharing.
What Holds It Back
Travelers rank only #15 in customer satisfaction, which is below the statewide average. It can be an indication some of its customers are less than fully pleased with its claims-paying performance.
3. Georgia Farm Bureau
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Roadside assistance Emergency towing Emergency lockout service Emergency vehicle extrication (pulling your vehicle out of a ditch or other inaccessible area that’s located within 50 feet of a paved road) |
| Discounts | Accident forgiveness Driver training discounts Farm auto rates Good student discounts Multiline discounts Safe driver discounts |
Premiums: $1,286 (3rd lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 888 (#1 on the J.D. Power Survey through sister company, Tennessee Farm Bureau)
Financial strength rating: B+
Why It Made the List
Not only does the Georgia Farm Bureau have THE highest customer satisfaction rating of any auto insurer in Georgia, but they also have the third-lowest average premium on our list. Meanwhile, the company also fills a lot of our “best for” slots, including good drivers, drivers with one at-fault accident, and drivers with a DUI or DWI.
What Holds It Back
Georgia Farm Bureau has an A.M. Best financial strength rating of only B+, which is the lowest rating of the companies on our list. Though that’s still considered a good rating, we generally prefer to include companies with a rating of no less than A-. In addition, the Georgia Farm Bureau indicates a very limited list of both policy options and discounts.
4. Safeco
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Personal injury protection (PIP) Roadside assistance Rental car reimbursement Emergency assistance Loan and lease gap coverage Electronic key and lock replacement CD and DVD replacement New car replacement Audio-visual and custom equipment coverage Pet coverage Personal property coverage |
| Discounts | Accident forgiveness Diminishing deductibles ($100 each year you’re accident free, up to a maximum of $500 over five years) First aid reimbursement – up to $10,000 in reimbursement coverage for providing first aid to others after a car crash; applies to all policies Safe driver Accident prevention course (for 55 and older) Teen Safety Rewards Low mileage discount (up to 20%) Multi-car Vehicle safety equipment Homeowner Multi-policy (bundle) |
Premiums: $1,383 (5th lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 888 (#9 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A
Why It Made the List
Safeco has the fifth-lowest average premium in Georgia and a very impressive list of both policy options and discounts. On the policy options side, they offer electronic key and lock replacement, CD and DVD replacement, new car replacement, audio-visual and custom equipment coverage, and pet coverage. Some of the more compelling discounts include accident forgiveness diminishing deductibles, first aid reimbursement, and a low mileage discount of up to 20%.
What Holds It Back
Safeco didn’t make any of our “best for” categories. Though it’s one of the better auto insurance companies in Georgia overall, they don’t seem to have any special niches.
5. MetLife
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Rental car coverage Personal injury protection (PIP) New car replacement Major parts replacement Glass repairs without a deductible Roadside assistance Towing and labor coverage Legal defense costs if your sued, with up to $200 per day in lost wages due to court proceedings Loan/lease gap coverage |
| Discounts | Deductible Savings Benefit (your deductible is reduced $50 every year you don’t make a claim, to a maximum of $250) Defensive driver training course discount (up to 7%) Superior Driver Discount (earn up to 12% if all drivers in your household have outstanding driver records) MetRewards (earn up to 20% if you are claim-free and violation-free for five years or more) Multi-policy when combined with homeowner’s insurance (10%) or when combined with life insurance (5%) Good student (up to 15%) |
Premiums: $1,251 (2nd lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 814 (#17 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A
Why It Made the List
MetLife has the second-lowest statewide average premium on our list. They are also strong in policy options, offering new car replacement coverage, major parts replacement, glass repairs without a deductible, and legal defense costs in case you are sued. They also have a very generous (20%) driver discount if you are claim-free and violation-free for at least five years.
What Holds It Back
MetLife ranks very low in the customer satisfaction category, at #17 among the companies ranked in the Southeast Region. In addition, MetLife didn’t qualify for any of our “best for” categories, which may mean it’s soft on the specialization side.
6. State Farm
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Car rental Travel expenses for an accident more than 50 miles from home Medical payments Emergency roadside assistance Rideshare Sports cars Antique classic cars Small business vehicle |
| Discounts | Accident-free Anti-theft equipment Defensive driving course Drive Safe & Save – driving monitoring app Good driving Good student Homeownership Multi-car Multi-policy Vehicle safety equipment Student away at school Steer Clear Safe Driver (complete education requirements and no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the previous three years – both met before turning 25) |
Premiums: $1,418 (6th lowest premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 853 (#5 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A++ (highest rating issued by A.M. Best)
Why It Made the List
State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the US, and in Georgia, it provides a solid combination of having the 6th lowest statewide average premiums while ranking #5 in customer satisfaction. The company also has the highest financial strength rating possible, at A++.
We also like that State Farm has a full range of coverage options. For example, State Farm offers coverage for ridesharing drivers, which is important because that type of driving activity isn’t covered under a typical personal car insurance policy. And they also have one of the most extensive lists of available discounts in Georgia, giving you more opportunities to save.
State Farm also places well in our “best for” categories, ranking as the best source for good drivers and low mileage drivers.
What Holds It Back
There’s no indication State Farm provides gap coverage. This is a critical missing part since many drivers owe more to their vehicles than those vehicles are worth. Gap coverage is designed specifically to pay off excess debt. If it’s not offered, you’ll be on the hook to pay the difference.
7. Progressive
The Basics:
| Policy Options | Gap coverage Medical payments Rental car reimbursement Roadside assistance Custom parts and equipment value Rideshare coverage |
| Discounts | Snapshot app ($145 average discount) Bundle auto and property Name Your Price Tool (enter your desired premium, and Progressive will design a policy), Multi-policy (5% average discount) Multi-car (12% average discount) Continuous coverage Good student Distant students (more than 100 miles from home) Homeowner (average discount nearly 10%) Online quote (4% average discount) Sign online (8.5% average discount) Paperless Pay in full Automatic payment Small accident forgiveness – premium won’t be increased for a claim of less than $500 Large accident forgiveness – no rate increase in an accident if you have been a customer for a least 5 years, and no accidents for the past 3 years |
Premiums: $1,756 (7th lowest average premium on our list)
Customer satisfaction rating: 824 (#11 on the J.D. Power Survey)
Financial strength rating: A+
Why It Made the List
Progressive might very well have more available discounts than any other company in Georgia. And with a statewide average premium of $1,756, it’s still below the overall Georgia statewide average premium. Progressive also took top honors in two very important “best for” categories, senior drivers and drivers with poor credit.
What Holds It Back
Progressive only ranks #11 in customer satisfaction in Georgia, with only 824 out of 1,000 points. That may indicate some weakness on the customer service side, but more importantly, with the payment of claims.
How We Found the Best Car Insurance in Georgia
To show that the evaluation of our list is objective, we used the following criteria to determine our rankings. In each case, the car insurance company was rated based on the combination of these factors.
Policy Options
Policy options are those coverages offered over and above the required minimums. They give you the opportunity to customize your policy to best fit your own needs and preferences. We gave greater weight to companies offering a broader selection of options.
Discounts
One of the major factors affecting premium level is the number of discounts a company offers. It’s possible a company offering significant discounts may have a lower premium than one that generally offers the lowest average premium in the state. The more options offered by a company, the higher their rank on our list.
Premiums
We get that consumers want to pay the lowest possible premium. But it’s important to balance that against the coverage types and levels that will be included in your policy. And also to make sure your policy closely matches your financial situation and driver profile. It will do you little good to discover you are underinsured – but paying a low premium – after an at-fault accident.
We obtained those averages from The Zebra, which is determined to be a reliable source of pricing information. But please understand these are only a starting point. In the insurance universe, a company with the lowest average premium may not necessarily end up being the lowest-cost policy for you. Once again, get quotes from multiple companies!
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Customer satisfaction is about a whole lot more than customer service when it comes to car insurance. The primary component is how well a car insurance company handles claims, as well as their willingness to pay those claims. We gave a higher rank to the companies that scored well in this category.
We’re using the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, released in June 2019. More specifically, we’ve relied on the Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking – Southeast Region, which includes Georgia.
Insurance Company Financial Strength
Financial strength indicates an insurance company’s ability to meet its financial obligations, which includes its ability to pay claims. Cheap car insurance will do little more than satisfy the minimum legal requirements in Georgia but could leave you with unpaid claims.
For that reason, we’ve included only companies rated either “Superior” or “Excellent” for financial strength by the insurance industry rating service, A.M. Best.
Their ratings for companies with financial strength of “Good” or better are as follows:
Superior: A+, A++
Excellent, A, A-
Good, B, B+
We have not included any companies rated lower than “A”.
What You Need to Know About Car Insurance Laws in Georgia
Car insurance laws and requirements vary from one state to another. Regulations in Georgia are as follows:
State Minimum Insurance Requirements
The minimum Georgia car insurance requirement is “25/50/25”, broken down as follows:
- Bodily Injury: $25,000 for injury or death to one person as a result of an auto accident.
- Bodily Injury: $50,000 for injury or death to more than one person as a result of an auto accident.
- Property Damage: Covering all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $25,000 for a covered injury, regardless of who is at fault.
Optional car insurance coverage under Georgia law includes:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/under-insured motorist
- Gap coverage
If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, the lender will require you to have both collision and comprehensive coverage, and possibly Gap coverage.
Georgia State Car Insurance FAQs
Is Georgia a “no-fault” state?
No. Under Georgia law, drivers pursue claims against the at-fault party in an accident. And if that other person has insufficient coverage, the victim can legally pursue payment from the at-fault party personally.
Under a no-fault system, you would file a claim against your own insurance company regardless of who is at fault. In addition, the ability to pursue legal remedies is typically limited.
Is car insurance required in Georgia?
Yes. If you don’t have at least the minimum state-required coverage levels, you’ll be subject to the following penalties:
- Be subject to a fine ranging from $200 to $1,000.
- You could face jail time of up to 12 months.
- Driving without adequate car insurance is considered a misdemeanor, and will be a permanent part of your criminal record.
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to 90 days.
- Your vehicle could be impounded if you’re involved in an accident.
- You will be unable to register your vehicle or purchase Georgia license plates, and you may be restricted from renewing your current registration and license tags.
Can an insurance company drop my coverage for one at-fault accident?
No. Under Georgia law the company cannot refuse to renew your policy as a result of a single at-fault claim as long as you have been with that company for at least three years. However, they can increase your premium to reflect the higher risk resulting from your at-fault accident.
Am I required by state law to have collision and comprehensive coverage on my vehicle? Is eliminating them a good way to save money on my premium?
Collision and comprehensive coverage are not required by state law. However, both are required by auto loan lenders and by leasing arrangements. It’s important to understand that basic car insurance coverage only applies to damage caused to another vehicle when you are determined to be at fault in the accident. Collision covers your own vehicle if you are determined to be at fault in an accident. Comprehensive covers you for non-moving damage, such as if a tree were to fall on your car, or the vehicle were to be stolen. Lenders and leasing companies will require you to have both types of coverage to protect the vehicle, which serves as collateral for the liens.
You may also want to continue keeping collision and comprehensive even after you have paid off your loan. Though it doesn’t make sense to have if your vehicle is worth less than say, $2,000, it’s an excellent idea if the car is worth substantially more.
Summary: Best Car Insurance in Georgia
