Georgia · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in Georgia: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

Owners must keep continuous Georgia liability insurance on every registered vehicle. Uninsured motorist coverage is available and protects you if an uninsured driver causes a crash that damages your car or injures you or your passengers; the OCI guide says you can purchase it.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
Not required
Minimum liability
25/50/25
Insurance system
Fault (tort)

We could not confirm all of Georgia's rules yet. Some facts on this page rest on limited sources. Check the official sources below, or ask a lawyer or legal aid office, before you rely on them.

Uninsured motorist coverage in Georgia

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured motorist coverage is available and protects you if an uninsured driver causes a crash that damages your car or injures you or your passengers; the OCI guide says you can purchase it.
Liability minimum
25/50/25
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in Georgia

  • Owners must keep continuous Georgia liability insurance on every registered vehicle.
  • If an uninsured driver causes a crash, uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it) pays you as if the other driver were covered (OCI).

Penalties for driving uninsured in Georgia

  • A lapse means a $25 fine, plus up to $160 more if not paid within 30 days, and the registration can be suspended or revoked; driving on a suspended registration is a crime and the car may be impounded (Georgia Department of Revenue).

Claiming from the uninsured driver in Georgia

Small claims limit for car damage in Georgia: $15,000 in Magistrate Court for people and businesses; a new law raises it to $25,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027. Georgia small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in Georgia

  1. Report the crash to the police. Stop right away in a safe place. Reporting a crash in Georgia and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Claim under your uninsured motorist coverage; in Georgia it is not required.
  4. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 4 years for property damage and 2 years for injury. Deadlines to sue in Georgia, with the calculator

Free help in Georgia

Questions about uninsured drivers in Georgia

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Georgia?

Uninsured motorist coverage is available and protects you if an uninsured driver causes a crash that damages your car or injures you or your passengers; the OCI guide says you can purchase it.

What happens if you drive without insurance in Georgia?

A lapse means a $25 fine, plus up to $160 more if not paid within 30 days, and the registration can be suspended or revoked; driving on a suspended registration is a crime and the car may be impounded (Georgia Department of Revenue).

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in Georgia?

Owners must keep continuous Georgia liability insurance on every registered vehicle. If an uninsured driver causes a crash, uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it) pays you as if the other driver were covered (OCI).

What is the minimum car insurance in Georgia?

25/50/25

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in Georgia?

4 years for property damage and 2 years for injury.

More for Georgia drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.