If another driver hits you and has no insurance, or not nearly enough, the coverage that protects you is your own. Uninsured motorist coverage in Georgia, often called UM, pays for your injuries and losses when the at-fault driver can’t. With holiday travel picking up and many policies renewing in the new year, now is a good time to check whether you have it, how much you carry, and which type you chose.

Georgia’s minimum liability limits haven’t kept pace with the cost of medical care. A driver who carries only the state minimum may have just $25,000 available for your injuries, and an ambulance ride, an emergency room visit and one surgery can use that up quickly. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what fills the gap.

Georgia Car Insurance Requirements: The Minimums

According to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, every Georgia driver must carry at least:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
• $50,000 for bodily injury to all people in one accident
• $25,000 for property damage in one accident

These are often written as 25/50/25. They pay for the damage you cause to others, not for your own injuries. And they are only minimums. If you’re seriously hurt by a driver who carries nothing, or only these limits, your medical bills and lost wages can easily outrun what’s available.

Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Georgia?

Not exactly, but it’s the default. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, insurers selling auto policies in Georgia must include uninsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing. You can choose limits as low as 25/50/25 or as high as your liability limits.

That means many Georgia drivers have UM without realizing it, and some gave it up by signing a rejection form when they bought their policy. Pull up your declarations page and look for “uninsured motorist” or “UM” to see what you actually have.

What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pays For

Georgia UM coverage can pay for losses caused by a driver who is uninsured, underinsured, or unknown, including:

• Medical bills, from the emergency room through surgery, therapy and future care
• Lost wages and lost earning ability
• Pain and suffering and other non-economic losses
• Damage to your vehicle and personal property inside it, if you carry UM property damage coverage (a deductible may apply)

UM coverage generally follows you, not just your car. It can apply when you’re a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, and often when you’re a pedestrian or cyclist hit by an uninsured driver. Our guide on how much a personal injury case is worth in Georgia explains how these damages are valued.

Added-On vs. Reduced-By: The Choice That Matters Most

Georgia lets you choose between two kinds of UM coverage, and the difference can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Added-on (excess) coverage is the default under Georgia law. Your UM pays in addition to whatever the at-fault driver’s insurance pays, up to your full losses.

Reduced-by coverage applies only to the difference between the at-fault driver’s liability limits and your UM limits. You only get this type if you reject added-on coverage in writing.

Here’s an example. Your injuries are worth $100,000. The at-fault driver has the $25,000 minimum, and you carry $50,000 in UM. With added-on coverage, you could recover $25,000 from the other driver plus up to $50,000 from your UM, for $75,000 total. With reduced-by coverage, your UM is reduced by the other driver’s $25,000, so you’d get $25,000 from them and only $25,000 from your UM, for $50,000 total.

Reduced-by policies usually cost a little less, which is why some drivers end up with them. For most people, added-on coverage is worth the difference in premium.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage: When the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Enough

In Georgia, “uninsured motorist” coverage also covers underinsured drivers, meaning drivers whose insurance isn’t enough to pay for your losses. You don’t buy a separate underinsured motorist coverage policy. Your UM limits, and whether they’re added-on or reduced-by, decide how much extra protection you have.

Hit by an Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Driver? How to Protect Your UM Claim

1. Call the police from the scene. Georgia requires crashes with injuries or significant damage to be reported (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273), and a UM claim depends on that report.
2. Get the other driver’s information, or as much detail about the vehicle as you can if they flee.
3. Find witnesses. If an unknown driver ran you off the road without hitting you, Georgia law generally requires an eyewitness other than you to back up your account before UM will pay.
4. Get medical care right away and keep every bill and record.
5. Notify your own insurer promptly, and read your policy’s notice deadlines.
6. Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. Your own insurer becomes the opposing side in a UM claim.

If a lawsuit is filed, Georgia law requires your UM insurer to be properly served with a copy, and missing that step can put your coverage at risk. Our step-by-step guide to what to do after a car accident in Georgia covers the rest of the scene checklist, and if the other driver fled, read our post on what to do after a hit-and-run accident in Georgia.

Deadlines apply too. In most cases, Georgia gives you two years from the date of the crash to file an injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Learn more about timelines for filing personal injury claims in Georgia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Georgia

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Georgia?

Georgia insurers must include uninsured motorist coverage on auto policies unless you reject it in writing. So it isn’t strictly mandatory, but you have it by default unless you signed it away.

What is the minimum car insurance in Georgia?

Georgia requires at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability. These limits pay for damage you cause to others, not your own injuries.

Is it better to have uninsured motorist or collision coverage?

They cover different things. Collision pays to repair your car after a crash regardless of fault. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries, lost wages and other losses when an at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. Many drivers carry both.

Why would someone reject uninsured motorist coverage?

Usually to save on premiums. But rejecting UM means that if an uninsured or underinsured driver seriously injures you, you may have no way to recover more than the other driver’s limited coverage.

Will my rates go up if I make a UM claim?

A UM claim is made because another driver was at fault, so it’s generally treated differently from an at-fault claim. How a claim affects your premium depends on your insurer and your policy, so ask your agent.

Hurt by an Uninsured Driver? Talk to Dozier Law

When you make a UM claim, your own insurance company may fight to pay as little as possible. Since 1966, Dozier Law has helped injured Georgians in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, Albany and Tifton pursue uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. If you were hurt by a driver with no insurance or too little, call us at 888-239-2129 or contact us online for a free consultation. You can also learn more about our Macon car accident attorneys. Servicios disponibles en español.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; contact an attorney about your specific situation.