Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Coverage
Owner(s)’ Responsibilities

Motor vehicle owners and lessees in this state are required to maintain continuous mandatory liability insurance coverage on their vehicle(s) to:

• Legally drive the vehicle(s);
• Register and obtain Georgia license plates (tags); and,
• Renew, replace, or transfer their existing Georgia license plates (tags).

Non-motorized vehicles, i.e. trailers, campers, etc., and vehicles exempt from registration in this state, i.e. snowmobiles, bicycles, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, etc., do not require insurance coverage. Click here to view a list of vehicles exempt from registration in Georgia.

Insurers Must Be Licensed

Insurers must be licensed with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office (ICO) to be able to issue Georgia motor vehicle liability insurance policies. For licensing requirements, please contact the Regulatory Services Division of the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office or click here to connect to their web site.

Insurers Must Electronically Transmit Insurance Information

Insurers are required by law to electronically transmit insurance information to this Department’s GEICS insurance database within thirty- (30) days of the date the insurance coverage is to begin.

Insurers must also electronically report insurance information for terminations and additions or deletions of vehicles from existing policies. Vehicles registered in this state under the International Registration Plan (IRP), self-insured vehicles and fleet vehicles must have Georgia liability insurance coverage but are exempt from the electronic reporting requirements.

GEICS Insurance Database - How It Works

The vehicle identification numbers (VIN) that are electronically transmitted by the insurers to this Department's GEICS insurance database are cross-referenced with the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) on this Department's tag and title database.

If a transmitted VIN matches a VIN on the tag and title database, a valid insurance coverage indicator is placed on the vehicle’s record. Law enforcement and County Tax Commissioner office personnel in this state have access to the tag and title database and can easily check the insurance status of any vehicle registered in Georgia.

You may check on the insurance status of your vehicle from this Department's web site with your vehicle's identification number (VIN) and the title or control number. These numbers can be found on your vehicle's current Georgia registration certificate, a/k/a tag receipt. A fifteen- (15) digit control number beginning with "17" or "99" is shown in the field for the title number when no Georgia title has been issued for the vehicle in the registered owner's name. Click here to connect to the Vehicle Insurance Status Inquiry screen.

When a valid insurance coverage indicator is not on your vehicle’s record on this Department's tag and title database and you do not have acceptable proof of coverage as shown under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance", you will be unable to:

• Register your vehicle and obtain a Georgia license plate (tag);
• Renew, transfer, or replace your existing Georgia license plate (tag); and,
• You will be subject to fines and/or vehicle impoundment if detected by law enforcement or if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

Only insurers can add, delete or modify insurance information on this Department’s insurance database

Insurance Policy Information Cards

Your insurer is required by law to issue you, their insured, an insurance policy information card for each vehicle they insure. Your insurance policy information card must be carried in your vehicle at all times when the vehicle is driven, even now when insurance cards are no longer acceptable proof of insurance for all vehicles except:

• Vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP);
• Self-insured vehicles; and,
• Vehicles insured under a fleet insurance policy.

For acceptable proof of insurance for these vehicles as well as recently purchased or acquired vehicles, please see the information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance".

Why Are Insurance Information Cards Needed?

In addition to being a requirement of law, an insurance policy information card may be needed in the following situations:

Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance

• A valid insurance coverage indicator on your vehicle’s record on this Department's tag and title database is acceptable proof of insurance coverage. You may check on the insurance status of your vehicle from our web site with your vehicle's identification number (VIN) and title or control number. Click here to connect to our Insurance Status Inquiry screen. Your vehicle's identification number (VIN) and title or control number may be found on your vehicle's current Georgia registration certificate, a/k/a tag receipt. When no Georgia title has been issued for the vehicle in the registered owner's name, a fifteen- (15) digit control number beginning with "17" or "99" will appear on the vehicle's current tag receipt instead of a title number.
• A valid fleet insurance policy information card issued by a Georgia licensed insurer is acceptable proof of insurance coverage for a vehicle insured under a fleet insurance policy. This card must show the name of the insurer, the policy number, the policy's original issue date, the policy’s expiration date, the name of the insured, and the words “ Fleet ” and "Georgia". Neither the vehicle identification number (VIN) nor the registrant's name are required on this card. This card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
• A valid binder issued by an insurer, licensed in Georgia, showing the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) is temporary proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage for thirty- (30) days from the binder’s issue date. The binder must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven until a valid insurance record is received by this Department electronically transmitted by the insurer. A binder is issued by an insurance agent when someone purchases "new" insurance. A binder used as proof of insurance is only valid for thirty- (30) days. A binder cannot be issued to a vehicle owner who already has an insurance policy in effect.
• A bill of sale dated within thirty- (30) days of the vehicle’s purchase date and a valid insurance declaration page, usually the top page of an insurance policy, issued by an insurer, licensed in Georgia, are acceptable proof of insurance for a recently purchased or acquired vehicle. The bill of sale and insurance declaration page must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven until a valid electronically transmitted insurance record is received by this Department from the insurer.  A bill of sale and an insurance declaration page used as proof of insurance are valid for only thirty- (30) days.
• A self-insured insurance information card and a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office (ICO) are acceptable proof of insurance for a self-insured vehicle. Both this card and the certificate of self-insurance must be issued in the registered owner's name and be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
• A valid insurance policy information card issued by a insurer, licensed in Georgia, in the registered owner’s name reflecting the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) is acceptable proof of liability insurance coverage for a vehicle registered in this state under the International Registration Plan (IRP). This card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
• If the vehicle is rented, the person renting the vehicle, not leasing, must carry the rental agreement in the vehicle while the rental vehicle is being driven.

If the vehicle owner does not have acceptable proof of insurance coverage as shown under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance", they will be unable to register and purchase a Georgia license plate (tag) for their vehicle; unable to renew, replace or transfer their existing Georgia tag; and will be subject to fines and vehicle impoundment if detected by law enforcement or if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

Voluntary Cancellation of Vehicle Registration by Registered Owner

You, the vehicle's registered owner, may voluntarily cancel your vehicle registration* with your County Tax Commissioner’s office without surrendering the license plate (tag) when the vehicle is not going to be driven for any reason.

*To avoid lapse and restoration fees from being charged, you must cancel your vehicle registration before canceling the vehicle's insurance coverage.

You may reinstate your vehicle registration with your County Tax Commissioner’s office after paying all accrued vehicle ad valorem taxes and registration fees and with acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage and acceptable proof that your vehicle has passed an emission's inspection, when an emission's inspection is required for your vehicle in your county. See the information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Coverage" for what is acceptable proof of insurance coverage. For information regarding emissions inspections, contact the Georgia Clean Air Force or click here to connect to their web site.

Your vehicle should not be driven without insurance or with a cancelled, revoked or suspended registration!

Voluntary Cancellation of Vehicle Registration by Military Personnel

Resident or non-resident military personnel on active duty may voluntarily cancel their Georgia vehicle registration with their County Tax Commissioner’s office prior to, during or after deployment when the vehicle is not to be driven during their absence.

Upon their return, they may reinstate their vehicle registration at their County Tax Commissioner’s office after:

• Paying all applicable vehicle ad valorem taxes and registration fees. If the vehicle's registered owner did not receive a pre-printed bill showing the amount of fees and vehicle ad valorem taxes due, they should contact their County Tax Commissioner's office for this information.
• Obtaining Georgia mandatory liability insurance coverage on the vehicle and submitting acceptable proof of insurance coverage. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance.
• Submitting a completed Service Member's Affidavit for Mandatory Insurance Relief - Form MV-18G. Click on the form name or number to complete this form on-line for printing, signing and submission. The signature on the form must be notarized. The notary must sign, affix their seal or stamp and record the date their notary commission expires in the applicable spaces on this form.
• Submitting proof that the vehicle has passed an emission's inspection, when required for the vehicle in their county. For additional information regarding emission's inspections, contact the Georgia Clean Air Force or click here to connect to their web site.

Any assessed lapse and restoration fees may be waived by the service member's County Tax Commissioner upon presentation of the member’s official military orders showing deployment outside the U.S. on active military duty during the time the vehicle was uninsured.

Your vehicle should not be driven without insurance or with a revoked, suspended or cancelled tag!

Incorrect VIN

The vehicle identification number (VIN) on your vehicle, your insurance policy information card, and your vehicle's current tag receipt and/or title must match.

If your insurance policy information card does not reflect your vehicle’s correct and complete identification number (VIN), contact your insurer immediately since only your insurer can add, delete or modify information on the insurance database.

If your registration certificate, a/k/a tag receipt, and/or title do not reflect your vehicle’s correct and complete VIN, contact your County Tax Commissioner’s office immediately for assistance in obtaining a new tag receipt and/or title showing the correct information.

Purpose of New Insurance Laws

The purpose of the new insurance database and recent changes to the insurance laws in this State is to encourage vehicle owners to maintain continuous mandatory Georgia liability insurance coverage on their vehicles; to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles being driven in this state; and to provide an online tool for Law Enforcement and County Tax Commissioner office personnel to use to check the insurance status of any vehicle registered in the State of Georgia.

Definitions

Commercial Vehicle Policy: An insurance policy providing liability insurance coverage on a motor vehicle that is rated or insured as a business or commercial-use vehicle or is licensed by the State as a commercial vehicle.

Fleet Vehicle Policy: A commercial vehicle insurance policy that insures two or more vehicles that are not identified by the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) on the policy or a commercial vehicle insurance policy that is subject to adjustment by audit for vehicle changes at the end of the policy period.

Self-Insurer: Any owner who has on file with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office (ICO) an approved self-insurance plan providing coverage, benefits, and efficient claims handling procedure equivalent to those provided by an automobile liability insurance company and complies with all state laws, rules and regulations. A self-insured insurance information card must be accompanied by a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office for it to be acceptable proof of liability insurance coverage.