Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Policies
Insurer's Responsibilities

Insurer Must Be Licensed with ICO

Insurers issuing liability insurance policies for motor vehicles in this state are required to be licensed with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office (ICO). For licensing requirements, please contact their Regulatory Services Division.

Insurers Must Electronically Transmit Insurance Information to GEICS Insurance Database

Insurers issuing liability insurance policies for motor vehicles in this state are required to electronically report insurance information to this Department's insurance database, Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System (GEICS), within thirty-days (30) of the date the insurance coverage is to begin. Terminations and additions or deletions of vehicles from existing policies must also be electronically reported.

For commercial vehicles registered under a commercial insurance policy, insurers must electronically report insurance information, as shown in the GEICS Reporting Guide.

Insurers Must Register with DOR

To be able to electronically transmit the required insurance information to the GEICS insurance database, you, the insurer, must first register with this Department (Georgia Department of Revenue). To register you must have a valid NAIC number. To access the registration site, click here. After registering, you will receive the required login information to access the GEICS insurance database.

Vehicles Exempt from the GEICS Reporting Requirements

Vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP), self-insured vehicles and fleet vehicles must be insured but are exempt from the GEICS reporting requirements. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance for these vehicles as well as for recently purchased or acquired vehicles.

When Not to Transmit

Do not electronically transmit insurance information for the following:

GEICS Insurance Database - How It Works

Vehicle identification numbers (VIN) electronically transmitted to the GEICS insurance database by the insurers are cross-referenced with the vehicle identification numbers on this Department's tag and title database entitled GRATIS, Georgia Registration and Title Information System. If the transmitted VIN matches a VIN on the tag and title database, then a valid insurance coverage indicator is placed on the vehicle's record. Law enforcement and the 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 the State of Georgia.

If the VIN the insurer electronically transmits to the insurance database passes a VINA check (Vehicle Identification Number Analysis*) but does not match a VIN on the tag and title database, the insurance information is re-processed for thirty- (30) days before being returned to you, the insurer, as an error. Insurers are the only ones who can add, delete or edit information on the insurance database.

What is V.I.N.A.?

VINA, Vehicle Identification Number Analysis, is a program installed on this Department's databases that checks entered vehicle identification numbers (VIN) against established VIN patterns provided by vehicle manufacturers. This program identifies incorrectly entered vehicle identification numbers to help prevent vehicles from being registered and/or titled with an incorrect VIN. It also helps identify incorrectly transmitted vehicle identification numbers to the insurance database.

Insurance Information Cards

You, the insurer, are still required to issue insurance policy information cards to your policyholders for each vehicle you insure even for those vehicles where insurance information must be electronically transmitted to the insurance database. The insurance information card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.

Insurance policy information cards are no longer acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage for all vehicles except self-insured vehicles; vehicles insured under a fleet insurance policy; and vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP). These vehicles require Georgia liability insurance coverage but are exempt from the GEICS reporting requirements. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance coverage for these vehicles as well as recently purchased or acquired vehicles.

Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance

• A valid insurance coverage indicator on the vehicle’s record on the this Department's tag and title database is acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage. The vehicle owner may check on the insurance status of their vehicle from our web site with the vehicle's identification number (VIN) and title or control number. Click here to connect to our Insurance Status Inquiry screen. The vehicle's identification number (VIN) and title or control number may be found on the 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 control number will appear on the vehicle's 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 insurance company, 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 is 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 acceptable proof of 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 the insurance agent when someone purchases new insurance. A binder used as proof of insurance is 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 issued by an insurer, licensed in Georgia, is acceptable proof of insurance coverage. The bill of sale and the insurance declaration page must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is in operation 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 is 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 commercial insurance policy information card issued by an 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 Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP). This card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is in operation.

If a motor vehicle owner does not have acceptable proof of Georgia liability 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.

VIN Must Match

Motor vehicle owners in this state are being instructed to contact their insurer immediately when their insurance policy information card does not reflect their vehicle’s complete and correct VIN, since only you, their insurer, can add, delete, or edit information on the insurance database.

If the owner’s registration certificate, a/k/a tag receipt, and/or title does not reflect the vehicle’s complete and correct VIN, the vehicle owner is being instructed to contact their County Tax Commissioner's office immediately for assistance in obtaining a new registration certificate (tag receipt) and/or title showing their vehicle’s complete and correct VIN.

Voluntary Cancellation of Registration by Registered Owner - Relief of Mandatory Insurance

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 operated for any reason.

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

You may reinstate your vehicle’s registration with your County Tax Commissioner’s office after paying all accrued ad valorem taxes and registration fees for the vehicle 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 information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance. For more information regarding emissions inspections, contact the Georgia Clean Air Force or click here to connect to their web site.

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

Voluntary Cancellation of Registration by Military Personnel

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

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

• Paying of all applicable vehicle ad valorem taxes and registration fees. If the vehicle owner did not receive a pre-printed bill showing the amount of ad valorem tax due, the owner should contact your County Tax Commissioner's office for this information.
• Obtaining Georgia liability insurance coverage for the vehicle. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of coverage.
• Submitting a completed and signed Service Member's Affidavit for Mandatory Insurance Relief - Form MV-18G. The signature on the form must be notarized. In addition to signing, the notary public must affix his or her seal or stamp and record the date their notary commission expires.
• Submitting proof that the vehicle has passed an emission's inspection, if 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.

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

Click here to obtain information regarding penalties, fines, lapse of coverage, registration suspension and reinstatement

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 vehicle owner who has on file with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office (OIS) an approved self-insurance plan providing coverage, benefits, and efficient claims handling procedures 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.