Crashes, insurance and registration in Georgia

By the end of this topic you can

• You can follow the legal steps after a crash in Georgia.
• You can say when a crash must be reported to police.
• You can explain when to move vehicles off a multi-lane road.
• You can describe Georgia's minimum liability insurance.
• You can outline how a car is registered in Georgia.

What you need to know and understand

• Stop at once in a safe place after any crash you are involved in.
• Tell the nearest law enforcement agency immediately if anyone is hurt or killed, or if property damage is over $500.
• Exchange your name, address, license plate number and driver's license number with others involved.
• If you hit an unattended vehicle, find the owner or leave your details where they will be seen.
• On a multi-lane highway with no apparent serious injury, drivers should move drivable vehicles to a safe place off the road.
• Georgia's minimum liability insurance is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage.
• New residents should register their vehicle with their County Tag Office within 30 days of moving to Georgia.

At the scene: step by step

Georgia's Good Samaritan law protects people who give emergency care in good faith from civil damages.

1. Stop immediately in a safe place. Leaving the scene is a serious offense and suspends the license of any driver under 21.
2. Turn on your hazard lights and, if you can do it safely, warn approaching traffic with reflective triangles.
3. Call for help at once if anyone is injured or killed, or if damage looks to be over $500.
4. Give reasonable help to anyone hurt, but do not move them unless it is really necessary. Press thick, clean cloth on serious bleeding and keep them warm.
5. Swap names, addresses, license plate numbers and driver's license numbers with the other drivers.
6. Photograph the vehicles and road, and note witnesses.

Clearing the road and hitting animals

On a multi-lane highway or expressway, if no one appears seriously hurt or killed and the cars can be driven safely, Georgia expects drivers to move them to the shoulder, median or another safe spot. Doing this does not make you at fault and does not count as failing to stop.

Deer crashes are common in Georgia, especially at dawn and dusk and from October to December. Slow down when you see one, expect more to follow, and brake rather than swerving, which can cause a worse crash. Report the crash to police, since most insurers want a police report.

Insurance and registration

Every vehicle with an active Georgia registration must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage, often written 25/50/25. This only pays for harm you cause to others, not your own car. Collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist cover are optional but worth discussing with your family. Driving without insurance leads to a license suspension.

Vehicles are registered through your County Tag Office, not DDS. For a first registration you need a Georgia license or ID, Form MV-1 Title and Tag Application, proof of ownership, proof of insurance, a passing emissions certificate if your county requires one, and payment of fees and taxes. Renewal falls in the owner's birthday month. Our guide to Georgia insurance minimums covers coverage choices in more depth.

Common mistakes

• Driving off after a minor bump because no one seems hurt. You must stop and exchange information.
• Leaving damaged cars in the travel lanes of an interstate when they could be driven to the shoulder.
• Swerving hard to miss a deer and hitting another car or a tree instead.
• Assuming minimum insurance will pay to fix your own car. It only covers others.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in Georgia

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Georgia Car Insurance Minimums and What to Do After a Crash
• Georgia 40-Hour Supervised Driving and the Parent/Teen Guide
• Georgia ADAP and eADAP