No. Georgia did not raise its minimum car insurance limits in 2025, and they have not changed since. Georgia drivers must still carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, often written as 25/50/25 (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 and § 40-9-37).
You may have read that the minimums rose to $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 on January 1, 2025. That is not correct. The real question for most people is what happens when a serious injury costs far more than the at-fault driver’s minimum policy, and how your own coverage can fill the gap. This guide explains the actual limits, what they mean after a crash and how to protect yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia’s minimum liability limits remain 25/50/25: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage.
- A serious injury can easily exceed $25,000 in medical bills and lost wages, and many drivers carry only the minimum.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage from your own policy is often the main source of additional compensation, and in Georgia it is “added on” to the at-fault driver’s coverage unless you chose otherwise in writing.
- Georgia’s 2025 tort reform law (SB 68) did not change the insurance minimums, but it changed some rules that apply in car crash cases.
- Reviewing your own policy before a crash is one of the best ways to protect your family.
Georgia’s Actual Minimum Insurance Requirements
Under Georgia law, every driver must carry at least:
| Coverage | Minimum Required |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury, one person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury, all people in one accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
These amounts are set in O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11(a)(1)(A), and Georgia’s financial responsibility law uses the same figures. The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance lists the same 25/50/25 minimums, and as of 2026 they have not changed.
Why the Minimums Often Fall Short
Twenty-five thousand dollars can disappear quickly. An ambulance ride, an emergency room visit, imaging, surgery, physical therapy and several weeks of missed work can exceed that amount even in a crash that does not seem catastrophic. If two or more people are hurt, they share the $50,000 per-accident limit.
Some drivers carry no insurance at all. The Insurance Research Council estimated that about 19% of Georgia motorists were uninsured in 2023, compared with a national estimate of 15.4%. When the at-fault driver has little or no coverage, you need to look at other sources. Our car accident case value guide explains how available insurance often limits what a claim can collect.
How UM Coverage Fills the Gap
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is part of your own auto policy. It can pay when the at-fault driver has no insurance, not enough insurance or cannot be identified, such as in a hit-and-run.
Under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, Georgia’s default is “added-on” (also called “add-on”) UM coverage. That means your UM limits are available in addition to the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. If you selected “reduced-by” coverage in writing, your UM limits are reduced by the at-fault driver’s coverage instead.
For example, if the at-fault driver has a $25,000 policy, you have $100,000 in added-on UM coverage and your damages are $150,000, up to $125,000 could be available. With reduced-by coverage, the most available would be $100,000. These numbers only illustrate how the math works; they do not predict any result.
Your insurer is on the other side of a UM claim, so it may dispute fault or the value of your injuries. Learn more in our guide to Georgia UM coverage and on our uninsured and underinsured motorist page.
What Changed in 2025: SB 68, Not Insurance Limits
Georgia’s 2025 tort reform law, SB 68, was signed on April 21, 2025. It did not change the minimum liability limits or rewrite the UM statute, but it may affect car crash claims in other ways:
- Seat belt evidence: Evidence that a person was not wearing a seat belt may now be considered on issues such as fault and causation, and it may reduce a recovery (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76.1).
- Medical expenses: For claims arising on or after April 21, 2025, the jury may hear both what providers charged and what was needed to satisfy those charges under insurance (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1).
- Damages arguments: Lawyers now face limits on how and when they can suggest dollar amounts for pain and suffering (O.C.G.A. § 9-10-184).
These changes make careful documentation of your injuries and treatment more important.
How to Protect Yourself
Review Your Own Policy
Check your declarations page for your liability limits, whether you have UM coverage, the UM limits and whether it is added-on or reduced-by. If you are unsure, ask your agent to explain it in writing. Carrying only the minimum may leave you exposed if you cause a serious crash, and low UM limits may leave you undercompensated if someone else causes one.
Steps After a Crash
- Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine. Some injuries appear later.
- Get the other driver’s insurance information and photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries.
- Ask for the police report. It records the insurance information and the officer’s findings.
- Notify your own insurer promptly, because your policy may require timely notice of a UM claim.
- Be careful with recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer, and do not accept a quick offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
- Talk to a lawyer about all available coverage, including UM, before you sign anything.
Most Georgia injury claims must be filed within two years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), and property damage claims within four years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-31).
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Georgia Increase the Minimum Car Insurance Limits in 2025?
No. Georgia’s minimum liability limits are still $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Any article saying the minimums doubled in 2025 is incorrect.
What Happens If My Medical Bills Exceed the Other Driver’s Policy?
Your own UM coverage may pay the difference, up to your UM limits. Other responsible parties or additional policies may also be involved, depending on the facts. Collecting directly from an individual driver’s personal assets is often difficult.
Is UM Coverage Required in Georgia?
Insurers must offer UM coverage, but you can reject it or choose lower limits in writing. Because so many drivers carry minimum coverage or none at all, it is worth checking what your policy includes.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
Generally two years from the crash for injury claims and four years for property damage. Claims against a government agency can require written notice much sooner, so it is wise not to wait.
If you were hurt by a driver with too little insurance, The Gunn Law Group can review your options in a free, no-obligation consultation, and you pay no attorney fee unless we win. Call 888-BIG-GUNN (888-244-4866) or learn more about our car accident practice. Hablamos español.
