Jane Dotson
If your auto insurance lapses in Georgia, you could face a number of penalties, including fines, increased premiums, suspension of your vehicle registration, and even jail time. Georgia law requires a vehicle to be continuously insured, and a lapse in coverage can occur if there is a gap of 10 days or more between insurance policies. If you let your insurance lapse, you will be required to pay a $25 lapse fee and a $60 reinstatement fee to get your vehicle registration back. If you don't pay the lapse fee within 30 days, you could be subject to an additional fine of up to $160. Driving a vehicle with a suspended registration is considered a misdemeanor in Georgia and can result in further penalties, including jail time and the loss of driving privileges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of a lapse in coverage | A lapse of coverage occurs when there are 10 days or more between the effective date of new insurance and the termination date of the previous insurance policy. |
| Definition of a lapse in coverage (alternative) | A "lapse" means ten or more days upon which the records of the department do not reflect that a motor vehicle was covered by a policy of minimum motor vehicle insurance coverage. |
| Consequences of a lapse in coverage | A lapse in coverage will result in a lapse penalty, fine, and suspension or revocation of vehicle registration. |
| Lapse fee | $25 |
| Additional fine for not paying the lapse fee within 30 days | $160 |
| Reinstatement fee | $60 |
| Second occurrence during any five-year period | Obtain Georgia liability insurance coverage, pay a $25 lapse fee, a $60 reinstatement fee, any vehicle registration fee, and ad valorem taxes that may be due. |
| Third occurrence during any five-year period | Obtain Georgia liability insurance coverage, pay a $25 lapse fee, a $160 reinstatement fee, any vehicle registration fee, and ad valorem taxes that may be due. |
What You'll Learn
Fines and penalties
If your auto insurance lapses in Georgia, you will face a number of fines and penalties. Firstly, a lapse in coverage will result in a $25 lapse fee. This fee must be paid within 30 days, or it could incur an additional fine of up to $160. If the $25 lapse fee is not paid within 30 days, your registration will be suspended. To reinstate your registration, you will need to pay a $60 reinstatement fee, along with any vehicle registration fees and taxes due.
If you have multiple insurance lapses within a five-year period, the penalties increase. For a second offense, you will again pay the $25 lapse fee and $60 reinstatement fee, along with any registration fees and taxes. For a third offense, the reinstatement fee increases to $160, and your license and registration will be suspended for six months.
Driving without insurance in Georgia is considered a misdemeanor and can result in jail time of up to one year. If you are caught driving with a suspended registration, this is also a misdemeanor and can affect your record and insurance rates.
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Increased premiums
If your auto insurance lapses in Georgia, you will face several consequences, including increased premiums. Letting your insurance lapse, even unintentionally, will likely end up costing you more in the long run. Insurance companies view a lapse in coverage as a sign of high risk, and you will be charged higher premiums as a result.
A study by Quadrant Information Services found that a lapse in car insurance coverage in Georgia could lead to a minimum increase of 12% in insurance premiums. This means that if the average annual premium in Georgia is $1,973, a 12% increase would result in an additional $236.76 per year. Over several years, this increased premium can add up to a significant amount.
Not only will you face higher premiums, but you will also be subject to a $25 lapse fee and a reinstatement fee ranging from $60 to $160, depending on the number of previous suspensions. These fees are in addition to any fines or penalties imposed by the state for driving without insurance, which can include a misdemeanor charge, a fine of up to $1,000, and a suspension of your driver's license and registration for up to 90 days.
The consequences of a lapse in auto insurance coverage in Georgia can be costly and inconvenient. It is important to maintain continuous coverage to avoid these increased premiums and other penalties. By choosing an insurance policy that fits your budget, you can help ensure that you never miss a payment and prevent a lapse in coverage.
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Vehicle registration suspension
In Georgia, a "lapse" in insurance coverage is defined as 10 or more consecutive days without insurance coverage. If your insurance lapses, you have 30 days from the policy's expiration date to provide proof that you've obtained new insurance. If you provide proof within 10 days, there hasn't been a lapse in the policy, and you won't face any penalties. However, if you provide proof after the 10-day grace period, you will be subject to a $25 lapse fee. That fee has to be paid within 30 days, or the vehicle's registration will be suspended, and you'll be charged an additional fine of up to $160.
If you don't provide proof of new insurance during the 30-day period, you will receive a "Notice of Pending Suspension." This informs you that your vehicle's registration will be suspended at the end of the second 30-day period if proof of insurance isn't provided. If you still can't prove you have insurance coverage, you could be convicted of a misdemeanor in Georgia, which carries additional penalties, including fines, a suspended driver's license, and possible jail time.
To reinstate a suspended registration, you must obtain the minimum liability insurance coverage, which will cost more since insurers consider you a high risk after a lapse. You'll also have to pay a $25 lapse fee and a reinstatement fee of $60 for the first or second offence and $160 for the third or subsequent offence within five years.
To avoid suspension and reinstatement fees, vehicle owners can cancel their vehicle registration if the vehicle was sold, repossessed, stolen, transferred to the owner's insurance company as a result of a "total loss claim", or not driven during the time it was uninsured. This can be done by completing and signing Form MV-18J (Affidavit for Mandatory Insurance Relief of Lapse/Pending Suspension and Suspension Fees) and submitting it to the County Tax Commissioner's Tag Office.
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Revoked driving privileges
Driving without insurance in Georgia can result in serious penalties, including fines, jail time, and revoked driving privileges. If you are caught driving without insurance in Georgia, you are subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 12 months in jail. In addition, your driver's license will be suspended for a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 90 days.
If you are caught driving without insurance, your insurance company will notify the state of Georgia, resulting in a license suspension. If stopped by law enforcement while driving with a suspended license, you can be charged with driving without insurance and driving with a suspended license, which carries severe consequences.
To reinstate your driving privileges after a suspension, you must obtain the minimum liability insurance coverage, which will be more expensive due to your history of lapsed coverage. You will also be required to pay a $25 lapse fee and a reinstatement fee of $60 or $160, depending on the number of previous offenses.
It is important to maintain continuous insurance coverage and provide proof of insurance to avoid these penalties and keep your driving privileges in Georgia.
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Jail time
In Georgia, driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor, and you could face jail time of up to 12 months, depending on the circumstances and the number of offenses. For the first offense, a driver may face a jail term of up to 12 months, in addition to a fine and suspension of their driver's license and registration. For the second offense, a driver may face a jail term of up to 12 months, in addition to an increased fine and a longer suspension period. For the third and subsequent offenses, a driver will likely face jail time of up to 12 months, along with even higher fines and a longer suspension period.
The state of Georgia imposes hefty consequences for driving without insurance. In addition to jail time, offenders may face substantial fines, suspension of their vehicle registration and driving license, and lawsuits for property damage and medical bills settlements. The minimum insurance cover required in Georgia is $25,000 for individual personal injury, $50,000 for two or more people in a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage per collision.
It is important to note that a lapse in insurance coverage does not always lead directly to jail time. The state provides a 30-day window to renew insurance after it expires. If a driver can provide proof of insurance within this period, they will not face any penalties. However, if there is a lapse in coverage of 10 days or more, the driver will be subject to a $25 lapse fee, which must be paid within 30 days to avoid further fines and potential suspension of their registration.
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Frequently asked questions
A lapse in auto insurance coverage in Georgia occurs when there are 10 days or more without coverage.
If your auto insurance lapses in Georgia, you will be subject to a $25 lapse fee. If this fee is not paid within 30 days, you could receive an additional fine of up to $160.
Driving after your auto insurance has lapsed in Georgia could result in you being fined for driving without the minimum coverage required by state law. If your insurance lapse continues for over 30 days, your insurance coverage will no longer be considered "continuous". If you don't provide proof of insurance within this time period, the DMV will send you a notice of pending suspension, and you will have another 30 days to produce proof of insurance and pay any related fines, or your vehicle's registration will be revoked.
If you get into an accident after your auto insurance has lapsed, you will not be covered, and you will have to pay for any injuries or property damage out of your pocket. If the other driver decides to sue you, your costs could be even higher.
To reinstate a suspended vehicle registration in Georgia, you will need to obtain the minimum liability insurance coverage, which will likely cost more since you had a lapse in coverage. You will also need to pay a $25 lapse fee and a $60 reinstatement fee, plus any vehicle registration fees and taxes that may be due.
