Personal Auto Insurance in Georgia, Alabama & Tennessee — Because the Other Driver's Insurance Probably Isn't Enough
Most people shopping for car insurance are focused on one thing: finding the lowest monthly payment. And honestly, that's understandable. But here's what that approach misses — the driver who hits you probably did the exact same thing. They found the cheapest policy with the minimum limits their state requires, and they're driving around thinking they're covered.
They are. You might not be.
At INS., we help drivers across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee understand what their auto insurance actually does — and more importantly, what it doesn't — so that when something goes wrong on the road, you're not left holding a bill that should have been covered.
What Personal Auto Insurance Covers
Auto insurance isn't one policy — it's several coverages bundled together. Knowing what each one does is the difference between being protected and just being insured.
Liability Coverage
Liability is the foundation of any auto policy and is required by law in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. It pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident. It does not cover your own vehicle or your own injuries — that's what the other coverages are for.
Liability is expressed as three numbers: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage. If your policy reads 25/50/25, that means $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. It sounds like a lot until you're in a serious accident.
Collision Coverage
Collision covers damage to your vehicle when you're involved in an accident — whether you hit another car, a guardrail, or a telephone pole. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender almost certainly requires it. If you own your car outright, whether you carry it depends on your vehicle's value and your risk tolerance.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle from events outside of a collision — theft, fire, hail, flooding, hitting a deer, a tree falling on it during a storm. Georgia and Tennessee are no strangers to severe weather, and comprehensive coverage is not something you want to skip in this region.
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. It pays quickly and doesn't require an at-fault determination — which makes it one of the most practical coverages on the page and one of the most commonly skipped.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage steps in when the driver who hits you has no insurance at all. Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee all have meaningful percentages of uninsured drivers on the road. Without this coverage, your only option is to sue someone who likely has nothing to collect.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is the one most people don't think about — and it's actually the more common problem.
The Bigger Threat: The Driver Who Has Insurance, Just Not Enough
Everyone talks about uninsured drivers. But in practice, underinsured drivers cause more financial damage to more people, more often.
Here's why: a driver who carries the Georgia state minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability is technically "insured." But if they cause a serious accident — one that results in hospitalization, surgery, lost wages, and long-term recovery — $25,000 isn't going to cover it. Not even close. Their policy pays its limit, and after that, you're on your own.
Underinsured motorist coverage fills that gap. It activates when the at-fault driver's liability coverage runs out and your damages exceed what they can pay. It's your policy protecting you from the financial reality of someone else's bad decision to buy minimum coverage.
If you take nothing else from this page, take this: your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits should match your liability limits. If you're carrying 100/300 in liability, carry 100/300 in UM/UIM. The cost difference is small. The protection difference is enormous.
State Minimum Requirements
Georgia: $25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage (25/50/25)
Alabama: $25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage (25/50/25)
Tennessee: $25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage (25/50/15)
These are legal minimums — not recommendations. They represent the least coverage you can carry without breaking the law. For most drivers with assets to protect, income to replace, and people depending on them, the minimums are a starting point for a conversation, not a finish line.
How to Get the Right Coverage
The right auto policy depends on your vehicles, your driving habits, your assets, and what you can afford to absorb out of pocket if something goes wrong. There's no universal answer — but there are wrong answers, and "whatever's cheapest" is usually one of them.
We'll take a few minutes to understand your situation, explain your options in plain language, and build a policy that actually protects you. No pressure. No jargon. Just honest guidance from a local agent who's going to give you the same advice they'd give a member of their own family.
Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover your actual damages. Both are important — underinsured is often the more common real-world scenario.
Does Georgia require uninsured motorist coverage? Yes. Georgia requires uninsured motorist coverage on all auto policies unless you explicitly reject it in writing. It defaults to the same limits as your liability coverage, but you can adjust it. We'd recommend keeping them matched.
What happens if I only carry minimum limits and cause a serious accident? You're personally liable for any damages that exceed your policy limits. That means your savings, your assets, and potentially your future income are on the table. Minimum limits protect you from a ticket, not from financial ruin.
Should I drop comprehensive and collision on an older car? Generally, once your vehicle's value drops below the point where a claim payout would justify the premium, it's worth considering. A common rule of thumb is if your annual premium for comp and collision exceeds 10% of the car's value, it may be time to revisit. We can help you run those numbers.
How much auto insurance do I actually need? Enough to protect what you've built. If you have assets, income, and people depending on you, your liability and UM/UIM limits should reflect that. We'll help you figure out what that number looks like for your specific situation.
INS. serves drivers and families across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee from our Alpharetta, GA office. Call us at 678-578-7009 or email service@ins.insure.