It's easy to find cheap Atlanta car insurance rates online if you are willing to just spend a few minutes comparison shopping.

Drivers in Atlanta are subject to the laws enforced by the Georgia Department of Transportation and by state required minimums. The state DOT also offers statistics that impact the rates of auto insurance premiums, and procedures to make the roads safer and therefore lower overall insurance costs.

As you look at different Atlanta car insurance companies and policies, make sure you understand why your Atlanta car insurance rates fall into the range they do and what you can do to keep those rates reasonable.

The GA DOT and Atlanta Car Insurance

Highly populated roadways in cities like Atlanta, with over 530,000 people, are simply riskier places to drive than rural roads. Part of the risk of driving in Atlanta involves the many commuters who go to school or work here.

Another risk involves the many visitors who come to the city via Interstates 20, 75 and 85. Every day over 340,000 drivers use these roadways. In 2008, Atlanta was noted for having the longest commute times of its drivers, and as being one of the worst metro areas in the country for traffic. Yes- all this drives our Atlanta car insurance rates way up!

So what is the GA DOT doing about it? Well the department does carefully track crash statistics with the intention of making those areas safes. In fact, they have implemented nine counter measures for driver safety that include road safety audits that have shown a 60% reduction in crashes in areas where they are performed.

Also, rumble strips are proven to decrease crashes on both freeways and rural roads. The other measures include things like the use of roundabouts, safety edges and pedestrian refuge areas. Drivers aware of risky areas should contact the DOT and ask what can be done.

Atlanta Car Insurance Legal Minimums

By law all drivers in our tort state need to have 25/50/25 liability coverage in place. This means $25,000 to cover bodily injury liability of one person, $50,000 to cover that of a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage liability. Liability coverage refers to what you must pay for the damage to other people and property, not your own. Since we are in a tort state, you can be sued for any damage you cause. For this reason, carrying higher limits is usually recommended. While some experts will even advise carrying 100/300/50, your need for this truly is linked to the assets you have that you can be sued for.

As of January 2009, you insurer must offer you Uninsured/Underinsured motorist protection. It is not required that you carry it, but here is why you should. If a driver with no insurance and no assets hurts you or totals your car, it won't do you any good to sue them. Even if you can sue for assets, the process is long, stressful and expensive. Having this type of coverage is more likely to save you money if you are in an accident.

Reducing the Cost of Atlanta Car Insurance

There are a lot of ways to lower the premiums that you pay for your Atlanta auto insurance coverage. One is simply to review your current policy. Use a free consumer quote tool that will give you rates from many providers. Compare them to your current policy and premium. Then you can either contact your insurance company, ask about getting a rate reduction or discount, or go with a new insurer.

Another idea is to drive less. If you can use MARTA, the local subway system, you will put less mileage on your vehicle and be at less risk of driving in highly congested traffic. If that's not an option, look into car pooling once or twice a week. Then be sure to let your insurer know that you are driving less.

If you are a student in Atlanta, keep your grades up because good students are eligible for price reductions with many local and national insurance companies. So are good drivers! If you've navigated Spaghetti Junction for years without incident then there is bound to be a company who will pay you for that record. After all, you are exactly the type of driver they want.

Take a look at your premium and your deductible. If you are having difficulty paying that monthly bill, consider raising your deductible. This means that when an accident occurs you will need to pay more of the cost your self. If you have savings available for this, it might make more sense than paying a higher bill each month.

Get Free Atlanta Car Insurance Quotes!

Luckily, drivers in Atlanta do have a lot of companies competing for our business. Take the time to compare your choices. Look into discounts to lower that cost. Finally, be sure to review you policy once a year to make sure you are still getting a good deal on your Atlanta car insurance. Enter your ATL zip code above to start comparing free Atlanta car insurance quotes online today!