Does Georgia require insurers to offer UM coverage and can I reject it in writing?

· 3 min read

Georgia does not force every driver to carry uninsured motorist coverage, but it does require insurers to put it on the table. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, an insurer issuing a motor-vehicle liability policy must make uninsured motorist (UM) coverage available, and the coverage attaches unless the applicant affirmatively declines or reduces it in the manner the statute allows.

The offer-and-rejection framework

The statute is built around an offer the insured can accept, limit, or turn down. UM coverage is generally offered in an amount equal to the policy’s liability limits. An insured who does not want that full amount can reduce the UM limits or reject the coverage, but Georgia channels that choice through a written process so the decision is documented and informed. A valid rejection or reduction is typically made in writing, signed by the insured.

This matters because the writing requirement protects policyholders. If an insurer cannot show a proper written rejection or reduction, a court may treat the policy as carrying UM coverage at the statutorily contemplated level, even where the insured paid no separate premium for it. The documentation, in other words, is what lets an insurer prove the coverage was knowingly declined.

What a driver is actually choosing

When deciding whether to keep, reduce, or reject UM coverage, an insured is weighing first-party protection against premium cost. Key points include:

  • UM coverage pays through the insured’s own insurer when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little to cover the resulting damages.
  • It can extend to resident relatives, occupants of the insured vehicle, and the insured as a pedestrian, depending on the policy.
  • Because Georgia’s minimum liability limits are modest and uninsured drivers are common, the protection is often significant relative to its cost.

Reducing or rejecting the coverage lowers the premium but removes that safety net, leaving the insured exposed if an uninsured or underinsured driver causes serious harm.

Renewals and changes

A choice made when a policy is first issued generally carries forward, so a rejection signed years ago may still govern unless the coverage is later added. Drivers who are unsure what they elected can confirm their current UM limits and election with their insurer or by reviewing the declarations page.

The bottom line

Georgia requires insurers to offer UM coverage on liability policies, and an insured may reduce or reject it, but only through a proper written election. Without that documented rejection, the law tends to favor the existence of coverage, which is why the writing requirement is central to how O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 operates.

This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.

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