Motorcycle insurance coverage requirements in Georgia

Georgia requires liability insurance on a motorcycle under its own statute, § 40-6-11. The owner needs coverage “equivalent to that required as evidence of security” under § 40-9-37, which comes to at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. That coverage pays others. A rider’s own injuries depend on the other side’s coverage and on what the rider chose to buy.

The required part

Point	Source	Rule
Who it binds	§ 40-6-11(b)	The owner, and anyone operating or authorizing another to operate, other than a self-insurer
What counts as a motorcycle	§ 40-6-11(a)	A motor vehicle with a seat or saddle designed to travel on not more than three wheels, excluding a tractor and a moped
Minimum amounts	§ 40-9-37(a), § 33-7-11(a)(1)(A)	$25,000, $50,000, and $25,000
Proof while riding	§ 40-6-11(c)	Keep proof in immediate possession or on the motorcycle, under the same terms as other drivers in § 40-6-10
Citation limit	§ 40-6-11(e)	No citation if the sole basis is the officer's inability to get coverage information from state records

Georgia’s rule for motorcycles is separate from the general rule for other vehicles in § 40-6-10, and the two do not need to be stitched together. See minimum auto insurance for the general framework, including the higher minimums in § 33-7-16 for “any motor vehicle” operated after a DUI conviction.

Optional coverages and what each pays

Coverage	Pays	Applies when	Watch for
UM	The rider's own bodily injury and property losses, as elected	Other driver uninsured or underinsured, or a qualifying hit and run	Rejection in writing, and policy exclusions
MedPay	Medical and funeral expenses	Regardless of fault, within its limit	Reimbursement limits
Collision	Damage to the motorcycle	A collision, regardless of fault	Deductible and valuation
Comprehensive	Other damage such as theft or fire	The listed causes	Deductible and valuation
Custom parts	Accessories and modifications	Depends on the endorsement	Lower limits unless added

The figures and availability of these coverages vary by insurer, so the policy controls. Ask for the declarations page and all endorsements, and read the motorcycle exclusions in particular.

UM is the coverage that decides serious cases

Under § 33-7-11(a)(1), a policy must include UM coverage unless an insured rejects it in writing, under (a)(3). So check for a signed rejection. If none exists, the coverage may be in the policy by law, which is a separate fight worth having.

The minimum liability limit may not come close to a serious injury. If an at-fault driver has only $25,000, the rider’s UM coverage may be the larger source. Two details matter:

Added-on or reducing. Section 33-7-11 lets an insured pick between the coverage that pays on top of the other driver’s limits and a difference-only option. The choice changes the amount available, so check which one is on the policy. UM coverage for motorcycles covers exclusions and stacking questions.

Settling with the other driver. Section 33-24-41.1(c) says a policy may not prohibit a settlement by limited release, or require the UM carrier’s permission for it. A general release is different and can end UM rights, so read the release before signing.

MedPay: helpful, with limits

MedPay can pay bills before fault is resolved. Georgia’s § 33-24-56.1 limits reimbursement by a benefit provider, requiring a recovery that exceeds all economic and noneconomic losses, and it reduces the claim for fees and expenses. See MedPay coverage. So a statement that MedPay never has to be repaid goes too far. The insurer’s position has to be tested against that statute.

Scenarios

Situation	Sources of recovery
Other driver has enough liability coverage	That policy, plus the rider's MedPay and collision
Other driver has a minimum limit	That policy, then the rider's UM, if any
Other driver has no insurance	The rider's UM, if any, and then the driver personally
Hit and run	UM, if the conditions in § 33-7-11(b)(2) on contact or a witness are met
Rider at fault	The rider's liability policy pays others; the rider looks to MedPay and collision
Passenger hurt	The operator's and the other driver's policies, and the passenger's own UM
Commercial truck	Carrier layers and federal minimums

Truck-vs-motorcycle covers the last row. A passenger’s claim against the rider’s own policy needs reading the household and passenger exclusions, so don’t assume coverage.

Riding without coverage

Lack of required coverage is a separate matter from who caused the crash. It carries penalties under § 40-6-11(b), and it can affect the rider’s own UM and collision rights because no policy exists. It doesn’t, on its own, show the rider caused the collision. An at-fault driver is still responsible for the harm caused.

Before a crash, and after

Before. Check liability, UM type and amount, and MedPay. Compare the policy’s description of the motorcycle with what you ride, and list custom parts.

After. Notify your own insurer under the policy’s terms. Ask each insurer for policy information, and use § 33-3-28 where it applies. Keep the motorcycle until it has been documented. A total loss valuation can be disputed, particularly for custom parts.

Sources

• Official Code of Georgia Annotated, November 2022 public release: §§ 33-3-28, 33-7-11, 33-24-41.1, 33-24-56.1, 40-6-10, 40-6-11, 40-9-37

This page was last reviewed in November 2026 for general information. Laws and court decisions can change after that date. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.