Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Policies - Insurer's Responsibilities
Insurers issuing liability insurance policies for motor vehicles in this state are required to be licensed with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's Office (OCI). For licensing requirements, please contact their Regulatory Services Division.
Insurers issuing liability insurance policies for motor vehicles in this state are required to electronically report insurance information to this Department's insurance database, Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System (GEICS), within thirty days of the date the insurance coverage is to begin. Terminations and additions or deletions of vehicles from existing policies must also be electronically reported.
For commercial vehicles registered under a commercial insurance policy, insurers must electronically report insurance information, as shown in the GEICS Reporting Guide.
To be able to electronically transmit the required insurance information to the GEICS insurance database, you, the insurer, must first register with this Department (Georgia Department of Revenue). To register you must have a valid NAIC number. Access the GEICS registration. After registering, you will receive the required login information to access the GEICS insurance database.
Vehicles Exempt from the GEICS Reporting Requirements and When Not to Transmit
Vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP), self-insured vehicles and fleet vehicles must be insured but are exempt from the GEICS reporting requirements. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance for these vehicles as well as for recently purchased or acquired vehicles.
Do not electronically transmit insurance information for the following:
- Comprehensive only policies.
- Vehicles exempt from registration in Georgia, i.e. snowmobiles, bicycles, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, etc. To view a list of vehicles exempt from registration in Georgia, check out our General Registration Information page.
- Non-motorized vehicles, i.e. Campers, trailers, etc.
- Vehicles insured under a fleet vehicle insurance policy.
- Vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP).
GEICS Insurance Database - How It Works
Vehicle identification numbers (VIN) electronically transmitted to the GEICS insurance database by the insurers are cross-referenced with the vehicle identification numbers on this Department's tag and title database entitled DRIVES, Driver Record and Integrated Vehicle Enterprise System. If the transmitted VIN matches a VIN on the tag and title database, then a valid insurance coverage indicator is placed on the vehicle's record. Law enforcement and the County Tax Commissioner's Tag Office personnel in this state have access to the tag and title database and can easily check the insurance status of any vehicle registered in the State of Georgia.
If the VIN the insurer electronically transmits to the insurance database passes a VINA check (Vehicle Identification Number Analysis*) but does not match a VIN on the tag and title database, the insurance information is re-processed for thirty days before being returned to you, the insurer, as an error. Insurers are the only ones who can add, delete or edit information on the insurance database.
What is V.I.N.A.?
VINA, Vehicle Identification Number Analysis, is a program installed on this Department's databases that checks entered vehicle identification numbers (VIN) against established VIN patterns provided by vehicle manufacturers. This program identifies incorrectly entered vehicle identification numbers to help prevent vehicles from being registered and/or titled with an incorrect VIN. It also helps identify incorrectly transmitted vehicle identification numbers to the insurance database.
Insurance Information Cards
You, the insurer, are still required to issue insurance policy information cards to your policyholders for each vehicle you insure even for those vehicles where insurance information must be electronically transmitted to the insurance database. The insurance information card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
Insurance policy information cards are no longer acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage for all vehicles except self-insured vehicles; vehicles insured under a fleet insurance policy; and vehicles registered in Georgia under the International Registration Plan (IRP). These vehicles require Georgia liability insurance coverage but are exempt from the GEICS reporting requirements. See information under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance" for what is acceptable proof of insurance coverage for these vehicles as well as recently purchased or acquired vehicles.
Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance
- A valid insurance coverage indicator on the vehicles record on the Department's tag and title database is acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage.
- A valid fleet insurance policy information card. This card must show the name of the insurance company, the policy number, the policy's original issue date, the policy’s expiration date, the name of the insured, and the words Fleet and "Georgia". Neither the vehicle identification number (VIN) nor the registrant's name is required on this card. This card must be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
- A valid binder, showing the vehicles identification number (VIN) is acceptable proof of liability insurance coverage for thirty days from the binders issue date.
- A bill of sale dated within thirty days of the vehicles purchase date and a valid insurance declaration page.
- A self-insured insurance information card and a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioners office. Both this card and the certificate of self-insurance must be issued in the registered owner's name and be carried in the vehicle at all times while the vehicle is being driven.
- A valid commercial insurance policy information card, in the registered owners name reflecting the vehicles identification number (VIN).
If a motor vehicle owner does not have acceptable proof of Georgia liability insurance coverage as shown under the heading "Acceptable Proof of Georgia Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance", they will be unable to register and purchase a Georgia license plate (tag) for their vehicle; unable to renew, replace or transfer their existing Georgia tag; and will be subject to fines and vehicle impoundment if detected by law enforcement or if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Vehicle Information Number (VIN) Must Match
Motor vehicle owners in this state are being instructed to contact their insurer immediately when their insurance policy information card does not reflect their vehicle’s complete and correct VIN, since only you, their insurer, can add, delete, or edit information on the insurance database.
If the owner’s registration certificate, a/k/a tag receipt, and/or title does not reflect the vehicle’s complete and correct VIN, the vehicle owner is being instructed to contact their County Tax Commissioner's Tag Office immediately for assistance in obtaining a new registration certificate (tag receipt) and/or title showing their vehicle’s complete and correct VIN.