Verified O.C.G.A. §40-6-10 · Checked July 2026 · 2 sources
What a no-insurance ticket costs in Georgia
Citation data · First offense O.C.G.A. §40-6-10
$200–$1,000 fine or up to 12 months
Driving without minimum coverage in Georgia is a misdemeanor: on conviction, a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both (O.C.G.A. §40-6-10).
Verified July 2026
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Were you actually insured? Gather proof
If you show the court that minimum coverage was in effect when the citation was issued, the fine is capped at $25, the case is not forwarded to the Department of Driver Services, and your license is not suspended (O.C.G.A. §40-6-10).
- 2
If you were uninsured, get a policy before court
Conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 12 months of imprisonment, or both.
- 3
Know what a conviction touches
Regular convictions are reported to the Department of Driver Services, and license suspension is on the table.
Insurance impact: Convictions are reported to the Department of Driver Services with license suspension on the table; proving you were actually insured caps the fine at $25 with no license consequences.
Repeat offenses
O.C.G.A. §40-6-10 sets a single penalty range; repeat offenses fall under the same $200–$1,000 misdemeanor frame.
Is driving without insurance a misdemeanor in Georgia?
Yes, a misdemeanor punishable by a $200–$1,000 fine, up to 12 months of imprisonment, or both.
Can it be dismissed?
Effectively yes, if you were insured. If you show the court that required minimum coverage was in effect when the citation was issued, the court may impose a fine of no more than $25, does not forward the case to the Department of Driver Services, and your license is not suspended (O.C.G.A. §40-6-10).
What happens beyond the fine
Convictions are reported to the Department of Driver Services. The statute’s own actually-insured carve-out spells out what regular convictions risk: in the $25 scenario the record is not forwarded and the license “shall not be suspended”, meaning suspension is on the table otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a no-insurance ticket in Georgia?
Conviction under O.C.G.A. §40-6-10 is a misdemeanor with a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. If you prove to the court you actually had coverage at citation time, the fine is capped at $25 with no license consequences.
Is driving without insurance a misdemeanor in Georgia?
Yes, a misdemeanor with a $200–$1,000 fine and up to 12 months of imprisonment on the statute’s face.
What if I had insurance but got cited anyway in Georgia?
Show the court that minimum coverage was in effect when the citation was issued: the maximum fine drops to $25, the disposition is not reported to DDS, and your license is not suspended.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- O.C.G.A. §40-6-10, insurance requirements and penalties (FindLaw)
- Georgia Criminal Lawyer, no proof of insurance overview (secondary)
Other tickets in Georgia
Expired Registration in Georgia
Driving Without Insurance: other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of July 2026.