In Georgia when the Department of Revenue (DOR) sees that you are uninsured a Notice of Lapse Mandatory Liability Insurance Coverage is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner. This notice will request the payment of a $25 lapse fee and require you to show proof of valid insurance coverage within 30 days.

If the lapse fee is not paid within 30 days of the letter's date, your vehicle's registration will be suspended. To cancel the suspension, the vehicle owner must now pay the $25 lapse fee plus a $60 reinstatement fee as well as show proof of auto insurance.

If the uninsured driver had received these notices from the DOR then they would be driving without insurance and with suspended registration. If a vehicle is driven without Georgia liability insurance coverage and/or with a suspended, revoked or cancelled registration, the vehicle’s registered owner is subject to additional fines and the vehicle is subject to impoundment when discovered by law enforcement or if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

The at fault uninsured driver (and possibly the car owner if that person is different then the driver) is also likely to be held personally responsible for the damages they caused to others in the accident. The GA DOR and Georgia Insurance Commissioner can give you more information on the penalties a person driving without insurance and is involved in an accident would face.