Driving in Chattanooga, TN comes with its share of risks—from sudden storms and winding mountain roads to busy city traffic and the occasional deer crossing on suburban routes. That’s why having the right personal auto insurance isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
GEICO understands the unique challenges Chattanooga drivers face and is committed to providing affordable, dependable coverage tailored to local needs. With benefits like dedicated customer support, bundling opportunities to save on home and auto policies, convenient access through the GEICO App, and reliable nationwide coverage, GEICO helps you stay protected wherever the road takes you.
In Tennessee, drivers are legally required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to ensure they can cover damages if they cause an accident. This coverage is divided into two parts: Bodily Injury Liability, which helps pay for medical expenses and injuries to others, and Property Damage Liability, which helps cover repairs to someone else's vehicle or property.
| Coverage Type | Tennessee Minimum Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property Damage Liability | $25,000 per accident |
Many drivers in Chattanooga choose to go beyond the state-mandated minimums for liability insurance, recognizing that these basic requirements are designed to protect other drivers, not the policyholder.
To ensure broader protection, many opt for more well-rounded coverage that helps safeguard against collisions, severe weather, theft, vandalism, and more. Standard personal auto insurance plans often include coverages such as collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments.
Liability coverage is the portion of an auto insurance policy that helps pay for damages or injuries you cause to other people in an accident.
It’s the only type of coverage with required minimums in Tennessee because it ensures that drivers can financially compensate others if they are at fault. Without it, a driver could face serious legal and financial consequences for causing harm or property damage. By covering costs such as medical bills, vehicle repairs, or legal fees for the other party, liability insurance helps policyholders avoid paying these potentially significant expenses out of pocket.
Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional additions to an auto insurance policy that offer protection for the policyholder’s own vehicle, covering a broad range of risks beyond what liability insurance handles.
Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your car after an accident with another vehicle or object, regardless of who’s at fault. Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, protects against non-collision-related incidents such as theft, vandalism, fire, or natural disasters. For example, in Chattanooga, where severe thunderstorms and falling tree limbs are common, comprehensive coverage can help pay for repairs if your vehicle is damaged during a storm—something liability insurance wouldn’t cover.
Medical Payments (MedPay) is an optional auto insurance coverage that focuses on covering medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident. Unlike collision or comprehensive coverage, this option helps pay for hospital bills, ambulance fees, and other injury-related costs, not damage to your vehicle.
Tennessee is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for causing the accident is legally liable for the resulting damages and injuries. Because of this, MedPay can be especially beneficial for Tennessee drivers, offering immediate coverage for medical expenses without having to wait for a liability claim to be settled with the at-fault party’s insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage helps protect you if you're involved in an accident with a driver who either has no insurance or doesn't carry enough to cover the damages they caused. While some states require drivers to carry this type of coverage, in Tennessee, it’s optional—but strongly recommended.
This is especially important given that a significant number of drivers in Tennessee—nearly 24%—are uninsured. Without UM/UIM coverage, you could be left paying out of pocket for medical bills or vehicle repairs if an at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.
No matter how much coverage you choose to include in your personal auto insurance policy, taking advantage of available discounts is one of the smartest ways to lower your premium.
That’s why GEICO offers a wide range of savings opportunities, ensuring that nearly every policyholder has a chance to save. Whether it’s bundling multiple coverages like auto and home, practicing safe driving habits, or simply paying your bill online, GEICO makes it easy to qualify for discounts that help keep your insurance affordable without sacrificing the protection you need.
The average cost of personal auto insurance in Tennessee is generally lower than the national average. This difference can be attributed to factors such as the state's lower population density, which may result in fewer accidents, and other considerations that make it safer for drivers. However, it's important to note that individual circumstances play a much larger role in determining how much you’ll actually pay.
Personal factors like the type of car you own, your driving record, credit history, and the coverage options you select can have a much greater impact on your rate than these general averages. Therefore, regardless of how your personal situation is currently affecting your rate, checking to see if you qualify for any discounts remains the best way to save money without sacrificing coverage.
Although optional add-ons like collision, comprehensive, and MedPay are commonly included in most standard auto insurance plans, Chattanooga drivers can also choose from more specialized coverages to extend their protection even further. These additional options provide extra peace of mind, ensuring you’re sufficiently covered no matter where the road takes you:
With GEICO, obtaining a free auto insurance quote is quick and easy for Chattanooga drivers. By sharing just a few basic details either online or over the phone, you can receive a personalized quote in just minutes. Take the first step toward securing the right coverage tailored to your unique needs—get your free quote today!
Disclaimer:
*DriveEasy is an optional program that is not available in all states and situations. Premium rates generally will vary based on participation in the program and the driving habits logged by the app. All enrolled drivers on a policy need to participate. Driver enrollment requirements differ by state and program details and are presented during your quote.
For more information, see our GEICO Mobile User Agreement, our Text Messaging Terms and Conditions, and GEICO's Privacy Policy.