The General Liability Insurance Policy provides state employees with auto liability coverage (bodily injury and/or property damage to others) while driving state-owned vehicles or while driving personally owned or rental vehicles on official state business. The automobile physical damage policy provides coverage for damage to state-owned vehicles only. Damage to rental vehicles driven on official state business is covered under the state rental car contract. Damage to personally owned vehicles driven on official state business is not covered by the state auto physical damage policy. Employees are encouraged to check with their personal insurance company to verify whether their personal automobile insurance policy covers damage to their personally owned vehicle while operating on official state business.
Auto Insurance Cards – The Georgia Liability Insurance Identification Card FY2025 should be placed in each state vehicle and presented as insurance verification. Employees who use personal vehicles while engaging in official state business should also keep a card in their vehicle in case of an accident.
Auto Liability Insurance – Automobile Liability Insurance coverage protects the employees of the University of Georgia for negligent acts while operating a vehicle in the course and scope of employment or as part of a structured volunteer program on state business, subject to the provisions contained in the State Tort Claims Policy.
Auto Physical Damage Insurance – The Auto Physical Damage Insurance provides collision and comprehensive coverage for vehicles owned by the University of Georgia.
Auto Liability Driving Do’s and Don’ts
- Go to http://doas.ga.gov/risk-management/risk-management-education-and-training
- Scroll down to Auto Liability Coverage Video and Driving Do’s and Don’ts
Auto Rental – Loss Damage Waiver / Collision Waiver (LDW/CDW) insurance is included in the statewide rental car contract(s) at no additional cost. View State of Georgia travel regulations for rental cars. When traveling to destinations outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS) with the exception of Canada, the State Risk Management Department recommends that travelers accept collision insurance. If an employee rents outside of the statewide contract when the contract provider is not available, then they should purchase the additional coverage that addresses loss or damage to the rental unit.
Accidents – All accidents that occurred while in the course and scope of employment or as part of a structured volunteer program must be reported to DOAS by calling 1-877-656-7475 within 48 hours.
Individuals participating in a structured volunteer program have liability coverage under State Tort Claims Policy.
Use of Golf Carts on Official Business – As a reminder, the operation of golf carts or other personal transportation vehicles on official University business also falls under the UGA Motor Vehicle Use Policy. Only UGA employees or individuals in a structured volunteer program are authorized to drive golf carts on official University business. Golf cart drivers must also comply with the annual motor vehicle policy training requirements.
Additionally, golf carts operated on the roadway must follow the same rules of the road applicable to other vehicles, including the cell phone hands-free law, and must be equipped with brakes, a reverse warning device, head lights, taillights, horn, rearview mirror, hip restraints, and hand holds. Golf cart drivers are encouraged to exercise extra care operating on roadways with other traffic since golf carts do not offer the same level of collision protection as automobiles and other vehicles.
You can find more information about the legal operation of golf carts, other personal transportation vehicles, and low speed vehicles here: Georgia Code: Low Speed Vehicles | Georgia Department of Public Safety.