These Georgia cities have the highest car insurance rates, study shows

Atlanta drivers face a number of challenges on the road, from standstill traffic to gaping potholes covered with metal plates.

And a new report suggests that there may be another headache for the city's motorists: car insurance rates. Georgia has the ninth most expensive rates in the country, according to personal finance website WalletHub.

Georgia also comes in at No. 9 for having the most mileage of roadways nationwide (that’s 257,000 lane miles, in case you were wondering). And, according to the report, it also means that Georgians are in more danger on the road, which drives up car insurance premiums.

The study found that the cities in Georgia with the most expensive car insurance rates are:
Decatur
Stone Mountain
Lithonia
Atlanta
Duluth

The least expensive cities for car insurance premiums are:
Valdosta
Newnan
Athens
Albany
Gainesville

The study found that premiums spike quickly for an accident or speeding: on average, drivers saw a 64% uptick after an accident and a 23% hike following a speeding ticket.

To gather the data, the study looked at insurance quotes from the five largest providers in Georgia, which represent 68% of the market. It compared quotes in the 30 most populous cities in the state, according to data from the Census Bureau.

To keep results comparable, the study kept vehicle information the same for each quote and started with a base case, then changed variables one at a time, looking at factors like gender, marital status, age and annual mileage.

Other findings include:

- A 16-year-old driver pays 358% more in premiums than the average 66 year old in Georgia

- There is no significant difference in premiums between men and women in the state

- The report found no apparent difference in car insurance premiums based on profession in Georgia, unlike in other states

- If you tack on comprehension and collision coverage to your insurance in Georgia, in could increase your rate by 74%

- Reckless-driving infractions increase the average driver’s premium by 135% in the state