Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces DRIVE Plan to Lower Costs For Georgia Drivers

ATLANTA — Today, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms joined Georgians affected by rising gas prices in Atlanta to announce her DRIVE Plan to lower costs for Georgia drivers. Keisha’s plan will eliminate Georgia’s 2.25% state auto insurance premium tax, roll the state gasoline tax back to 28 cents per gallon, reduce the diesel tax to 31.3 cents per gallon, and end automatic annual fuel-tax increases.

Georgia families are paying more for nearly everything, and auto insurance has become one of the fastest-growing costs for Georgia households. This comes as Georgia is among the most expensive states for car insurance with costs of car ownership and insurance being $2,000 more than the national average.

“Our plan will provide guaranteed savings by eliminating the state auto insurance premium tax for Georgia drivers and requiring the savings to be passed on to drivers. The tax is currently 2.25%. Eliminating it will save, on average, for families with two cars about $140 a year. We will also require insurance companies to provide these savings as a direct credit back to Georgia. My plan will also roll back the state gas tax to 28 cents per gallon and reduce the diesel tax to 31.3 cents per gallon. This would save a family with two cars almost 80 dollars,” said Keisha. “I will also implement automatic annual fuel tax increases to prevent Georgians from paying unnecessary taxes just so that they can fill up their car and do things like go to work and get their kids to school. For the average Georgia driver, these tax cuts together would save a single driver over $100 a year. I will also work on long-term solutions, including preventing insurers from increasing rates more than once in a year, ending those mid-year rate increases.”

“The cost of everything is going up: groceries, insurance, utilities, and every trip to places like this, the gas station. And for most Georgians, driving isn't optional. You have to get to work, you have to get your children to school, and you have to get to the doctor, the grocery store, or even across the state to see family,” said State Senator RaShaun Kemp. “That's why I'm proud to stand with Keisha Lance Bottoms today as she puts forward a sensible plan focused on one simple question: How do we put more money back into the pockets of everyday Georgians?”

“Rick Jackson is driving profits to India by investing in a refinery. So we have a choice to make: Do we get behind policy that puts people before profits, or do we bend the knee for profits to be before people? The state of Georgia citizens deserve better,” said State Representative Inga Willis. “We're still waiting for those prices to go down. So as you hear people falsifying promises of what legislation can do, these public servants, stand with Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor because she has put forth policies that are for the people and not for profits. Thank you.”

Keisha’s DRIVE Plan Includes:

D- Delivering Immediate Relief

Eliminating the 2.25% state premium tax on private-passenger auto insurance, saving the average driver about $70 a year, and requiring the full savings to appear as a visible credit on every bill.
Rolling the gasoline tax back to a flat 28 cents per gallon from 33.3 cents per gallon and reducing the diesel tax to 31.3 cents per gallon from 37.3.

R-Reining in Unjustified Rate Hikes

Limiting insurers to one rate increase per year and requiring prior approval for large increases.
Requiring savings to be passed through after reforms when state action lowers insurer costs, through tax relief, fraud reduction, or other reforms.
Requiring the Department of Insurance to establish a pre-reform baseline and collect annual data on premiums, approved rate changes, claims frequency and severity, litigation expenses, settlements, loss ratios, insurer profits, and the availability of coverage.

I-Insisting on Accountability

Creating an independent Insurance Consumer Advocate, require excess-profit refunds, and make rate and profit data public.
Requiring refunds when an auto insurer’s actual profits substantially exceed the projections used to justify its rates.

V-Valuing Safe Drivers and Fair Pricing

Requiring insurers to offer a state-approved, low-cost policy for safe, income-eligible drivers. The policy would include state-minimum liability coverage, transparent pricing, flexible payment options, no junk fees, and the option to purchase uninsured-motorist protection.

E-Expanding Affordable Coverage

Creating a low-cost basic policy, curb junk fees, and pair uninsured-motorist enforcement with affordable pathways back to coverage.