HB800: HB800 Motor vehicles; optional vehicle equipment inspections and premium discounts if policyholders obtain such inspections; provide

Georgia currently has no statewide voluntary vehicle equipment inspection program tied to insurance discounts. House Bill 800 would create one. It adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. § 33-9-45) requiring every auto insurer to offer a premium discount to policyholders whose vehicle has a current certificate of vehicle equipment inspection and who tell the insurer about it in writing. The discount amount must be filed with and approved by the Georgia Commissioner of Insurance. The bill also rewrites Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 to set up the inspection system itself. The Department of Public Safety would certify inspection stations, license mechanic inspectors, and set vehicle equipment standards. Inspection terms would run one, two, or five years depending on the vehicle's model year. Vehicles that fail get 30 days for free reinspection after repairs. Violations, such as issuing fake certificates, become a misdemeanor punishable by a $50 to $250 fine.

• Requires insurers to offer a premium discount to policyholders whose vehicle has a valid certificate of vehicle equipment inspection, starting July 1, 2026.
• Requires that discount amount to be included in the insurer's rate filing and approved by the Commissioner of Insurance.
• Creates a new optional vehicle equipment inspection system run by the Department of Public Safety, including certifying inspection stations and licensing mechanic inspectors.
• Sets inspection validity periods (one, two, or five years) based on a vehicle's model year, and requires free reinspection within 30 days if a vehicle fails.
• Makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a $50 to $250 fine, to fake a certificate, operate as an unlicensed inspection station, or misuse an inspection sticker.

Georgia drivers and vehicle owners who could choose to get the optional inspection, auto insurance companies that must offer and file the new discount, the Department of Public Safety which would run the inspection program, and businesses such as dealerships, garages, and service stations that could seek certification as inspection stations.

Drivers who choose to get their vehicle inspected could see a lower insurance premium, while insurers face a new filing and reporting requirement. The bill also creates a new state-run inspection and licensing system affecting garages, dealerships, and mechanics who want to participate as certified stations or inspectors.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 33-9-45, requiring insurers to offer a premium discount to policyholders with a valid vehicle equipment inspection certificate, subject to Commissioner approval, effective for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2026.
• Section 2 repeals and replaces Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 40, creating the inspection framework under the Department of Public Safety, including definitions of key terms like 'mechanic inspector' and 'vehicle equipment inspection station' (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-200).
• O.C.G.A. § 40-8-201 gives the department power to set inspection standards, licensing criteria for mechanic inspectors, and fee rules based on the actual cost of performing inspections.
• O.C.G.A. § 40-8-203 makes the inspection optional and sets inspection terms of one, two, or five years depending on the vehicle's model year.
• O.C.G.A. § 40-8-204 requires free reinspection within 30 days for a vehicle that fails, and allows a hardship time extension for repairs.
• O.C.G.A. § 40-8-205 bars the department from limiting the number or location of certified inspection stations or steering business toward centralized testing.
• O.C.G.A. § 40-8-208 makes violations, including counterfeit certificates or unlicensed inspections, a misdemeanor with a fine of $50 to $250.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-18House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-20House Hopper (House)

• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)Primary sponsor
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)

• car insurance discounts
• vehicle inspections
• Department of Public Safety
• auto insurance regulation
• mechanic licensing