#GeorgiaDrivers | AM 1180 Radio

September 29, 2026

Georgia Gas Prices Climb Again, State Average Reaches $4.19

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Georgia motorists are paying more at the pump this week, with the statewide average for regular gasoline climbing to $4.19 per gallon.

September 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AAA: Most Georgia Children Checked Were Moved To Seat Belts Too Soon

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New research from AAA shows a large percentage of Georgia children may not be properly protected while riding in vehicles, with many moving from booster seats to adult seat belts before they are physically ready.

September 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Child Passenger Safety Week Begins Sunday Across Georgia

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Parents and grandparents are being encouraged to take a few minutes to make sure children are riding safely as National Child Passenger Safety Week begins Sunday, September 20.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Tax Commissioner Reminds Residents To Keep Vehicle Tags When Selling Or Trading

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The Chattooga County Tax Commissioner’s Office is reminding residents that a Georgia license plate stays with the vehicle owner — not the vehicle — when a car or truck is sold or traded.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton says residents should remove the tag before turning over a vehicle. The tag can be kept in a safe place for future use or taken to the Tax Commissioner’s Office for recycling.

Hampton says the office occasionally hears from people who left a tag on a vehicle they sold, only to later discover the plate had ended up in another state and accumulated toll charges or parking tickets. Those tickets can be difficult to dispute unless the tag has been reported lost or stolen to law enforcement.

Residents should also cancel their registration or place the tag on hold before removing insurance from a vehicle, whether the vehicle has been parked, sold, traded or repossessed. A tag placed on hold can be taken off hold when the owner is ready to put the vehicle back on the road.

Remember: When you sell or trade a vehicle, take the tag off and make sure the registration is properly handled before you cancel the insurance.

August 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Driver’s Education Course Coming To Chattooga County; Scholarships Available

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Young drivers in Chattooga County will have an opportunity this fall to complete a driver’s education course that meets the requirements of Georgia’s Joshua’s Law.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College will offer Driver’s Education at the Chattooga County Educational Center October 6-9, 2026. Classes will meet Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The course provides the training required under Joshua’s Law, including 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of drive time with a certified instructor for students seeking a Class D driver’s license.

Students who successfully complete the course may also qualify for the Teen Driver’s Education insurance discount offered by many insurance companies.

The cost of the course is $400 per person, but families should know that scholarships are available through the Georgia Driver’s Education Grant Scholarship program. Those interested in financial assistance are encouraged to apply for a scholarship before enrolling.

GNTC is also offering Driver’s Education courses at several of its other Northwest Georgia locations. September classes are planned at the Catoosa County Campus, followed by the Chattooga County course in October. Additional classes are scheduled in Floyd, Catoosa, Whitfield-Murray and Walker counties through the spring of 2027.

For registration information, contact GNTC’s Office of Economic Development at 706-516-5442 or by email at DriversEd@gntc.edu.

The Chattooga County class is scheduled for October 6, 7, 8 and 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Chattooga County Educational Center.

August 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Fall As Drivers See Relief At The Pump

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Georgia drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as gasoline prices continue to decline, with Northwest Georgia among the least expensive areas of the state.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Ranks Among States With The Most $1,000-A-Month Car Payments

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A growing number of Georgia drivers are making car payments of $1,000 or more each month, according to a new LendingTree analysis, placing Georgia fourth in the nation for borrowers carrying four-figure auto loan payments.

The study found that 12% of Georgians with active auto loans have at least one monthly payment of $1,000 or more. Only Texas, Alaska and Wyoming ranked higher. Nationwide, the figure is 9.6%. The analysis was based on approximately 180,000 anonymized credit reports from the fourth quarter of 2025.

Consumer finance experts say several factors are driving the trend in Georgia, including higher vehicle prices, elevated interest rates, the popularity of larger trucks and SUVs, long commuting distances and lower average credit scores, which can result in higher borrowing costs.

LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz cautioned that qualifying for a large auto loan does not necessarily mean it’s affordable. He recommends buyers focus on the total cost of the vehicle rather than just the monthly payment, avoid unnecessarily long loan terms and purchase less vehicle than they think they can afford whenever possible.

July 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Drivers Encouraged to Add Emergency Contact to Driver’s License Records

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The Georgia Department of Driver Services is encouraging motorists to take a few minutes to add emergency contact information to their driver’s license or state ID records—a free update that could prove invaluable during an emergency.

July 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AAA: More Than 2.4 Million Georgians Expected To Travel For Independence Day Holiday

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AAA is forecasting another record-setting Independence Day holiday travel period, with more than 2.4 million Georgians expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

USAA Drivers in Georgia to See Auto Insurance Rate Reduction

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More than 200,000 Georgia drivers insured through the USAA Group of Companies are expected to see lower auto insurance premiums following a newly approved rate reduction announced by Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. The overall decrease averages about 2.6 percent and is expected to save Georgia policyholders more than $33 million statewide.

The rate reductions vary by company within the USAA group, with decreases of 4.7 percent for Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, 4.5 percent for USAA Casualty Insurance Company, and 2.4 percent for USAA General Indemnity Company. Commissioner King said the reductions reflect a more competitive insurance marketplace and ongoing efforts to improve affordability for Georgia families.

In addition to the lower rates, USAA has increased its SafePilot participation discount from 10 percent to 15 percent, giving eligible policyholders another opportunity to reduce their premiums. State officials say the latest filing continues a trend of recent auto insurance rate reductions in Georgia as regulators work to increase competition and lower costs for consumers.