# How to Start a NEMT Business in Georgia (2027)

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/georgia/ · Updated 2026-09-28

To start a NEMT business in Georgia, form your company, insure your vehicles, and register them with the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Then apply to Verida, the Medicaid NEMT broker for all five regions since April 1, 2026. Verida adds providers where a region needs more rides, inspects every vehicle, checks your drivers' training, and signs your service agreement after an owner orientation.

- Since April 1, 2026, Verida arranges Medicaid NEMT rides in all 159 Georgia counties, so a Verida agreement is the way into Medicaid ride work anywhere in the state.
- You contract with Verida, not with Georgia Medicaid, and Verida adds providers only where a region needs more rides.
- Register with the Department of Public Safety before your first paid ride: GIMC for vans carrying 10 or fewer riders, a passenger permit for larger vehicles.
- The state policy manual sets the floor for drivers, vehicles, and on-time service, and the broker inspects each vehicle every six months.
- Georgia does not set your rate. Verida negotiates it, and pays undisputed invoices within 15 business days unless your agreement says otherwise.

## Georgia NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Medicaid agency | Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which pays the broker a monthly rate for each eligible member |
| How rides work | One statewide broker covers all five NEMT regions: North, Atlanta, Central, East, and Southwest |
| Medicaid broker | Verida, for all five regions since April 1, 2026, when Modivcare left the Central, East, and Southwest regions |
| How to join | Send Verida its Request for Qualifications form with a driver list and a vehicle list. Verida adds providers where a region needs them. |
| State registration | Georgia Department of Public Safety: a GIMC registration for vehicles carrying 10 or fewer elderly or disabled riders, or a passenger permit for 11 or more passengers |
| Insurance | Verida wants insurers rated A- or better and auto cover for owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles. DPS minimums start at $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. |
| Drivers | At least 21, licensed in Georgia or a bordering state, no DUI conviction in the 5 years before hire, and no suspended or revoked license in the last 5 years |
| Vehicle inspections | Verida inspects each vehicle before it enters service and every six months after. Passenger permit holders also get a yearly DPS inspection. |
| Pay | Verida sets your rate in your service agreement. If the agreement sets no payment date, an undisputed invoice is due within 15 business days. |
| EVV | NEMT is not on the list. Georgia's EVV covers personal support, community living support, pediatric personal care, and home health services. |

Georgia runs Medicaid rides through one broker. Since April 1, 2026, Verida arranges Medicaid NEMT trips in all 159 counties. To get that work, you need a registered company, a Department of Public Safety registration, the right insurance, and vehicles and drivers that meet the state's NEMT policy manual. The rules below follow the manual's July 1, 2026 version.

## How Medicaid rides work in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) runs Medicaid. It splits the state into five NEMT regions and uses a broker to arrange the rides. DCH pays the broker a monthly capitation rate for each eligible member who lives in its regions. The broker checks each request, books the trip, assigns it to a transportation provider, and pays the provider.

Since April 1, 2026, Verida is the broker for all five regions. Modivcare served the Central, East, and Southwest regions until then. If your company drove Modivcare trips there, you now need a Verida agreement to keep doing Medicaid work. See [Georgia moves NEMT to one statewide broker](https://nemtguide.com/news/georgia-verida-statewide-broker/) for what changed.

| Region | Counties | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 3 | Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett |
| North | 34 | Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall |
| Central | 26 | Clayton, Henry, Bibb, Coweta |
| East | 47 | Chatham, Richmond, Clarke, Columbia |
| Southwest | 49 | Muscogee, Dougherty, Lowndes, Houston |

A member qualifies when they have no other way to reach a service Medicaid covers. Rides go to medical treatment, evaluations, and pickups of prescriptions or medical equipment. There is no copay. PeachCare for Kids members get rides through the same broker, and one escort aged 18 or older may ride free when medically necessary.

Members book at least three business days before a routine appointment, counting the day of the call but not the day of the appointment. Urgent care rides and [hospital discharges](https://nemtguide.com/guides/hospital-discharge-transportation/) are honored within three hours of the request.

Members covered only as Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) get no NEMT unless they also have full Medicaid, and Georgia Pathways to Coverage members get it only at ages 19 and 20.

The manual's ride types are minibus (which can include taxis), wheelchair van, stretcher van, sedan, public transit, and rideshare. Stretcher service is for members who travel lying down and need at least two people to move them.

## How to join Verida, Georgia's Medicaid broker

You do not enroll with Georgia Medicaid to give NEMT rides. The policy manual tells providers to arrange a service agreement with the broker for the regions they want to serve, and DCH says transportation providers must contact Verida. Verida uses four steps:

1. **Send the Request for Qualifications.** Fill out Verida's online form and send a driver list and a vehicle list with it. The form asks about your ownership, vehicles, drivers, hours, service area, service levels, and how many more trips you can take, plus any license revocations, felonies, or pending legal matters. If your region needs more providers, Verida calls you for an interview.
2. **Send your documents.** Verida asks for a current business license, proof of liability insurance, driver credentials, criminal background checks for all drivers, current drug screens for all owners and drivers, and a driving record for each driver.
3. **Pass inspections and training.** Once every document clears, each vehicle must pass a safety inspection. Drivers complete First Aid, CPR, defensive driving, passenger sensitivity and customer service, spill kit training, proper lifting, wheelchair securement, and driver orientation.
4. **Attend the owner orientation.** The owner attends a session on Verida's operating and contracting rules, then signs the provider contract.

Before signing, the broker also screens your company against the HHS OIG exclusion list, the federal System for Award Management, and the Social Security Death Master File, and repeats the Death Master File check every year. It sends each signed agreement and your driver records to DCH within five business days. See the [OIG exclusion list](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/oig-exclusion-list/) for how those checks work.

Verida's Georgia provider line is 877-236-1352 for all regions, and its claims line is 678-510-4600 (press 2). Each region has its own provider relations manager, listed on Verida's Georgia provider page. Our [Verida guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/verida/) covers the company across its other states.

## Licenses and registrations

### Your company

Form an LLC or corporation with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division, online through eCorp. Filing costs $110, including the $10 service charge, under the fee schedule effective September 6, 2025. Online filings are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days, and paper filings within about 15. Review in two business days costs $120 more.

An LLC files its first annual registration between January 1 and April 1 of the year after it forms, and a corporation within 90 days of forming. After that, both file between January 1 and April 1 every year, for $60 plus $25 if late. Miss it, and you have 60 days from the state's notice to file before it can dissolve the company. Reinstatement costs $260.

Get your employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS, which never charges for one. Then get a business license from your city or county. Verida asks for a current one. If a health plan or facility asks for an NPI, see [how to get an NPI number](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-an-npi-number-for-nemt/).

### Georgia Department of Public Safety

Georgia regulates for-hire passenger carriers through the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the broker keeps a copy of your DPS registration on file. DPS's own licensing guide lists:

| If you | You need |
|---|---|
| Carry only elderly or disabled riders, 10 or fewer at a time, in non-emergency vehicles within Georgia | A Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) registration from DPS |
| Carry 11 or more passengers for hire within Georgia | A DPS passenger permit (form DPS TR0009) |
| Drive a vehicle built for 16 or more people, driver included | A CDL with a passenger endorsement from the Department of Driver Services |

GIMC covers trips that stay in Georgia. A carrier that takes passengers across state lines needs operating authority and a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and registers under the federal Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) plan instead of GIMC. A GIMC registration needs:

- A valid USDOT number registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The online form also asks for your EIN and each vehicle's VIN.
- A Form E filed with DPS by your insurance company, not your agent, showing your liability and property damage coverage.
- A signed, notarized affidavit under the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, with a copy of a secure and verifiable ID.
- Proof of a DPS-approved motor carrier safety seminar from the last 12 months. DPS's own option is two training videos: watch both, check the certification box, and print the page as proof. The Georgia Motor Trucking Association offers a course that may carry a fee.
- The fee for the 2026 registration year: $5 per vehicle for a new applicant or a renewal filed before January 1, and $25 per vehicle after that, paid by credit card, money order, or certified bank check.

Apply online, then send the documents to the DPS UCR-GIMC Section (844-238-8097) by mail, email, or fax. The registration is not active until DPS has every document and the full fee.

The passenger permit takes longer: about 9 to 12 weeks, for a $75 fee. DPS inspects each vehicle before you start and every year after. Owners submit a background check (a Georgia Crime Information Center check for Georgia residents), a certified three-year driving record, and the company's formation papers, and attend a DPS training class. You cannot run trips until the permit arrives. Permit holders that operate only in Georgia also register their vehicles for GIMC.

DPS rule 570-38-4-.06 links the two agencies: DPS will not authorize a non-emergency medical carrier until it shows it complies with the DCH manual. For the layers of licensing NEMT companies deal with in every state, see [NEMT license requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-license-requirements/).

## Vehicle rules

The DCH manual sets the vehicle rules the broker enforces. The broker inspects each vehicle before it enters service, no earlier than 60 days before, and again at least every six months. A vehicle found out of compliance comes out of service until DCH clears it in writing. A vehicle with two or more rider complaints about cleanliness, heat, or air conditioning within five days must be inspected and fixed.

Every vehicle needs:

- A two-way communication system linking it to your office. Pagers do not count.
- Working heat, air conditioning, speedometer, odometer, and interior lights.
- A clean, working seat belt for every seat, two seat belt extensions, and a seat belt cutter mounted above the driver's door.
- Child safety seats or boosters for children under 8, as Georgia law requires.
- Two outside mirrors and an inside mirror for watching the passenger area.
- Anti-skid rubber flooring or carpet, and seats with no tears or sharp edges.
- Fire extinguishers of at least 2.5 pounds each, 5 pounds in total, with a current inspection tag, within the driver's reach.
- Three reflective triangles (flares are not allowed), a first aid kit, and a spill kit.
- A retractable step or an approved step stool when riders must step up to board. A milk crate is never allowed.
- Your company name, vehicle number, and the broker's phone number inside, your company name outside as DPS requires, and signs for no smoking, no eating or drinking, and seat belts.
- A packet with the registration, insurance card, and accident forms, and a DCH-approved map of the region.

Wheelchair vans must meet ADA rules. They need at least 56 inches from floor to ceiling in the passenger area, an interlock that keeps the van from moving while the lift or ramp is out, and an ADA tiedown at each wheelchair position.

Run through our [vehicle inspection checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-inspection-checklist/) before each broker inspection. For vehicle types in general, see [NEMT vehicle requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-vehicle-requirements/).

## Driver rules and training

Georgia's manual sets these minimums for every driver:

- At least 21, with a valid Georgia license or a license from the bordering state where the driver lives.
- No conviction for a sexual crime or a crime of violence, for drivers and attendants alike.
- No DUI conviction in the five years before hire. A felony conviction in the last five years needs review by the broker and DCH first.
- No suspended or revoked license in the last five years. A suspension for unpaid child support is the exception, once the court releases it and the driver stays in good standing for 90 days.
- Two at-fault moving violations or accidents on NEMT trips take a driver out of service. One failure to secure a wheelchair does too, until you show proof of retraining.

Federal law also requires your company to have a process for dealing with any violation of a state drug law, and one for telling the Medicaid program each driver's driving history, traffic violations included.

Before driving, each driver completes driver training, first aid, and spill kit and biohazard training, and keeps each certificate current. Driver training covers passenger assistance, safety and sensitivity, and defensive driving. The manual allows 90 days from assignment for a driver who has not had it, but Verida's steps put training before the contract.

On the job, drivers wear a company ID badge or uniform, never wear headphones, and follow the Hands-Free Georgia Act. They do not smoke, eat, or drink in the vehicle. They get out to open doors, help riders to the main door, and confirm each rider is inside before they drive away.

The broker keeps a file on every driver: date of birth, Social Security number, a license copy, a three-year driving record, the background check, training certificates, and any complaints, accidents, or moving violations. Our [driver file checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-file-checklist/) tracks them.

## Trip rules and how you get paid

Your service agreement carries the state's service standards:

- **Pickup.** Arrive on time. The rider does not have to board before the scheduled time, and you do not have to wait more than 10 minutes past it. A pickup more than 15 minutes off the stated time is not on time.
- **Delays.** Call waiting riders when you run late. Once a vehicle is 20 minutes late, the broker must have a backup in place within 30 minutes.
- **Returns.** Pick up a return ride within one hour of the call. See [will-call trips](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/).
- **Shared rides.** No rider stays in the vehicle more than 45 minutes longer than a direct trip would take.
- **Dialysis.** Ambulatory service is curb to curb, wheelchair service is door to door, and stretcher service is bed to bed or treatment chair. The dialysis staff take over when you arrive.

The broker reports each trip to DCH as an encounter claim, with a two-letter [origin and destination modifier](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/origin-destination-modifiers/) on each code for trips other than pharmacy trips (RP is residence to physician's office). Claims for ambulatory van (A0120), wheelchair van ([A0130](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/a0130/)), T2005, and volunteer (A0080) trips must carry the appointment time, scheduled pickup, actual pickup, and actual drop-off. Record all four on your [trip log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-trip-log-template/). NEMT is not on Georgia's electronic visit verification (EVV) list, which covers personal support, community living support, pediatric personal care, and home health services.

Georgia does not set provider rates. Verida negotiates each provider's rate and payment dates in the service agreement. If the agreement has none, the broker must pay an undisputed invoice within 15 business days of receiving it.

The manual protects providers in three more ways:

- **No-shows.** When a rider fails to board, the broker pays you for the first leg of the trip, as long as you arrived on time. See [no-shows](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/no-show/).
- **Insurance offers.** If the broker offers you insurance, it cannot take the premiums out of your payments.
- **Terminations.** If the broker ends your agreement, you have 15 calendar days from the written notice to ask for a review.

## Insurance requirements

Verida's provider relations managers give the final limits for Georgia. Its general checklist:

| Item | What Verida looks for |
|---|---|
| Insurance company | Rated A- or better |
| General liability | Policy number and dates, and what Verida lists as "$1 M SAM coverage with $2M aggregate" |
| Auto liability | Policy number and dates, with every vehicle listed and all owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles covered |

Ask your regional manager to confirm each limit in writing before you buy a policy. For what brokers ask for elsewhere, see [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

DPS has its own rules. DPS rule 570-38-4-.04 sets minimum limits for passenger carriers, and its rules count non-emergency medical carriers as passenger carriers. The limits depend on how many seats the vehicle has:

| Limit | 12 or fewer | Over 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Injury to one person | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| All injuries in one accident | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| Damage to others' property | $50,000 | $50,000 |

DPS will not accept coverage in someone else's name or held jointly. A DPS certificate is void while the required coverage lapses.

Georgia requires workers' compensation once you regularly employ three or more people, part-time workers included. In an LLC or corporation, officers and members count toward the three. Up to five of them can waive coverage for themselves on form WC-10, but they still count. A sole proprietor is an employer, not an employee, unless they choose to be covered.

## What it costs and how long it takes

These are the fees Georgia sets as of September 2026, with GIMC fees for the 2026 registration year. Vehicles, insurance premiums, and equipment depend on your quotes. See [what it costs to start a NEMT business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-nemt-business/) for those.

| Item | Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | Free | IRS |
| LLC or corporation filing | $110, with the service charge | Secretary of State |
| Annual registration | $60 a year, $25 more if late | Secretary of State |
| GIMC registration | $5 per vehicle, $25 for a late renewal | DPS |
| Passenger permit (11 or more passengers only) | $75 | DPS |

A workable order, from first call to first trip:

1. **Call Verida's provider relations manager for your region.** Ask where Verida needs more providers and which service levels it is short on.
2. **Form your company** and get your EIN.
3. **Get your city or county business license.**
4. **Buy insurance** that meets Verida's checklist, and have your insurer file Form E with DPS.
5. **Register with DPS.** Watch the DPS training videos, get a USDOT number, and file for GIMC, or apply for a passenger permit if you need one.
6. **Equip your vehicles** to the manual's list.
7. **Hire drivers** who meet the state rules. Run background checks, drug screens, and driving records.
8. **Send the Request for Qualifications.** If Verida calls, send your documents, pass the inspection, train your drivers, and attend the owner orientation.

Two steps set the pace. Verida adds providers only where it needs them, and it inspects vehicles no more than 60 days before they enter service. For the same steps in any state, see [how to start a NEMT business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-start-a-nemt-business/).

## Work beyond Medicaid

Three other sources of rides are worth a call.

- **DHS Coordinated Transportation.** The Georgia Department of Human Services runs its own ride system for clients of DHS, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. It buys rides through contracts in 12 regions, often through a lead contractor such as a Regional Commission, and each region's committee reviews its contractors every year. Verida is the DHS broker for Region 1. Its terms for private subcontractors, dated September 2025, ask for $3 million in auto liability for vehicles with 15 or fewer seats, a $2 million umbrella, and workers' compensation.
- **Veterans.** The VA pays for special mode transportation, a specially equipped vehicle, when a VA provider decides a veteran's condition requires it and the trip is approved in advance. Ask the beneficiary travel contact at your nearest VA health facility how it books these rides.
- **Facilities and private pay.** Dialysis centers, hospitals, and senior living communities, along with riders who pay for themselves, add work that does not depend on one broker. Medicaid hospital discharges still go through Verida. See [how to get NEMT facility contracts](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-nemt-facility-contracts/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a license to run a NEMT business in Georgia?

Yes. Register with the Georgia Department of Public Safety before you carry riders for pay. DPS lists a Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) registration for companies that carry only elderly or disabled riders, 10 or fewer at a time, within Georgia. Vehicles for 11 or more passengers need a DPS passenger permit. You also need a local business license, which Verida asks for before it contracts with you.

### Who is the Medicaid NEMT broker in Georgia?

Verida, formerly Southeastrans. Since April 1, 2026 it arranges Medicaid rides in all five Georgia regions: North, Atlanta, Central, East, and Southwest. Modivcare covered the Central, East, and Southwest regions until then. Members book through Verida, and Verida assigns each trip to a provider it has contracted.

### Do I enroll with Georgia Medicaid to give NEMT rides?

No. Georgia's NEMT policy manual tells transportation providers to arrange a service agreement with the broker for the regions they want to serve, and the Department of Community Health says providers must contact Verida. Verida checks your company and drivers against the federal exclusion lists and sends your signed agreement to the state.

### How much does Verida pay per trip in Georgia?

Georgia does not set a per-trip rate for providers. The state pays Verida a monthly rate for each eligible member, and Verida negotiates a rate with each provider in its service agreement. State rules protect your cash flow: undisputed invoices are due within 15 business days unless your agreement sets other terms, and the broker pays for the first leg when a rider fails to board and you arrived on time.

### How long does it take to start a NEMT business in Georgia?

Mostly as long as Verida takes. Online company filings are generally processed in 7 to 10 business days, and a GIMC registration is active once DPS has every document and the full fee. A passenger permit, needed only for 11 or more passengers, takes about 9 to 12 weeks. Verida gives no timeline, adds providers only where a region needs them, and inspects each vehicle no more than 60 days before it enters service.

### Can I start a Georgia NEMT business with one van?

Yes, if Verida needs more rides where you are. The state manual lists minibuses, wheelchair vans, stretcher vans, and sedans as ride types, and Verida contracts ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher service. A single van still has to carry the full equipment list and pass the broker's inspection, and every driver must meet the state rules.

### Does Georgia Pathways cover NEMT rides?

Only for members aged 19 and 20. Georgia's NEMT policy manual says Pathways to Coverage does not cover non-emergency medical transportation for its other members. Verida checks each member's eligibility when a ride is requested.

## Official resources

- [Georgia Medicaid: NEMT program and broker](https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/non-emergency-medical-transportation)
- [Georgia Medicaid provider manuals (NEMT Part II manual)](https://www.mmis.georgia.gov/portal/PubAccess.Provider%20Information/Provider%20Manuals/tabId/17/Default.aspx)
- [Verida: Georgia transportation providers and regional contacts](https://verida.com/georgia-providers/)
- [Verida: Request for Qualifications form](https://verida.com/provider-request-for-qualifications-form/)
- [Georgia DPS: Which license or registration you need](https://www.gamccd.net/lpcwhatdoineed.aspx)
- [Georgia DPS: GIMC registration](https://www.gamccd.net/UCR/UCRGa.aspx)
- [Georgia DPS: GIMC training videos](https://www.gamccd.net/training/index.html)
- [Georgia Secretary of State: Online business filings](https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/)
- [Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation: Insurance FAQs](https://sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-insurance-faqs)
- [IRS: Get an employer identification number](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number)