Indiana Auto Insurance Guide

Whether you’re heading for South Bend to catch the Fighting Irish, traveling to the Brickyard for the Indie 500 or cruising along Lake Michigan’s waterfront, the Hoosier State offers miles of open road and great daytrips. From Gary to Evansville, Terre Haute to Richmond, sightseeing or commuting, car insurance is crucial to being a responsible Indiana driver.

 

Auto Insurance Resources for IN State Residents

As of 2010, there are over 4.5 million licensed drivers in the Hoosier State. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 14% of Indiana’s drivers are uninsured. In 2008, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, there were 205,451 auto accidents, 722 were fatal, with alcohol responsible for about 31% of the fatal accidents. The leading cause of non-fatal car accidents was failure to yield right of way, followed by tailgating. Uninsured, reckless and alcohol-impaired drivers are all good reasons to be sure you have enough car insurance while living and driving in the Hoosier State.

 

Indiana State Minimum Car Insurance

Indiana state law requires you to carry a minimum amount of car insurance or face severe penalties. Indiana has a tort-based system. If you cause an accident, you can be sued. While Indiana does not require you to carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, additional personal liability or Collision and Comprehensive, if you own property or other valuable assets, you would be wise to supplement the minimum requires shown below:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $50,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability

 

Indiana Car Insurance Laws

Indiana requires that you carry proof of Indiana auto insurance in your vehicle and produce it if a law enforcement officer asks to see it. The penalty for driving without minimum Indiana car insurance is a Class A infraction, which can carry a 90-day suspension of your driver’s license and may also result in suspension of your vehicle registration for a first offense. Reinstating your license will cost $150. A second offense within 3 years can mean a 1-year suspension of your license and registration, with a $225 reinstatement fee. You will also be required to keep an SR-22 proof of insurance form on file for 3 years. Insurance violations also go on your driving record and can result in higher insurance premiums.

Indiana has an Electronic Insurance Forms Submission program that requires your car insurance company to electronically submit your insurance information to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Unless you have proof of minimum coverage on file, you will not be able to register a vehicle or renew registration.

 

Regulating Agency and References

Indiana Department of Insurance
This is agency is responsible for regulating vehicle insurance policies sold in Arkansas. For more information, visit their website at www.in.gov/idoi/

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
This is the agency responsible for licensing drivers and registering vehicles. You can learn more about Indiana auto insurance requirements, penalties and related information at www.in.gov/bmv/

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
This is an organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. NAIC provides a forum for the development of uniform policies when appropriate. NAIC members are elected or appointed state government officials who regulate the conduct of insurance companies and agents in their respective states or territories. Visit NAIC at http://www.naic.org

Insurance Information Institute (III)
This organization’s mission is to improve public understanding of insurance – what it is and how it works. Visit III at http://www.iii.org/

 

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