Indiana is an at-fault (tort) state with 25/50 + PD 25k minimum liability. Here's exactly what the law demands, what it costs to ignore it, and how SR-22 filings work — with statutes cited.
| Coverage IN law requires | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability — per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability — per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury ($25,000/$50,000) and property damage ($25,000) plus underinsured motorist bodily injury ($50,000) must be included in every newly written policy unless rejected in writing (IC 27-7-5; Indiana DOI) | Uninsured motorist bodily injury ($25,000/$50,000) and property damage ($25,000) plus unde |
Effective Current limits in force since July 1, 2018, when the property damage minimum rose from $10,000 to $25,000 (IC 9-25-4-5, as amended by P.L.124-2016 and P.L.24-2017). Source: Indiana BMV - Proof of Financial Responsibility · Indiana Code Title 9, Article 25 (Financial Responsibility); minimum limits at IC 9-25-4-5
First offense: Operating without financial responsibility is a Class A infraction (IC 9-25-8-2). The BMV suspends driving privileges; for suspensions effective on or after Dec. 31, 2021 the suspension is indefinite but is stayed once the insurer files an SR22, and it terminates after 180 consecutive days of SR22 coverage. Reinstatement fee: $250 for a first violation.
Repeat offenses: A knowing or intentional violation with a prior conviction or judgment is a Class C misdemeanor (IC 9-25-8-2). Reinstatement fees escalate to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation (IC 9-25-6-15; BMV Driver's Manual Ch. 5).
License impact: Driving privileges (and potentially vehicle registration) are suspended until proof of future financial responsibility (SR22) is filed; letting the SR22 lapse during the required period triggers re-suspension (IC 9-25-6-3; Indiana BMV). Note: the older fixed 90-day/1-year suspension terms no longer appear in the current statute for BMV insurance suspensions. (source: Indiana BMV Driver's Manual Chapter 5; IC 9-25-6-3; IC 9-25-8-2; IC 9-25-6-15)
Indiana calls SR22 'proof of future financial responsibility' (a related form, the Certificate of Compliance, verifies past coverage for a specific accident or citation). For insurance-related suspensions the SR22 requirement is satisfied after 180 consecutive days of continuous coverage (Indiana BMV); 3-year and 5-year SR22 requirements still apply to certain other suspensions and court-related offenses, as referenced in the BMV's Out of State Residency Affidavit rules. Drivers without a vehicle can meet filing requirements through a non-owner policy (CarInsurance.com). Insurers must file electronically with the BMV, and an SR26 cancellation notice or lapse triggers re-suspension.
Typically required after: Suspension for driving without insurance / failure to provide proof of financial responsibility, Certain court-related offenses (e.g., serious violations such as OWI) as determined by the BMV, Specialized driving privileges (hardship licenses) granted during a suspension. Filing period: 3 years in most cases. Non-owner option: available — you can file without owning a car.
Need one filed? Our SR-22 service page explains the process; a licensed professional at (866) 370-6395 can usually file the same day.
Indiana is an at-fault (tort) state with no personal injury protection requirement; the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Optional medical payments coverage is available (Indiana DOI).
After an accident or certain traffic citations, the BMV may require your insurer to electronically file a Certificate of Compliance (COC) proving you were insured on the incident date; failure to file results in suspension (Indiana BMV; Indiana DOI).
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage must be included in every newly written Indiana auto policy unless the insured rejects it in writing (Indiana DOI).
License and registration consequences: Driving privileges (and potentially vehicle registration) are suspended until proof of future financial responsibility (SR22) is filed; letting the SR22 lapse during the required period triggers re-suspension (IC 9-25-6-3; Indiana BMV). Note: the older fixed 90-day/1-year suspension terms no longer appear in the current statute for BMV insurance suspensions.
After an accident or certain traffic citations, the BMV may require your insurer to electronically file a Certificate of Compliance (COC) proving you were insured on the incident date; failure to file results in suspension (Indiana BMV; Indiana DOI).
| City | Population | Median income | 30+ min commute | No-vehicle households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | 885,860 | $66,219 | 32.4% | 8.4% |
| Fort Wayne | 268,589 | $61,422 | 20.8% | 7.8% |
| Evansville | 116,116 | $53,387 | 17.4% | 10.2% |
| South Bend | 103,085 | $55,786 | 22.3% | 9.8% |
| Fishers | 102,337 | $130,203 | 45.5% | 2.7% |
| Carmel | 101,651 | $141,505 | 37.7% | 2.5% |
| Bloomington | 80,049 | $50,465 | 15.4% | 12.2% |
| Hammond | 76,768 | $55,504 | 35.4% | 8.3% |
| Noblesville | 73,362 | $104,047 | 42.3% | 2.0% |
| Lafayette | 71,159 | $53,716 | 10.3% | 11.0% |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates.
Evansville sits in Indiana's southwest pocket, where the Lloyd Expressway carries most of the daily load and US-41 runs south across the twin bridges into Henderson, Kentucky — a two-state commute plenty of locals make daily, with the insurance wrinkles that come with it. I-69 has rerouted regional trips, but Ohio River fog still settles over the bottomlands on fall mornings, and deer are constant company on the rural routes toward Posey and Warrick country. Summer brings severe storms and the occasional hail cell up the valley. Comprehensive coverage handles the deer and hail reality; a local agent can talk through UM limits for those river-crossing commutes.
This tri-state region runs on I-69, the Indiana Toll Road, and US-30's long straightaways, with US-31 threading South Bend and Mishawaka. The defining winter hazard is lake-effect snow: bands roll off Lake Michigan and bury South Bend, Elkhart, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek while Fort Wayne stays merely gray — whiteouts on the Toll Road and US-31 are a local rite of passage. Elkhart's RV industry keeps oversized loads and trailer traffic thick on area highways, and Goshen adds buggy country on county roads. Deer strikes across rural northern Indiana, northwest Ohio around Lima, and southwest Michigan make comprehensive coverage a practical default. Freeze-thaw potholes and icy bridge decks explain why collision deductibles deserve honest thought here.
Indy drives the I-465 loop like a conveyor belt, funnels through the rebuilt North Split downtown, and navigates Carmel's famous roundabouts on Keystone Parkway, which locals either love or merely tolerate. Race month turns the west side into a festival of traffic, and Lafayette, Bloomington, and Columbus commuters know their I-65, SR-37/I-69, and I-65 runs by heart. Spring brings hail and straight-line winds across central Indiana, the region's signature comprehensive claim, and winter adds ice and freeze-thaw potholes. Deer are thick on the wooded roads toward Bloomington and Muncie, another comprehensive exposure. An Indiana agent can help balance deductibles against a weather calendar that swings hard both directions.
885,860 residents
268,589 residents
116,116 residents
103,085 residents
102,337 residents
101,651 residents
80,049 residents
76,768 residents
73,362 residents
71,159 residents
68,113 residents
66,029 residents
64,751 residents
59,122 residents
58,427 residents
55,367 residents
54,677 residents
53,733 residents
51,824 residents
51,043 residents
51,021 residents
49,517 residents
45,159 residents
38,082 residents
Every legal claim on this page traces to:
Laws change. We refresh state pages on a rolling schedule and date-stamp every change; verify with your state before acting.