Penalties for driving without insurance in Indiana

Almost all states require some level of car insurance to drive legally. If you are found to be driving without insurance in Indiana, you could face fines, license suspension and other penalties. We’ve broken down what you need to know about driving without insurance in IN, including penalties, minimum coverage requirements, optional coverage types to consider and why car insurance is worth it, especially if you cause an accident.
Minimum insurance required in Indiana
Indiana law requires all vehicles to be insured and all drivers to carry proof of insurance while driving, which can include electronic proof on your phone or tablet. To legally drive, the following Indiana minimum car insurance coverage is required:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 of property damage liability coverage
- $25,000 of uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 of uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 of uninsured motorist property damage
By law, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage must be offered by insurance providers, but you can choose to waive that requirement in writing. Even so, you may want to consider keeping it, as it could pay off if someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough liability coverage to pay for your damages.
Most insurance experts recommend keeping uninsured motorist coverage along with maintaining higher levels of liability coverage to help avoid the potential pitfalls of being underinsured in the event of a costly accident.
Although minimum coverage is generally the cheapest option when you are purchasing car insurance, there are a number of insurers who offer affordable policies in Indiana. When shopping for the best policy for your needs, it can be a good idea to ask for quotes from a range of likely insurance companies to see which company offers the best deal for your coverage needs and budget.
Additional car insurance coverage to consider
It’s a good idea to discuss your coverage needs with your insurance agent to ensure your policy protects your finances and meets your needs. Here are some other coverage options that may be beneficial to keep or add to your car insurance policy:
- Medical payments coverage: This may provide payments towards you and your passenger’s medical-related expenses regardless of who is at fault for the accident. MedPay coverage may be a good fit if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).
- Collision coverage: This may pay to repair damage to your vehicle from a collision you cause, a single-vehicle rollover or a hit-and-run (if you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage). Collision pays up to the car’s actual cash value (ACV), may be subject to a deductible and may not require a determination of fault to apply.
- Comprehensive coverage: This doesn’t apply to typical collisions; however it may pay to repair your vehicle for damage outside your control, such as hail, fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects and windshield replacement. Comprehensive pays up to the car’s actual cash value (ACV) and may be subject to a deductible.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Indiana
There are a few situations where the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) can request an electronic filing of a Certificate of Compliance (COC), such as a misdemeanor or felony traffic violation or an accident. Your insurer must submit this form on your behalf, showing that you are meeting Indiana’s financial responsibility requirements. If you did not have an active insurance policy on the requested date, there can be significant penalties, some of which we have outlined below.
SR-22 form
This form is a certificate of future compliance with Indiana’s minimum insurance requirements. The SR-22 must be filed with the BMV by your insurance company when your license has been suspended and must be in effect before an Indiana license can be reinstated. There are specific requirements for the length of time an SR-22 must remain in effect, depending on your circumstances.
First violation for driving without insurance
If caught driving without insurance for the first time in Indiana, you will likely have your driving privileges suspended for 90 days. Your insurer may also need to supply an SR-22 form to the BMV for up to three years.
Second and subsequent violations for driving without insurance
A second violation leads to more significant consequences. You’ll get a one-year license suspension, a $500 fine and a three-year requirement to file an SR-22. If you get a third and subsequent violation, the fine doubles to $1,000 and the SR-22 will be required for five years. Although these are the state’s outlined penalties, the courts do have some discretion.
Getting into an accident without insurance
Receiving a ticket for no insurance in Indiana can come with other penalties, including a license suspension, SR-22 requirement and fines. But you will likely face even more expensive consequences if you’re involved in an accident.
If you were at fault in a car accident without insurance in Indiana, you might be sued by the other driver, passengers and their insurance companies for personal injuries and property damage, which can lead to serious financial consequences. If applicable, you will also likely need to pay out of pocket for your own medical expenses and vehicle repair costs.
If you were not at fault for a car accident while driving without insurance in Indiana, the state’s “no pay, no play” law may limit the damages you can recover. Because you were uninsured at the time of the accident, the law may prevent you from recovering non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, even though the other driver was at fault.
Maintaining an active insurance policy, especially one with more than just the required limits, may help you better protect your financial future.