Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Indiana in 2025
State law in Indiana requires all motor vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance coverage before operating vehicles on public roadways. Indiana's mandatory insurance framework, established under Indiana Code Title 9 and administered by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, creates enforceable financial responsibility standards that apply to vehicle operation, registration transactions, and continuous coverage throughout the registration period.
Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage
Indiana's mandatory insurance framework prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle on public roadways without financial responsibility in effect. Indiana law states a person may not operate a motor vehicle in Indiana if financial responsibility is not in effect with respect to the motor vehicle operated, or the person is not otherwise insured to operate the motor vehicle. All motorists who operate a motor vehicle on Indiana roadways are required to maintain the state's minimum amount of liability insurance coverage for the vehicle they operate.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles administers the state's mandatory insurance program through BMV branches and service providers located throughout Indiana's 92 counties. The Bureau maintains authority to verify insurance coverage and suspend driving privileges for non-compliance with financial responsibility requirements.
Vehicle owners must maintain uninterrupted insurance coverage throughout the operation of their vehicles on Indiana roadways. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles is required to verify that all motorists have the minimum liability insurance coverage in effect whenever a vehicle operator is involved in an auto accident for which the BMV receives an accident report, a pointable moving violation within one year of receiving two other pointable moving violations, a serious traffic violation, or any pointable violation by a driver previously suspended for failing to provide proof of financial responsibility.
When any of the preceding situations occur, a request for financial responsibility verification will be sent to the motorist's mailing address on file with the Indiana BMV. The motorist must arrange for their insurance provider to file a Certificate of Compliance electronically with the Indiana BMV.
The Certificate of Compliance must be received and processed by the BMV within 90 days of the BMV's mailing of a request, or driving privileges will be suspended.
Once driving privileges are suspended, the suspension may be removed by having the insurance provider electronically provide the Certificate of Compliance covering the date of the incident or accident and the vehicle involved.
Failure to maintain required insurance coverage in Indiana may result in suspension of driving privileges and reinstatement requirements. If driving privileges are suspended upon conviction of certain court-related offenses or for insurance violations, Indiana law may require motorist to hold SR22 insurance to regain driving privileges. The SR22 requirement for insurance suspensions is satisfied after maintaining SR22 coverage for 180 consecutive days.
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (888) 692-6841
Official Website: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements
Indiana establishes specific minimum insurance coverage amounts that all policies must meet or exceed. The state of Indiana has a 25/50/25 minimum liability insurance requirement for all vehicles registered and operated in Indiana.
| Coverage Type | Statutory Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily Injury Liability per accident | $50,000 |
| Property Damage Liability per accident | $25,000 |
Bodily Injury Liability coverage pays, up to the limits of the policy, for injuries to other people caused by the policyholder with their vehicle.
Property Damage Liability coverage pays, up to the limits of the policy, for damage to other people's property caused by the policyholder's vehicle, including damage to or the destruction of property in one accident.
Indiana Department of Insurance
320 West Washington Street, Springfield, IL 62767
Phone: (317) 232-2385
Official Website: Indiana Department of Insurance
Proof of Insurance Documents
Indiana law requires every motor vehicle operator to maintain proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle during operation. Under Indiana law, all motorists operating motor vehicles on Indiana roadways must maintain the state's minimum amount of liability insurance coverage. The state accepts multiple formats of insurance documentation:
- Insurance Identification Card: Standard card issued by the insurance carrier containing the policy number, vehicle identification number, coverage type, effective dates, and named insured information
- Electronic Format: Electronic proof of financial responsibility displayed on portable electronic devices showing digital images of insurance documentation
- Certificate of Compliance: Electronic form filed by insurance providers with the Indiana BMV certifying financial responsibility following accidents or traffic violations
- SR22 Form: Proof of future financial responsibility filed electronically by insurance providers demonstrating coverage that meets the state's minimum standards
- Certificate of Self-Insurance: Certificate issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles for qualified self-insurers
The Certificate of Compliance is a form that must be filed by auto liability insurance agents after an accident or following a traffic violation. This form certifies financial responsibility and is required by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Insurance providers must submit proof of financial responsibility through the BMV's Electronic Insurance Forms Submission program, which allows electronic submission of SR22, SR26, SR50, and Certificate of Compliance forms.
Exceptions to Insurance Requirements
Indiana law provides specific statutory exemptions from mandatory insurance requirements for certain vehicle categories:
- Government-owned vehicles: Motor vehicles owned and operated by federal, state, or local government agencies may qualify for exemptions under specific provisions
- Farm vehicles: Farm trucks, farm trailers, and farm semitrailers registered with farm plates and operated exclusively within Indiana without crossing state lines may qualify for specific exemptions
- Self-insured entities: Qualified individuals or organizations holding valid certificates of self-insurance from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- Stored vehicles: Vehicles that are not operated on public roadways and remain in storage may suspend insurance coverage during non-operational periods
- Military personnel: Active-duty military members stationed outside Indiana may qualify for exemptions under specific circumstances when vehicles remain at their duty station
- Specific commercial vehicles: Certain commercial vehicles with alternative financial responsibility arrangements may qualify for exemptions
Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles verifies insurance coverage as a mandatory element of vehicle registration transactions. The Bureau maintains electronic systems to verify insurance coverage with authorized insurance carriers conducting business in Indiana.
- Registration applicants must provide proof of insurance during all new registration transactions. When completing new vehicle registrations, applicants must provide financial responsibility information to purchase a license plate and certificate of registration. Indiana residents must register all newly acquired, unregistered vehicles within 45 days after the date on which the vehicle was purchased or acquired.
- New residents relocating to Indiana must obtain Indiana-issued insurance coverage and complete vehicle registration within 60 days of establishing residency. When moving to Indiana, new residents have 60 days to apply for a vehicle title and transfer vehicle registration for all vehicles owned. New residents must provide proof of insurance when visiting a BMV branch to apply for Indiana certificate of title and registration.
- Registration renewals require active insurance coverage maintained throughout the registration period. If insurance has changed since the last registration transaction, vehicle owners must show proof of the new insurance when renewing registration. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles may request proof of financial responsibility at any time, and motorists are not relieved of this requirement following a conviction, even if the conviction is ordered expunged, vacated, or otherwise removed from the record.
