Indiana SR-22 Insurance: Requirements, Violations, Coverage Limits, Duration, Cost, Filing Fee
SR-22 insurance in Indiana is a certificate of financial responsibility, not a type of insurance. The SR-22 certificate proves to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) that a driver carries the state minimum liability coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Indiana requires an SR-22 after serious violations such as operating while intoxicated (OWI), driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, or multiple violations in a short period. The insurance company files the SR-22 with the BMV on the driver's behalf, and the filing fee ranges from $15 to $50. The requirement period depends on the violation: insurance-related suspensions on or after December 31, 2021 require 180 consecutive days of coverage with no lapses, older no-insurance suspensions require three to five years, and court-related convictions such as an OWI typically require three years. A lapse in coverage triggers a new license suspension, reinstatement fees that start at $250, and a restart of the filing process. Auto insurance with an SR-22 in Indiana costs about $1,400 to $1,700 per year, and premiums may decrease after the SR-22 requirement ends.
Indiana drivers convicted of serious traffic or insurance violations will most likely be required to file an SR-22 with their auto insurance company.
The SR in “SR-22” stands for “safety responsibility.” You want to make sure everything is filed correctly to avoid further penalties regarding your driving privileges.
What is SR-22 Insurance in Indiana?
SR-22 insurance isn’t a type of insurance but a certificate of financial responsibility. An SR-22 certificate serves as proof of insurance to the state of Indiana that you carry at least the mandatory minimum amount of insurance.
The State will likely require you to file an Indiana SR-22 form after a traffic violation that has resulted in a driver’s license suspension.
Drivers convicted of serious traffic violations must provide proof of auto insurance to restore their driving privileges.
An SR-22 certificate is submitted by your auto insurance company to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) at your request.
The SR-22 certificate is then attached to your car insurance policy, and to keep it active, you have to stay on time with your payments.
Indiana uses a second, related form called a Certificate of Compliance (COC). The BMV can request proof of financial responsibility after an accident or violation. The insurer must then file a COC electronically within 90 days of the BMV's mailed request. The BMV suspends driving privileges if the insurer misses the 90-day deadline. The SR-22 applies after a license suspension. The SR-22 proves future financial responsibility and supports license reinstatement.
Who Needs an Indiana SR-22 Form?
Not every driver in Indiana needs an SR-22 form, SR-22 filings are only for high-risk drivers. If you keep a clean driving record, you won’t have to go through the filing process.
SR-22 insurance in Indiana is often required after a major traffic violation conviction that has resulted in you losing your license. The state of Indiana will notify you if you need to purchase SR-22 insurance.
In the state of Indiana, an SR-22 will be required after committing one or more of the following traffic offenses:
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI or DUI)
Driving with a suspended license
Multiple traffic violations in a short period of time
Reckless driving conviction
Indiana drivers typically need to maintain their SR-22 for a specified period following a violation.
State Insurance Requirements in Indiana
SR-22 insurance proves to the state of Indiana that you carry at least the state minimum amount of auto insurance coverage required for all drivers.
This certificate of financial responsibility assures the state that you have adequate insurance coverage should you end up being responsible for an at-fault accident.
While meeting the minimum insurance requirements for Indiana is necessary, you should consider increasing your coverage limits for stronger protection.
Indiana law requires all drivers to carry 25/50/25 minimum liability coverage:
$25,000 for bodily injury liability coverage per person
$50,000 for bodily injury liability coverage per accident
$25,000 for property damage liability
All Indiana drivers must meet these minimum requirements. Indiana law also requires insurers to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in every newly written auto policy. A driver can reject this coverage only in writing. Drivers should consider coverage beyond the minimums. Higher limits, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage add protection.
How Long Do I Need to Carry SR-22 Insurance in Indiana?
The SR-22 requirement period in Indiana depends on the type of suspension on the driving record.
For insurance-related suspensions, such as driving without insurance, the Indiana BMV considers the SR-22 requirement satisfied after the driver maintains SR-22 coverage for 180 consecutive days with no lapses. No-insurance suspensions that took effect on or after December 31, 2021 are indefinite suspensions. Filing an SR-22 stays the suspension. Maintaining the SR-22 for 180 consecutive days ends the suspension.
Longer SR-22 periods apply in other situations. Older no-insurance suspensions carry a three-year requirement for a first or second suspension. Older no-insurance suspensions carry a five-year requirement for a third or subsequent suspension. Certain court-related convictions, such as an OWI, typically carry a three-year SR-22 requirement.
If you cancel your policy or let your coverage lapse before the required SR-22 time period, your insurer must notify the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
The Indiana BMV will most likely suspend your driver's license. You must then pay reinstatement fees. Reinstatement fees start at $250 for a first no-insurance suspension.
Your insurance provider will most likely drop your policy after a lapse. You will then need to shop for new SR-22 coverage.
A lapse costs the most for drivers on the 180-day track. The BMV places the suspension back into active status. The 180-day clock restarts once the driver files a new SR-22. For longer SR-22 requirements, driving privileges remain suspended until the BMV receives a new effective SR-22 or the requirement period expires. The driver also pays filing fees again with the new insurer.
After the SR-22 requirement period expires, you can ask your insurer to remove the SR-22 filing from your policy. The SR-26 form is the official cancellation notice that the insurer sends to the BMV. The BMV suspends driving privileges if the BMV receives an SR-26 before the requirement period ends. Confirm with the BMV that the requirement is complete before changing the policy..
How much does SR-22 Insurance Cost in Indiana?
Having to file an SR-22 certificate can increase your future insurance rates because you will be considered a high-risk driver. The average auto insurance rate with an SR-22 in Indiana runs around $1,400 to $1,700 per year. Recent rate analyses from Insure.com and Insurance.com report this range.
What each driver actually ends up paying every year, though, can vary depending on the insurer and the circumstances surrounding their violation.
Some violations are deemed more serious than others, leading to a greater increase in your rates.
An OWI conviction in Indiana raises auto insurance rates by about $470 per year on average. A speeding ticket adds roughly $294 per year.
No matter what, committing a major driving offense and being hit with an SR-22 requirement will increase your cost on your auto insurance policy significantly.
Some good news, though, is that after your SR-22 period ends, your auto insurance premiums may decrease.
You should also be prepared to pay a filing fee. Asking your insurance provider to file an SR-22 certificate on your behalf is, in many cases, not free. The SR-22 filing fee typically ranges from $15 to $50. The exact amount depends on the car insurance company.
Insurance Navy compares rates from some of the top Indiana auto insurance companies to give our customers the best coverage at the most affordable rates.
Read more about SR-22 from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Get Your Indiana SR-22 Insurance Quote Today
At Insurance Navy, our agents are here to help you find customized and affordable Indiana SR22 Insurance coverage that you need. Please reach out for a free quote online anytime, give us a call at 888-949-7873, or stop by one of our convenient locations to speak with an insurance agent. We look forward to speaking with you about Indiana SR-22 Insurance.
