Guide to SR-22s in Indiana

An SR-22 is proof that you carry an insurance policy that meets Indiana’s minimum auto insurance requirements. To satisfy the SR-22 requirements, you must obtain the following coverage, at a minimum: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.¹

Although rates vary by carrier,  if you need to file an SR-22 in Indiana, you can expect your rates to increase by an average of 53 percent for full coverage and over 200 percent for minimum coverage, compared with having a clean record.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance

Even if you sell your car, you will need a non-owner policy to satisfy Indiana’s SR-22 requirements. A non-owner policy provides liability protection while you are driving a borrowed car or rental. Non-owner SR-22 insurance is generally less expensive than a standard policy, where there is full coverage of the car you would otherwise insure.

According to the Indiana BMV, you’ll need to get an SR-22 if you have at least one of the following incidents:

• 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, such as a misdemeanor or felony
• Any pointable violation by a driver the state previously suspended for failing to provide proof of financial responsibility

Whereas some states reserve SR-22 requirements for serious offenses such as DUI convictions, accidents involving bodily injury, and reckless driving, Indiana includes the incidents above to ensure risky drivers are adequately insured.

Here’s how to get an SR-22 to satisfy Indiana’s requirements:

1. Ask your insurance agent if your provider files SR-22s. If it doesn’t, shop around for a new insurer that does.²
2. Obtain the proper insurance to satisfy the requirements of $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 in coverage. If you financed or leased your car, your lender may require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage as well.
3. Pay for the insurance; the agent will file the SR-22 with the state’s BMV.
4. Log in to your myBMV account, call 888-692-6841 using the access code on your notice, mail it in using the coupon in the reinstatement notice, or visit a BMV Connect kiosk and pay the insurance reinstatement fees.³

Note that your SR-22 process is not complete until you pay the fees to the BMV in addition to the insurance cost. If you provide SR-22 insurance to the BMV for 180 consecutive days, there may not be reinstatement fees.⁴

There are two costs associated with the SR-22. The first is the cost of the insurance itself. Expect to pay more for insurance with an SR-22 than you would with a clean driving record. The average cost of SR-22 insurance in Indiana is $2,309 annually for full coverage and $843 for minimum coverage.

The other cost is the one-time fee filed with the certificate. Expect to pay up to $50 for the SR-22.

Typically, you need to maintain an SR-22 for at least three years, but the BMV will tell you exactly how long you need one.

If, for some reason, your carrier cancels the SR-22 during this time, the state will suspend your driving privileges again. When a policy is canceled — for example, for nonpayment — the BMV receives a notice of cancellation, called an SR-26, from your insurance carrier. According to the BMV, you cannot cancel an SR-22 without giving proper notice to the BMV to ensure you have met the proof-of-insurance requirements.

SR-22 insurance itself doesn’t cover a specific vehicle. Rather, it is a certification that proves you carry the required liability coverage. If you purchase non-owner SR-22 insurance, it can cover any car you drive, as long as you don’t own the vehicle and it’s not part of your household. However, for owner SR-22 insurance, the coverage applies only to your own car, unless you add coverage for other vehicles you may drive.

Although you should always consider price when shopping for car insurance, it’s even more important when you require an SR-22 because the costs increase quite a bit. Here are some tips for how to get cheap auto insurance in Indiana when you have an SR-22.

1. Look for a carrier that specializes in high-risk policies. Some insurers are better at handling SR-22s because they specialize in high-risk drivers. You can save a lot on your policy by shopping around for the best high-risk carrier. Progressive, Auto-Owners, and State Farm tend to have competitive rates for drivers with SR-22s in Indiana.
2. Ask about pay-per-mile insurance. If you don’t drive regularly, a pay-per-mile plan can save you a lot of money. This type of plan bases your premium on your mileage rather than on averages, and it can be much more cost-effective for some drivers.
3. Get the state’s minimum coverage. By choosing a liability-coverage-only policy, you don’t insure the vehicle. This type of policy satisfies the SR-22 requirements and helps you save money but provides less coverage. Note that your lender may require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage if you leased or financed your vehicle.
4. Maintain a clean driving record. The SR-22 is required due to past driving violations, so avoid actions that could extend the requirement and raise your insurance costs further. Keeping your record free of new violations will help prevent even higher premiums.

Indiana’s minimum insurance requirements are as follows:

• $25,000 in bodily injury per person
• $50,000 in bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 in property damage per accident

The minimum liability protection satisfies state laws for coverage. Newly written policies in Indiana will also include uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage liability, as well as underinsured bodily injury, unless you reject this coverage in writing.

If you have had a serious traffic infraction or accident in Indiana, you need an SR-22 to drive legally again. An SR-22 tells the state you have the required insurance to meet the state’s minimum requirements. Expect to pay more for an insurance policy with an SR-22 than you would with a clean driving record. To lower your rates, compare quotes from at least three insurers, consider adjusting your coverage, and do your best to maintain a clean driving record moving forward.