Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Indiana (2024)

If you commit a serious driving offense in Indiana, the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles may require you to get an SR-22 certificate, which serves as proof that you meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements. Needing an SR-22 may increase the cost of your insurance premiums and could even make it more difficult to find coverage. The good news is many insurers in Indiana offer this type of coverage.

What is SR-22 insurance in Indiana, and when do you need it?

An SR-22 isn’t actually a type of insurance but a certificate of financial responsibility. Many states require certain drivers to file this form (or for their insurance company to file it on their behalf) to prove they meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements.

In Indiana, “an SR-22 is often required by the court for offenses like driving without insurance, causing multiple accidents, or DUIs,” says Jesse Cunningham, an insurance agent and owner of Mountain View Insurance Solutions.

Insurance violations that may require an SR-22 include driving without insurance and failing to file insurance with the Indiana BMV. Upon conviction, your driver’s license will be suspended and only reinstated once an insurance company files an SR-22 on your behalf.

If the BMV receives an SR-26 — which is the form that indicates your insurance has been canceled — on your behalf, your license will again be suspended.^[1]

Indiana also requires SR-22s for drivers who have been granted specialized driving privileges. These privileges may be available to suspended drivers who can demonstrate a reason why they need relief.^[2]

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How can you get SR-22 insurance in Indiana?

Getting car insurance when you need an SR-22 isn’t all that different from shopping for insurance in any other situation. The difference is that you’ll have to let the insurance company know about your SR-22 requirement so it can file the form with the Indiana BMV. If you already have insurance when the requirement is imposed, you can simply contact your insurer to let them know.

How long is an SR-22 required in Indiana?

The length of time you’ll need an SR-22 depends on when you received your conviction. If you received your conviction before Dec. 31, 2021, you’ll need an SR-22 for three years for a first or second offense and five years for a third or subsequent offense. But if your conviction occurred on or after Dec. 31, 2021, you’ll only need an SR-22 for 180 continuous days.

It’s important to note that if your license has been suspended for driving without insurance, you can’t simply wait out the suspension to avoid needing an SR-22. These suspensions are indefinite as of Dec. 31, 2021. The only way to have your license reinstated is to have SR-22 coverage for 180 days.^[1]

If you’re required to have an SR-22 for specialized driving privileges, then your requirement extends until the end of when your license would have otherwise been suspended.^[2]

The amount of time depends on the offense, but suspensions eligible for specialized driving privileges can last up to 10 years.

How much is SR-22 insurance in Indiana?

You’ll pay a small fee to file an SR-22 with the Indiana BMV. While your insurance company will pay this fee when it files the form, it’ll typically then charge you for that amount. This fee is usually around $25, though it may vary depending on the state and the insurance company. The insurance company may charge you this fee up front or add it to your policy premium.

Learn More: How Much Is Car Insurance? Average Costs

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Indiana

Needing an SR-22 may increase your insurance premiums. But it’s still possible to find cheap car insurance, even with an SR-22 requirement. For example, Auto-Owners offers policies starting at $35 a month.

Cheapest insurance companies in Indiana with SR-22 by city

The cost of car insurance with an SR-22 may also vary by city. For example, a policy from GEICO costs $9 more per month in Indianapolis than in Lafayette.

How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Indiana

Unfortunately, SR-22 insurance can significantly increase your monthly car insurance premiums. But according to Cunningham, that has more to do with the underlying offense than it does with the requirement for an SR-22 certificate.

“Typically, the insurance company charges you the court filing fee but does not increase insurance rates due to the SR-22 requirement,” Cunningham says. “Rather, it’s the driving offense that leads to the SR-22 requirement that increases premiums.”

Let’s say you get a DUI in Indiana and qualify for specialized driving privileges. You’ll be required to submit an SR-22 to maintain those driving privileges. Your insurance company will pass along the fee to file the form.

But the bigger impact on your insurance costs will be the DUI itself. While the average increase in insurance premiums after a DUI varies depending on where you live and your other circumstances, the average increase nationwide is about $264 per month, according to Insurify data.

Luckily, you still have a few ways to save money on insurance:^[3]

• Shop around for coverage. The quotes you get for SR-22 insurance could vary significantly from one company to the next. Make sure to shop around with several companies to make sure you’re getting the best premium.

• Take advantage of discounts. Most insurance companies offer discounts for everything from bundling your policies to driving a new car to paying your premiums up front.

• Raise your deductible. The higher your deductible — meaning the out-of-pocket amount you’re responsible for paying after you file a claim — the lower your premium. Just make sure to set your deductible at an amount you can afford if you’re in an accident and need to file a claim.

• Drive safely. While driving safely won’t eliminate your requirement for an SR-22, it will keep your premiums from increasing even more and can help lower them in the future.

Indiana SR-22 insurance FAQs