Indiana BMV identifies minimum liability limits of 25/50/25. IDOI says newly written auto liability policies include UM/UIM unless rejected in writing. A Certificate of Compliance proves coverage for a specified incident; an SR22 addresses future proof.
Key takeaways
- Read injury-per-person, injury-per-accident and property limits separately.
- Keep UM/UIM declarations and written rejection records together.
- An insurance card, incident COC and future SR22 do different jobs.
- Compare the same coverage and policy period; verify exceptions in the actual forms.
On this page
Coverage requirements at a glance
| Coverage | Amount or rule | Scope and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | BMV lists 25/50/25 for ordinary Indiana auto liability.
| Vehicle/operator coverage scope; do not apply personal-auto minimum to every commercial use. Original legal effective date not established from the retrieved page; recheck current law and policy cohort before approval/publication. |
Indiana shopping starts with the liability limits, but the paperwork deserves equal attention. A policy can be active while a requested BMV filing is still missing. Use this guide to separate protection, proof and the questions your insurer should answer. It addresses ordinary personal auto arrangements; specialized vehicles and business use need a separate check.
Indiana liability limits and what they protect
Indiana BMV lists minimum liability limits of $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These are three separate limits, often written 25/50/25. See BMV’s financial-responsibility explanation.
IDOI’s filing standards apply 25/50/25 to policies issued or renewed after June 30, 2017. That policy date is different from the date you read a webpage; older accident and policy records require their own analysis.
Hypothetical: three limits in one crash
Assume you are liable for covered damages, two injured people have accepted losses of $32,000 and $28,000, and another person’s car has $31,000 damage. Ignore exclusions, defense costs, disputes and other insurance for this teaching example.
| Loss | Assumed covered damages | Amount within the illustrated limit | Amount beyond that limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| First person’s injury | $32,000 | $25,000 | $7,000 |
| Second person’s injury | $28,000 | $25,000 | $3,000 |
| Others’ property | $31,000 | $25,000 | $6,000 |
The injury payments reach the $50,000 accident cap. In this simplified calculation, $16,000 remains beyond the policy limits. An unused property allowance could not fix an injury shortfall. These are hypothetical losses, not premiums or a settlement forecast. Ask what a larger limit would change before treating a minimum policy as sufficient for your situation.
UM/UIM: keep the selection records
IDOI’s auto guidance says newly written liability policies include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unless rejected in writing. It lists UM injury 25/50, UM property $25,000 and UIM injury $50,000. Do not read that single UIM figure as a promised per-person/accident split; request the actual limit structure and forms.
A COC is different from an SR22
BMV’s proof guidance distinguishes a Certificate of Compliance, documenting coverage for a requested incident, from SR22 future proof. Have the insurer respond to the actual notice; replacing the filing with an insurance card or sending it to IDOI does not meet that request.
The same BMV page recognizes organizations or companies holding a current self-insurance certificate. That is an approved arrangement, not permission for an ordinary driver to use personal savings instead of coverage.
Your proof worksheet
| Question | Document to locate | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Is this about a past incident? | BMV notice and policy for that date | Correct incident, vehicle and COC submission |
| Is future proof requested? | Reinstatement instructions and SR22 record | Required period and insurer filing |
| Is coverage changing? | Old and replacement declarations | Exact effective times and required filings |
| Is an alternative arrangement claimed? | Current agency certificate | Eligibility and the covered vehicles |
Keep the notice and filing confirmation together. Ask BMV about an administrative requirement and the insurer about the coverage shown in its records.
Medical bills and vehicle damage are separate questions
IDOI describes medical payments for insured occupants subject to policy limits. Its coverage explanation also separates collision from other covered vehicle losses. Ask which protection addresses your own injury and car, rather than assuming the liability numbers answer both.
For a second hypothetical, assume purchased comprehensive coverage accepts a $3,600 repair and a $600 deductible applies, with no other adjustments. The illustrated payment is $3,000; the deductible is $600. Use the deductible calculator with actual alternatives from your insurer. The example does not establish that a specific event is covered or that a particular deductible is offered.
Compare policies and respond to notices
IDOI recommends comparing quotes on the same basis. Its consumer page describes cancellation restrictions after a new policy’s first 60 days and advance nonrenewal notice, and directs drivers having difficulty finding insurance to an Indiana agent for the Indiana Auto Insurance Plan. Get the reason, policy history and current procedure checked; a summary does not decide whether your notice or application qualifies.
| Record for both quotes | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Drivers, vehicles, use and policy dates | Are both quotes describing the same risk and period? |
| Three liability limits | Where would the hypothetical crash exceed them? |
| UM/UIM and rejection forms | Which benefits were retained, and on what terms? |
| Medical and vehicle protection | What is included, excluded or subject to a deductible? |
| Premium, installments and fees | What is the total for the same period? |
The coverage needs checklist helps collect questions; it does not choose your limits.
Official help and Indiana driver checklist
IDOI’s complaint instructions ask consumers to contact the company first, then provide policy and dispute documentation if unresolved. Its jurisdiction is limited; policies issued elsewhere may belong with another regulator.
- Check the three liability limits and policy dates.
- Locate UM/UIM selections and written rejections.
- Read any BMV notice and verify the required filing separately from the insurance card.
- Record household drivers, delivery/business use and exclusions honestly.
- Keep replacement coverage and filing confirmations with the old policy records.
- Save notices and ask the relevant agency about the current process.
The state requirements lookup keeps unapproved state information unavailable.
Questions Indiana drivers ask
Does an active policy prove I filed a COC?
No. Policy coverage and the requested administrative filing are separate records. Ask the insurer for the actual submission confirmation.
Does the minimum policy repair my car?
Do not assume so. Compare your purchased vehicle coverages, exclusions and deductibles separately from liability to others.
Can I rely on a temporary disaster bulletin for any cancellation?
Do not assume a dated, event-specific measure applies to your notice. Ask IDOI about the affected event, policy and current relief. No temporary measure is represented here as a permanent statewide rule.
Research scope and effective dates
AutoCoverCompass supplies independent education, not individualized insurance or legal advice.
Sources & references
Use these references to verify the information in this guide.
Policy terms and state requirements can change. Verify details with official sources and a licensed professional. Read our editorial standards.