Indiana High-Risk Auto Insurance Explained

Whether you’re heading back to school in Bloomington, for a night out on the town in Indianapolis, or to the Indiana Dunes National Park for a day of fun in the sun, it’s important to remember to always carry the minimum legal car insurance coverage in the state. Those caught driving without insurance may be deemed high-risk drivers, consequentially requiring high-risk car insurance policy in Indiana. 

Those with a history of driving without insurance or other traffic infractions may require a high-risk policy to get the necessary coverage. Keep reading to learn about high-risk insurance, who may need it, and how to find such a policy.

Auto insurance for high-risk drivers in Indiana isn’t actually a separate insurance policy or coverage but rather a category in which policyholders are placed by their insurers. Drivers in this category may have a poor driving record, a history of driving uninsured, or a history of filing several claims with their insurer.

When insurers bind policies, the premiums they assign to drivers are associated with the risk of the driver filing a claim. Insurers translate risk into high premiums, so the higher the risk of a driver filing a claim, the higher their premiums.  

Insurers consider both driving and non-driving factors when determining premiums. Some non-driving factors an insurer may use are a driver’s age, gender, or ZIP code, among several other factors. If any of these factors add up to a driver being at risk of filing a claim, even if they have a clean driving record, they may pay higher-than-average premiums.

For example, teenage boys are statistically highly likely to cause car accidents. Thus, many insurers consider these drivers high-risk, even if they don’t yet have a driving record, because of the risk associated with the gender and age group. 

While non-driving factors may play a part in one’s categorization as a high-risk driver, driving factors certainly play a more significant role. In Indiana, driving without insurance, violating several traffic laws, or otherwise driving recklessly are the most likely factors contributing to a driver requiring a high-risk policy. Typically, those with an SR-22 form issued by the state are most likely to have high-risk insurance. 

High-risk auto insurance in Indiana isn’t a type of car insurance policy or coverage but rather a category where insurers place specific drivers at higher-than-average risk of filing a claim. These drivers may have poor driving records or may be otherwise deemed high-risk due to their age, gender, where they live, or other non-driving factors. The categorization of a driver as high-risk causes insurers to charge them higher premiums because they carry a greater risk of filing a claim.

Typically, drivers at high risk of filing a claim have difficulty finding an insurer to take them as a policyholder. While some insurers may upcharge high-risk drivers, others may outright refuse to bind with such drivers. 

High-risk drivers should always start their search for a policy with a standard insurer. Some of the top insurers in the state, such as Progressive and Travelers, offer policies for high-risk drivers at rates competitive with the state average. The average full coverage premium in The Hoosier State costs about $1,210 annually. While high-risk drivers should expect to pay about double or triple the average, binding a policy with an insurer that offers competitive average rates is a surefire way to get a high-risk policy with a premium that won’t break the bank. 

Those who can’t find a standard insurer that will bind a policy with them may need to investigate alternatives, like a non-standard insurer. Non-standard insurers are smaller companies specializing in policies for specific drivers, like high-risk drivers. 

The only caveat with non-standard insurers is the cost, as it’s often far more expensive for high-risk drivers to bind a policy with a non-standard insurer than a standard one. However, drivers must always have at least the legal minimum amount of coverage, so sometimes a non-standard insurer is a driver’s only option.

The minimum legal coverage required in The Hoosier State is at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident, or 25/50/25 liability coverage. Drivers who lease or finance their vehicle may also be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage as part of their legally binding agreement. 

While a minimum coverage policy will certainly cost less than a full coverage policy, it may not be the safest option. In most scenarios, it’s better to be over-protected than under-protected. Sacrificing coverage to cash in on the short-term savings of a lower premium may cost more in the long run, especially in an at-fault accident.

While the average cost of a personal liability and property damage liability (PLPD) policy may cost, on average, about $605 annually for an average driver, it may be double or triple the cost with high-risk car insurance in Indiana. As a high-risk driver, the best way to lower one’s premiums is to only have the minimum legally required PLPD on a policy. 

However, the cheapest policy in the state isn’t always the right one for every driver. Many drivers opt for full coverage over minimum coverage because of its added protection. Thankfully, there are a few ways high-risk drivers can find full or PLPD coverage policies that won’t hurt their wallets.

The best way to find a low-cost, high-risk insurance policy in The Hoosier State is to utilize discounts from insurers. Insurers typically offer criteria-based and enrollment-based discounts that may take up to 25% off one’s premiums. Typical criteria-based discounts include those for bundling home and auto insurance policies, insuring multiple cars on one policy, or those for owners of vehicles with anti-theft or other safety devices. 

Enrollment-based discounts require some action from the policyholder and typically yield a more significant reduction. Some insurers offer a usage-based program in which a driver uses a telematics device to track and send their driving data to their insurer. In such a program, drivers are awarded a score based on their safe choices on the road and subsequently receive a discount based on their score. 

Other insurers may offer a pay-per-mile program for drivers who drive infrequently or below the national average of 12,000 miles annually. In such a program, drivers only pay for their insurance when they use their car, assuming the use is infrequent, or there are significant time gaps when the vehicle is unused. 

If you’re on the hunt for high-risk insurance in The Hoosier State, the best way to start your search is to get and compare quotes online. Getting and comparing quotes is your one-stop shop for finding a policy tailored to you and your budget.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for quotes. Here at Clovered, we have a free quoting tool you can use to get your quotes in minutes. If you prefer to speak to an agent about your quote, you can call us at 833-255-4117 or email us at [email protected], and one of our licensed agents will be happy to assist you.