Indiana Car Insurance: What You Need to Know

Purchasing an car insurance policy is easy; every day you find another company who swears they can give you the best coverage for the lowest premium. These companies advertise on the internet, in the phone book, on the television, in the newspaper, over the airwaves (radio) and on highway billboards; it is all but impossible to avoid running into at least one of their ads on a daily basis. Finding the right car insurance policy is often a more complicated matter. Each state has its own set of rules and guidelines concerning car insurance, and a wise consumer will take the time to study these requirements before going shopping.

Information regarding insurance requirements can be obtained from the Indiana Department of Insurance in Indianapolis, either by calling 317-232-2385 or visiting their website at http://www.ai.org/idoi/index.html. If you are a resident of IN (or your vehicle is, at least) then you will be required to maintain a minimum liability policy on your vehicle. Liability covers the costs of both bodily injury and property damage in the event that the insured is responsible for an accident. Indiana vehicles must be insured to the tune of twenty five thousand dollars in medical expenses if the other vehicle involved contained only a sole occupant, fifty thousand dollars in combined medical expenses if the driver was transporting a passenger (or two) and ten thousand dollars in property damage coverage to pay for damage inflicted upon the other driver’s vehicle, guardrails, telephone poles and other public or private property.

Liability is the only type of auto insurance that is required in Indiana; however, it is recommended that all drivers purchase collision and comprehensive insurance on their vehicles, as well as an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. Collision and comprehensive insurance will pay for damages to your vehicle in the event that you are the one responsible for the accident; this prevents you from being left holding the bag for thousands of dollars worth of repairs while your liability takes care of the other car. In the event that your vehicle would cost more to repair than it is worth (per Kelley’s blue book; this is not an opinion) the car will be totaled and your comprehensive insurance will allow you to receive the cash value of your car.

While Indiana’s state government requires that all of its inhabitants carry liability this is not the case in every state. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance will pay for your medical bills and auto repair in the event that you are the victim of a hit and run or are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident with a driver who either does not carry liability or whose liability is not adequate to cover all of your expenses.