Indiana Motorcycle Insurance

From the hardwood forests and farms of the northern part of the state, to the Ohio River Valley in the south, Indiana offers some great riding for motorcyclists. Of course, if you’re just getting on two wheels, or simply want to save some money, insurance is a consideration.

Indiana, like several other states, does not specifically require that a driver maintain motorcycle insurance. The state says that owners must prove financial responsibility for every registered vehicle in the state. A minimum liability policy is the least expensive option open to drivers, so it is the option the majority of residents take. Indiana’s minimum policy statutes also require an uninsured/under-insured motorist policy.

Additionally, Indiana is an ”at fault” state, meaning that you could be held responsible for all medical costs and property damages beyond your insurance limits. No one wants to have their life ruined as the result of an accident, so let’s have a look at Indiana’s motorcycle insurance issues, how the state defines a motorcycle for law enforcement and insurance purposes, some of the required equipment to make your bike street legal, as well as the coverage levels and types you may need.

Minimum Motorcycle Insurance:  Indiana

Motorcycle insurance regulations in Indiana require that owners have a liability policy with minimum coverages equal to those below:

$25,000 for death or bodily injury to one person;
$50,000 for death or bodily injury to two or more persons; and
$10,000 for damage or destruction of property.
$50,000 for uninsured/under-insured motorist.

Those limits may seem quite sufficient until you see the bill from a single night in the hospital and the accompanying E.R. and ambulance bills. When you add in tests, physical therapy, and time off work, you can see how those limits are nowhere near enough if you are unfortunate enough to injure someone in an accident.

Recommended Coverage

The minimum coverages required by the Hoosier State are better than those in some states, but a single accident could quickly reach the limits. Here are some coverage types you might want to consider:

Collision covers your bike in an on-road accident, due to collision with another vehicle or stationary object.

Did you know that 14.2 percent of the drivers in Indiana are uninsured? With that many uninsured drivers on the road, you can see why the state requires this uninsured motorist coverage.

Comprehensive pays for damage to your bike caused by an event other than a collision. Examples include fire, theft,  vandalism, animal strike, or flooding.

Medical payment coverage will help you pay for prescription drugs, dental, medical co-payments and deductibles from other health coverage policies, home nursing care, or funeral expenses for you.

If you ride a custom bike, you may want to consider Custom Parts and Equipment coverage (CPE).

Insuring Your Bike – Online!

We have created an easy to use tool so that you can get quotes for the coverage you need. All you need have to do is enter your zip code to request quotes from motorcycle insurers in your area…online!

Indiana Motorcycle Law:  Definition

Indiana lumps motorcycles into the general class of motor vehicles, which is defined as:

“A vehicle that is self-propelled. The term does not include a farm tractor, an implement of agriculture designed to be operated primarily in a farm field or on farm premises, an electric personal assistive mobility device, or a motorized bicycle.”

The statutes do not clarify horsepower or engine displacement for motorcycles, but do say that anything that is capable of speeds in excess of 30 mph is a motor vehicle, less than 30 mph is a motorized bicycle.

Indiana Street-Legal Motorcycle Equipment

The Hoosier State can be a beautiful, wide open place to ride. The multitude of rural settings can help you ride your troubles away. Troubles or not, you and your bike must have certain equipment in order to be considered street legal in Indiana. That equipment includes:

Eye protection: required for all riders under the age of 18.
Handlebar height: ”No higher than the shoulders of the driver when the driver is seated in the drivers seat”, according to IC 9-19-7-2.
Helmet: required for all riders under the age of 18 and with an instructional permit.
Mirrors: two required for all bike manufactured after 1-1-1956.
Turn Signals: required for all bike manufactured after 1-1-1956.
Passenger Seat/Footrest: both are required if carrying a passenger. No age restrictions for passengers.
Headlight: required use at all times. Modulating daytime headlight approved.
Muffler: required, no cutouts allowed. There are no acoustical requirements.
Safety Inspection: not required