What You Need to Know About Indiana Motorcycle Insurance

Indiana is known for its love of basketball, the Indy 500, and as a bustling automotive manufacturing community, but it’s also home to plenty of bikers.

So if you call this great state home or you’re just passing through on your motorcycle to see the Indiana Pacers shoot some hoops, you’ll want good motorcycle insurance watching your back.

You don’t want to get into an accident and be stuck saying “ope!” (Indian slang for sorry) without proper motorcycle insurance.

If you’re wondering if Indiana has any unique motorcycle insurance laws and how much motorcycle insurance costs, read on for all that and more!

Indiana Motorcycle Insurance Laws

Every state has its own laws for what you can and can’t do on the roads. The Hoosier state has a few motorcycle laws that every rider should be aware of before they take their bike for a cruise on I-65.

To register your bike, you must provide proof of insurance (e.g., liability insurance) or financial responsibility (e.g., a bond from a surety company or liability-only). If your insurance coverage lapses, you could lose driving privileges, like your first offense would lead to a 90-day suspension, or bike registration.

Here are some additional Indiana laws for motorcyclists:

Motorcycle License Endorsement: If you’re 16.5-18 years old, you must have a motorcycle license endorsement. To get one, you’ll need to pass a vision assessment and provide proof you’ve passed either a Ride Safe education course or a motorcycle-riding knowledge exam.
Motorcycle Paperwork: To legally ride you’ll need a title certificate, registration card, and license plate with a motorcycle endorsement on it. Registration fees are roughly $26 a year.
Riding Restrictions: You must drive your bike astride on a saddle or seat and have nothing in your arms that restricts you from having your hands on the handlebars.
Passenger Requirements: Passengers must have a properly fitted seat with footrest and sit where they don’t interfere with the driver.
Equipment: Your bike must have mirrors, turn signals, brakes, mufflers, and tailgates.
Protective Gear: Riders 18 and younger must wear a helmet and protective eyewear, while riders over 18 aren’t legally required to wear eyewear or a helmet.
Headlamp: When your bike is on, the headlamp must be on.
Handlebar Height: When seated, the handlebar can’t be higher than the driver’s shoulders.
Lanes: A motorcycle rider can take up one lane. Two bikes are permitted to ride side-by-side in one lane.
Motorcycle Rental: You can’t rent your bike to an unlicensed Indiana driver.

As an Indiana motorcyclist, do any of these laws surprise you? It’s a myth that you can hit the road with just a valid license; you also need to follow the rules of the road or risk the consequences.

Find out more about common motorcycle safey myths here.

How much is Motorcycle Insurance in Indiana

The Hoosier state is home to many motorcycle enthusiasts. But to hit the blacktop, you must satisfy state minimums. In addition, to legally ride in Indiana, motorcyclists need to carry liability coverage.

$25,000 for bodily injury per person for a total of $50,000 per accident.
$25,000 for personal property damages per accident.

The average cost for basic liability-only insurance ranges between $75-$125 a year. This may seem like a bargain, but liability-only doesn’t prevent you from paying out of pocket for damages you caused; it’s hardly enough to pay for a small accident. So for that reason, purchase a more comprehensive policy that protects others (liability) and yourself (collision and/or comprehensive).

For serious riders that want better than basic liability-only coverage, you’ll pay around $580 a year for full coverage.

Pay-Per-Mile Monthly Insurance

Another feature available to Indiana motorcyclists to help reduce their insurance costs is pay-per-mile monthly insurance. While this insurance is only available in a handful of states, Indiana is one of them. This coverage is ideal because it’s great for states with four-seasons, as motorcycles are put away for the winter months.

So, how much is pay-per-pile motorcycle insurance in Indiana per month? Premiums range from $3-$30 monthly, depending on your coverage and monthly mileage.

Here’s how it works:

You pay your monthly base rate
Every month you submit a photo of your odometer and pay-per-mile

Indiana motorcyclists also have their choice of insurance coverage from:

Liability-Only
Collision
Comprehensive
MedPay
Uninsured Motorist
Accessories

A pay-per-mile policy isn’t the right fit for everyone, but if you don’t drive that many miles year round, you could end up saving big on insurance.

How Insurance Is Calculated in Indiana

The cost of motorcycle insurance in Indiana or elsewhere isn’t universal. Your premiums are calculated based on your insurers’ algorithm, as well as your unique factors; for example, if you’re under 18, your premiums will be higher.

These are the factors that insurers in Indiana uses to set your premiums:

Age: Teen drivers will pay more for motorcycle insurance than experienced drivers.
Gender: Men pay more than women because they tend to drive longer stints and are more likely to get into an accident.
Where You Live: Rural driving is cheaper to insure than someone who calls Indianapolis home.
Claims History: If you have a history of recent motorcycle claims, you’ll likely pay more.
Annual Mileage: The more mileage you put on your bike, the higher your likelihood of an accident, so you’ll pay more in premiums.
Credit Score: You’ll pay lower rates if you have good credit.
Type of Bike: If you ride a sportbike, you’ll pay more than someone who rides a cruiser.
Your Coverage: If you take out liability-only coverage, you’ll pay less than someone with full coverage.

You don’t always have control over how much your insurance quotes are, but it helps to shop around. Getting multiple quotes helps you find the best rate and coverage.

Start by getting access to free quotes here, so you can get the ball rolling on your motorcycle insurance in Indiana.

Indiana Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Options

If riding a Harley is in your DNA, you probably know you’re 30x more likely to be fatally injured in an accident than you would be in a vehicle. But, despite this unsettling fact, you can do your part to protect yourself by having the right motorcycle insurance in Indiana.

The right insurance means exploring your options and buying the best policy regarding cost and offerings. Here are some of your motorcycle insurance coverage choices:

Liability-Only: Offers protection to other drivers if you hit them. It covers bodily injury and personal property damages.
Comprehensive: If something happens to your bike while it’s parked, like a hail storm or fire damage, this policy will pay to repair or replace it.
Collision: If your bike is damaged from an accident, collision will repair or replace your bike.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If someone driving without insurance (or without enough insurance) hits you, this coverage will pay for damages to your person and your property.
MedPay: MedPay offers a small amount of protection for a low price (about $4/month) that supplements your health insurance (personal health insurance or PIP), so you don’t have to pay out of pocket.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): If you don’t have robust health insurance, you should consider PIP to help cover accident-related medical expenses and more, like lost wages.
Roadside Assistance: If your bike breaks down and you need a tow, your policy will cover your towing expenses with roadside assistance.
Total Loss: If your bike is a total loss, this coverage will replace it with the full MSRP value.
Accessories Coverage Choices: There are a few types of accessories coverage, but one to consider is Customized Parts, which insures all those “extras” you’ve installed on your bike.

Read more about how motorcycle insurance has your back here.

The right motorcycle is about finding the right combination of coverage. This could look like liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, and total loss coverage for someone who wants total protection.

If money is an object, you may think saving money on premiums is the best way to save, but it’s not. You’re jeopardizing your financial security if you skimp on insurance and take out liability-only. If an uninsured driver hits you, you’re stuck paying for the damages.

So, if money is tight, you can still save money by shopping around for the best insurer and then capitalizing on every available discount they offer.

Indiana Motorcycle Insurance Discounts

If you’re looking to save on your motorcycle insurance so you can see the Pacers play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse more frequently, you should explore your discount options. Discounts can save you anywhere from 5-20% off your premiums!

Most insurance companies offer these motorcycle insurance discounts:

Good Driver: If you’re over 26 years old, have a valid motorcycle license, and have maintained a clean driving record, you’ll save.
Bundling: You’ll save on premiums if you have car or home insurance with the same provider.
New Customer: You can sometimes save money when transferring to a new insurer, so long as your coverage hasn’t lapsed. Be sure to have your old policy number handy.
Multi-Bike: You’ll get a discount if you’re insuring multiple bikes.
Loyalty: Loyal customers will earn a percentage off their rates.
Claims-Free: If you’ve gone more than five consecutive years without placing a claim, welcome to discount city!
Anti-Lock Brakes: You’ll save money if you get anti-lock brakes on your bike.
Rider Experience: If you have over three years of riding on the road, you could see discounts.
Riding Group: If you’re in a group like Harley-Davidson Owners Group, etc., you could be entitled to a discount with certain insurance providers.

Discounts are the cherry on top of saving on motorcycle insurance. Almost every insurance provider offers some form of discounts, so be sure to ask for any that you think you’re eligible for—it pays!

Final Thoughts on Motorcycle Insurance in Indiana

To cruise the I-65 through the Hoosier state, you must legally have at least liability-only coverage. Fortunately, Indiana has many motorcycle insurance options on top of liability, including pay-per-mile monthly rates.

Don’t be afraid to explore your options beyond liability-only insurance. It doesn’t offer you enough protection from paying out of pocket for damages. And with so many ways to save on motorcycle insurance with discounts or monthly payments, getting robust motorcycle insurance is easily done in Indiana, home of the legendary Pacers basketball team!

If you’re ready to explore your motorcycle insurance options in Indiana, get access to free quotes fast here.

Hollay Ghadery Hollay Ghadery is a writer and editor who is passionate about financial literacy as a means to personal fulfillment. Hollay has over 18 years of experience creating content about a range of topics related to personal finance, including insurance, investing, banking, and credit cards. When Hollay isn't writing, she's spending time with her four children, two dogs, and three goats.