You could face serious consequences for carrying insufficient car insurance, driving intoxicated, failing a safety course, or disregarding traffic laws in Indiana—and your driver’s license could be suspended or revoked as a result. It could also make it harder to find cheap car insurance in Indiana.
Driving privileges are one of those things you might take for granted—until, that is, they've been taken away from you. You’re likely somewhat familiar with how DUI charges, car insurance
laws, and traffic tickets work. However, if you’re not sure how they add up to a suspended or revoked license (and you’re not clear on the difference), there’s no better time to learn. Jerry
is here with everything you need to know about suspended and revoked driver’s licenses in Indiana. Read on to find out how to keep your driver’s license in your wallet and your money in your pocket, plus how to stop paying too much for car insurance.
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What’s the difference between a license suspension and revocation?
Reading about a suspended or revoked driver’s license might make you equally nervous, but there’s an important distinction. Legally speaking, here’s what they mean:
Anyone possessing a suspended driver’s license is temporarily barred from driving for a specific amount of time.
Anyone possessing a revoked driver’s license is barred from driving permanently. In certain situations, they might be able to apply for a new license and regain their driving privileges.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) might suspend or revoke your driver’s license for a variety of reasons, ranging from repeated traffic citations to serious criminal convictions.
What can your license be suspended for in Indiana?
There are many reasons for which your license could be suspended, but here are some of the most common ones:
1. You failed to heed a court of law
Regardless of how you landed in hot water in the first place, the demands from a court of law in Indiana are not optional. Ignoring fines, restrictions, or requests to appear in court could lead to a driver’s license suspension, at least until you comply.
2. You drove while intoxicated
Getting a DUI in Indiana
has immediate and serious consequences. Law enforcement officers who suspect you’re intoxicated have the right to ask you to complete a chemical test. Fail and your license could be suspended for up to 180 days. Refuse and your license could be suspended for up to two years. 3. You failed to complete a Driver Safety Program
If you’re convicted of two or more traffic offenses within a year (or while you’re under the age of 21), the Indiana BMV might ask you to complete a Driver Safety Program. If they do, you’ll be mailed a notice with instructions. Failing to complete the program within 90 days can result in driver’s license suspension.
4. You repeatedly violated traffic laws
Accumulating repeated traffic citations in 10 years could lead to your designation as a Habitual Traffic Violator, or HTV. HTVs can be subject to penalties ranging in severity from a five-year license suspension to a lifelong ban on driving. The BMV defines three categories of HTVs and the criteria for each section on its website
. 5. You drove recklessly
Reckless driving in Indiana can encompass quite a few behaviors, like driving too quickly, too slowly, too close to other drivers, or outside your lane. The common feature is a disregard for the safety of others while driving. A single offense will earn you a license suspension; two offenses (that each result in death) could lead to a lifetime ban.
6. You failed to remain at the scene of an accident
If you’re in an accident, it’s your duty per Indiana car accident laws
to remain at the scene to provide assistance to the other driver(s) and exchange insurance details. Collisions can be shocking enough to activate your fight or flight instincts, but try and remain calm. If you flee the scene, not only will you probably be caught, but you’ll also face a driver’s license suspension. 7. You raced illegally
Besides posing a serious threat to people going about their daily business, illegal races can also be a hazard to drivers who lose control of their vehicles at high speeds. If you get caught, your only prize will be a license suspension.
8. You drove without a driver’s license
Patience is a virtue—perhaps the most difficult one there is. While you might be eager to get on the road, ignoring Indiana’s license requirements could result in an even longer wait. Anyone who drives without a license could face a lengthy delay in earning a license.
9. You drove with a suspended license
If your license is suspended for any of the offenses on this list, it’s not a good idea to keep driving. Besides increasing the duration of your license suspension, if you’ve already accumulated nine traffic violations in the past 10 years, your next penalty will be a five-year loss of driving privileges.
10. You failed to meet minimum car insurance requirements
Indiana's minimum car insurance laws
require you to purchase a policy with 25/50/25 liability coverage
—that’s $25,000 of property damage liability
per accident, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of bodily injury liability
per person.Following an accident, a traffic citation, or a car-related criminal conviction, you might be asked to submit proof of your policy to the BMV. If you don’t oblige within 90 days, you’ll probably face a license suspension and fines.
How to save money on car insurance in Indiana
While you might be required by Indiana law to purchase a minimum amount of car insurance, there’s no law saying your premiums can’t be affordable. The insurance comparison app Jerry
is the easiest and most effective way to find the coverage you need at a price you can afford. It takes only 45 seconds to sign up! After providing you with a comprehensive analysis of the best policies from over 50 top insurance companies, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals so you don’t have to. As a licensed broker
, Jerry can even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better? “I recently started looking for insurance. With my past ticket, I got rejected from several companies while others charged me extreme prices. My friend referred me to Jerry
and their amazing customer service helped me get the lowest insurance rate.” —Christina H.
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