Auto Insurance in Indianapolis, Indiana [EZ City Guide]

Welcome to fabulous Indianapolis, Indiana, the Crossroads of America.

Besides being known as the Crossroads of America, Indianapolis is a city on the move.

Are you a baseball fan? Albert Von Tilzer wrote the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in Indy in 1908. And fun fact: Washington, DC, is the only city in the United States with more memorials and monuments than Indianapolis.

Back in 1911, the legendary Indianapolis 500 was born on the outskirts of this sprawling city. With 40 racers, officials offered the winner a grand prize of  $25,000 and over 80,000 spectators. Today’s Indy 500 grand prize is just under $2.5 million, and draws crowds in excess of 300,000.

So as you can tell, car culture is pretty important in the Crossroads of America.

We’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you understand your car insurance requirements and needs in the fine city of Indianapolis, and then to begin getting affordable car insurance quotes for you and your family. Enter your ZIP code in our FREE tool above to get started searching for rates in your area.

So read on. We’ve got some ground to cover.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana, is a growing Midwestern city. And for a good reason: with an affordable cost of living and lots to offer, more and more folks are discovering how great it is to call Indy home.

And our research shows that this affordability extends to the Indianapolisites car insurance premiums. In the sections below, we’ll cover a lot of information about the cost of car insurance in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Male vs. Female vs. Age

You might have heard that men and women pay different amounts for car insurance.

Often, they do. In most places, men will pay more than women, especially teenage men, who can pay substantially more than their female peers.

Six states — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts,  Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — have banned gender discrimination in car insurance premiums.

And though Indiana isn’t one of these states, we believe the banning of gender discrimination in car insurance premiums will continue to expand to other states in the coming years.

But here’s some good news if you’re worried about gender discrimination: your age and marital status have a far larger effect on your car insurance premiums.

DataUSA reports that the median age of Indy’s residents is 34.2 years old, by the way.

The table below provides the average car insurance premiums for Indianapolis’ residents of various genders, ages, and marital statuses.

Clearly, car insurance for teen drivers can be expensive. 60-year-old motorists pay the cheapest rates out of all the age groups in our research.

But why do older drivers pay cheaper rates for car insurance? Research consistently shows that young drivers are not only inexperienced, but that they may also engage in risky driving behavior.

Statistics consistently show that drivers in their teens and twenties are more likely to be in a car accident.

Cheapest ZIP Codes in Indianapolis

Our research shows that your car insurance premium can vary not only by what city you call home, but also by what part of that city your home is in.

Indianapolis proper alone has 38 ZIP Codes representing distinct parts of the city. And that doesn’t even include the other cities and towns that makeup Indy’s metropolitan area.

Want the cheapest average car insurance premiums in Indianapolis? Then you should look for a home in 46290, which has average yearly premiums of $3,061.03. 46290 sits on the far north side of Indianapolis along the I-465 loop.

Where are Indy’s most expensive car insurance premiums? Those can be found in ZIP Code 46225, where residents pay an average of $3,817.96 per year for car insurance. 46225 begins in the Wholesale District downtown and extends south to Troy Avenue near the University of Indianapolis.

The table below shows you the average car insurance premiums for Indianapolis by ZIP Code.

As you can see, Indianapolis car insurance rates fall between just over $3,000 and just over $3,800. This range is likely determined by population density, economic status of the area, and risks assessed for motorists by car insurance providers.

What’s the best car insurance company in Indianapolis?

Folks in Indy might say the Indianapolis Colts are the best team in the NFL.

And though the Colts had a long run of bad luck through the 1980s and ’90s, in 2007 they won their first Super Bowl title since 1971.

Colts fans love to represent, as you can see in the video below.

But who do residents in the Circle City say is the best car insurance company?

Who the best car insurance company is, largely depends on what you want and need from your insurer, and what kind of company you want to do business with.

When shopping for car insurance, the key issues you need to prioritize include:

• The level of insurance coverage you need,
• The amount of money you can afford to pay for your car insurance premium, and
• The type of insurance company you want to do business with.

Let’s cover some of the factors that can help you figure out the best Indianapolis car insurance company for you and your family.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by Company

Let’s take a look at some car insurance companies’ annual rates in Indianapolis.

USAA is one of the cheapest companies throughout the United States, and that’s true, too, in Indy. However, only members of the military (current or former) and their immediate families are eligible to enroll in USAA insurance.

If you’re not eligible for USAA, your cheapest car insurance provider in Indianapolis will likely be Geico or State Farm.

Did you know car insurance companies also consider your commute mileage per year, coverage level, credit history, and driving record when setting premiums? Read on to find out more.

Best Car Insurance for Commute Rates

Indianapolisites have an average one-way commute of 22.5 minutes, well below the national average of 25.5 minutes.

How far do you drive to work each day?

The length of your daily commute can affect your car insurance premium.

But no matter your commute, USSA or Geico will probably be the most affordable car insurance provider for you in the Crossroads of America.

The table below provides average premiums for Indy’s top insurers based on both a 10- and 25-mile average commute.

But you might be wondering: how much car insurance do I need anyway?

It’s a good question. Do you need a little or a lot? This is something you’ll need to think about as you begin your car insurance research, and it certainly affects your premium.

Best Car Insurance for Coverage Level Rates

Perhaps obviously, the more car insurance you need, the higher your premium will be.

In Indianapolis, USAA or Geico will still likely be your cheapest provider whether you need a high, medium, or low level of car insurance.

The table below provides average rates for Indy’s biggest car insurers by coverage level, including high, medium, and low coverage.

So what’s your credit history?

Best Car Insurance for Credit History Rates

Wait, you might be wondering, why are we asking about your credit history?

Because your credit history is one of the key factors car insurance companies will use to determine your car insurance premium.

This short video offers a great explanation as to how and why credit scores help determine car insurance premiums.

According to financial experts Experian, Indiana residents have an average credit score of 699, just below the national average of 703. You should know your credit score when shopping for insurance in the Crossroads of America because it can greatly affect your car insurance premiums.

If you have poor credit in Indianapolis, for instance, Geico and USAA will still likely be your cheapest car insurance providers.

The table below offers average premiums in Indy for those with good, fair, and poor credit histories.

But what affects your car insurance premium more than anything else? Your driving record.

Best Car Insurance for Driving Record Rates

Most of us don’t have spotless driving records.

Sure, there might be a speeding ticket, an accident, or even a DUI in your past.

But did you know: not all violations affect your car insurance premium in the same way?

Our research reveals that those with a DUI in their past, for instance, might find State Farm to be by far their cheapest car insurance option in Indianapolis.

The following table provides the average rates for drivers of various histories in the Crossroads of America.

Did you know that even if you’ve had a speeding ticket, accident, or DUI in your past, a defensive or safe driving course can often help negate increases in your car insurance premiums?

Make sure to look for defensive driving, advanced driving, and DUI awareness courses. And check with your insurance company to see what they consider to be important in a driving course.

But what if your driving record makes it impossible for you to find car insurance you can afford?

Please know: you’re not alone.

The Insurance Information Institute provides this helpful guide to help you explore your options, many of which are public and backed by the state.

Factors such as a city’s growth, prosperity ,and poverty rates can also affect your car insurance premiums.

Let’s take a look at some of these specific factors that can affect how much you end up paying for car insurance in Indianapolis.

Car Insurance Factors in Indianapolis

As Indy continues to grow, the city is forging forward into the future quickly.

In the sections below, we’ll cover some of the factors of this growth.

These factors can affect your car insurance premiums in surprising ways, so it’s important to know about changing demographics in the Crossroads of America.

Metro Report — Growth and Prosperity

Like it goes with almost all American cities, it’s probably not surprising to learn that Indianapolis has seen its economic ups and downs.

Thankfully, the city is currently seeing a steady, sustainable resurgence of growth and prosperity, according to The Brookings Institute.

The figures below reflect Brookings’ most recent findings on issues of both growth and prosperity in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN, metropolitan statistical area.

And by the way, that metropolitan statistical area is home to over 2 million people.

Growth

• Jobs: +1.3 percent (54th of 100)
• Gross metropolitan product (GMP): +3.4 percent (20th of 100)
• Jobs at young firms: +3.1 percent (54th of 100)

Prosperity

• Productivity: +2.1 percent (11th of 100)
• Standard of living: +2.2 percent (21st of 100)
• Average annual wage: +1.7 percent (17th of 100)

With especially strong increases in productivity and average annual wage, we think Indy’s brightest days are still ahead.

Median Household Income

As we’ve just seen, incomes in the Crossroads of America are currently increasing.

According to DataUSA, “households in Indianapolis city (balance), IN have a median annual income of $47,225, which is less than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $44,615 in 2016, which represents a 5.85 percent annual growth.”

With an average annual car insurance premium of  $3,061.03, residents of Indy spend an average of 6.48 percent of their annual income on car insurance.

Homeownership in Indianapolis

In 2017, Indy’s median home value rose to $137,600 from the 2016 median home value of $128,200. Though this is still well below the national median home value of $231,000.

In 2017, 53.5 percent of housing units were owner-occupied, according to DataUSA, who also reports that “this percentage grew from the previous year’s rate of 52.4 percent” and that Indianapolis’s “owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9 percent.”

Lots of folks are taking an interest in refurbishing some of Indy’s classic homes. The HGTV show Good Bones — featured in the video below — showcases the resurgence of Indianapolis’s housing restoration efforts.

Education in Indianapolis

According to DataUSA, 34,983 college degrees were awarded in Indianapolis in 2016.

The Community of Accredited Online Schools offers the following table of Indy’s biggest colleges and universities.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

Unfortunately, wages by race and ethnicity are not tracked on the city level for Indianapolis. DataUSA, however, explains that “in 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Indiana workers was Asian.

These workers were paid 1.26 times more than white workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.”

The most common job types in Indiana, they also report, are miscellaneous managers; driver/sales workers and truck drivers; registered nurses; elementary and middle school teachers; secretaries and administrative assistants; and laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

Though wages by gender are not tracked on the city level for Indy, DataUSA explains that, frustratingly, “in 2017, full-time male employees in Indiana made 1.37 times more than female employees.”

Poverty by Age and Gender

Whereas the national average of people living in poverty is 13.4 percent, Indianapolis sadly has a pretty high poverty rate of 20.1 percent.

Women ages 25-34 make up a disproportionate amount of the people living below the poverty line in the Crossroads of America, DataUSA explains.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

According to DataUSA, “the most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Indianapolis city (balance), IN, is white, followed by black and Hispanic.”

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Driving in Indianapolis

Like many post-industrial cities, Indianapolis is the epitome of an American city, with one foot planted in the past and one forging swiftly ahead into the future. Driving here, as the video below shows, gives you a distinct feeling of this old meets new attitude.

Did you know that a city’s road conditions, level of traffic congestion, and unique driving laws can all affect your car insurance premiums?

Don’t worry. In the sections below, we’ll provide you with some of the best information about driving safely in the Crossroads of America.

You can start your search for car insurance in the Indianapolis, Indiana, today by entering your ZIP code below.

Roads in Indianapolis

With one of the most famous auto races in the world — the Indianapolis 500, shown in the video below — it’s no surprise that Indy’s residents love to drive. But what kind of roads are they working with?

Major Highways in Indianapolis

Several major highways run through or converge in Indianapolis, including Interstates 70 and 65, and US 40 and 36.

Fortunate for these Hoosiers, no toll roads exist in the region.

Popular Road Trips/Sites

From the Indiana State Fair to a number of local, award-winning breweries, there’s a lot to do in and around the capital of Indiana. Check out Visit Indy’s “A Day in Indy” video below to get just a taste.

Road Conditions in Indianapolis

Every city in the United States has its share of questionable road conditions.

According to TRIP Urban Road Report of 2018, however, Indianapolis has a majority of roads rated as in good or fair condition. They find the city’s streets are in the following condition:

• Poor Share: 22 percent
• Mediocre Share: 22 percent
• Fair Share: 15 percent
• Good Share: 42 percent

Does Indianapolis use speeding or red-light cameras?

Good news for drivers with a need for speed: Indianapolis does not currently use speeding or red-light cameras.

Though remember, moving violations are one of the easiest ways to raise your car insurance premiums. So slow down and stop at red-lights.

Vehicles in Indianapolis

If you call Indianapolis home, chances are you live in a 2-car household, have a commute of 22.5 minutes each way, and drive alone to work.

In the sections below, we’ll look at the particulars of Indy’s car culture.

Cars per household

According to YourMechanic, the Pontiac Grand Am is Indy’s most popular vehicle.

According to DataUSA, 44.7 percent of Indianapolis households own two vehicles. They also report that 26.6 percent own a single vehicle, while 16.5 percent own three.

Households Without a Car

So how many households in Indianapolis don’t own a motor vehicle?

About four percent of American households nationwide don’t own a motor vehicle. In Indy, about 3.66 households own no vehicle.

Speed Traps in Indianapolis

Indianapolis residents report that their city is home to some of the worst speed traps in the state of Indiana.

Many of these speed traps lie along the busy Interstate 70 corridor, which runs right through the middle of downtown Indianapolis.

But what is a speed trap in the first place? Check out the short video below to find out more.

Speed trap or no speed trap, it’s always important to drive at a safe and legal speed.

Follow posted speed limits to keep you and your family safe, and your car insurance premiums affordable.

Vehicle Theft in Indianapolis

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that in 2017, 4,904 vehicles were stolen in the city of Indianapolis, more than any other city in the state of Indiana. Though this isn’t that surprising given that Indy is by far the state’s largest city.

According to NeighborhoodScout, crime is pretty high in Indianapolis.

Indy is safer than only three percent of other cities in the United States. The Crossroads of America has a violent crime rate of 13.52 per 1,000 residents.

But what’s the traffic situation like in Indianapolis?

Traffic in Indianapolis

With fairly short commute times and lots of land to expand highways, traffic in Indianapolis isn’t a huge problem, but read on to find out some more particulars about driving in this great American city.

Traffic Congestion

Indianapolis is the 38th most congested city in the United States.

Traffic monitoring agency INRIX reports that folks in this region spend an average of 59 hours or more in congestion per year, with an average financial cost of $826 to each commuter because of traffic congestion.

TomTom explains that drivers face an average congestion level of only 13 percent, which is very low compared to national trends in other major metro areas.

Residents of Indianapolis end up spending an extra seven minutes in congestion during the peak morning commute period, and an extra 11 minutes during the peak evening commute hours.

According to Numbeo, those living in the Crossroads of America face a traffic index of 135.31, a time index of 29.40 minutes, and an inefficiency index of 183.37.

Transportation

As DataUSA explains, folks in Indianapolis face a 22.5-minute one-way commute on average, well below the national average of 25.5 minutes. “Additionally,” they offer, “1.26 percent of the workforce in Indianapolis city (balance), IN have ‘super commutes’ in excess of 90 minutes.”

They also report that “in 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Indianapolis city (balance), IN, was Drove Alone (81.6 percent), followed by those who Carpooled (8.9 percent) and those who Worked At Home (3.6 percent).”

How safe are Indianapolis’s streets and roads?

Though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn’t track city-specific roadway safety statistics, they do provide county-wide statistics for Marion County, which includes the city of Indianapolis.

In 2018, 109 traffic fatalities were reported on the county’s roadways.

The table below provides the number of traffic fatalities in Marion County from 2014 to 2018.

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report

When it comes to “best drivers,” Indianapolis could be doing a bit better.

According to Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report for 2019, Indy ranked as the 75th safest driving city in the United States out of 200.

On average, residents of the city also went around 9.5 years between filing each car insurance claim, way longer than the national average.

Ridesharing

According to RideGuru, the following rideshare services are available in the city of Indianapolis:

• Blacklane
• Carmel
• Jayride
• Limos.com
• Lyft
• SuperShuttle
• Talixo
• Traditional taxis
• Uber

Lyft, Uber, and traditional taxis are available to pick you up from or take you to the area’s airports, including Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

Weather in Indianapolis

With an average annual high temperature of 62.4 degrees, Indianapolis, Indiana, enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The table below provides some of the atmospheric averages for the Crossroads of America.

Public Transit in Indianapolis

IndyGo is the authority that runs public transportation options in Indianapolis. At any given time, IndyGo operates about 28 bus routes — some of which are express routes, such as busses that transport riders to the Indianapolis International Airport.

With a variety of fares and passes, you can ride for as little as $4 a day unlimited.

Air Quality in Indianapolis

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides air quality reports for all cities and counties across the nation.

The agency designates an area’s air quality as good, moderate, unhealthy for certain groups, unhealthy, and very unhealthy for every day of the year.

Air quality in Indianapolis is pretty good, we’re happy to report, with a vast majority of days designated good or moderate.

The table below shows the number of days in Indianapolis with each EPA designation for the years 2016 to 2018.

Military/Veterans

According to DataUSA, Indianapolis “has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.74 times greater than any other conflict.”

You should keep in mind that our research shows how many car insurance companies offer discounts to either active or retired military personnel.

These companies include Allstate, Esurance, Farmers, Geico, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Safe Auto, Safeco, State Farm, and The General.

USAA is consistently ranked as one of the best auto insurance companies, and they insure only military personnel, active or retired, and their immediate family members. In Indianapolis, they consistently provide premiums lower than all other insurers.

Unique Indianapolis Laws

According to the Indianapolis Star, Indiana has some of the toughest traffic laws in the country. Here are 11 laws the newspaper points out as especially tough or unique to the region:

• Enforcement of front seat belt law: This allows police to stop and ticket drivers for a violation of the seat belt law for front-seat occupants.
• Enforcement of rear seat belt law: Allows police to ticket drivers if rear occupants aren’t wearing seat belts.
• Six-month holding period for teen drivers: A beginning teen driver must be supervised by an adult driver at all times during the learner’s stage.

Read More: How to Teach Your Teen to Drive

• Teens need 30 to 50 hours of supervised driving: A beginning teen driver must receive at least 30 to 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an adult licensed driver during the learner’s stage.
• Teen passenger restriction: Limits the number of teenage passengers who can ride with a teen driver without adult supervision.
• Cellphone restriction: Prohibits all use of cellular devices by beginning teen drivers, except in emergencies.
• Age 18 for unrestricted license: A teen driver is prohibited from obtaining an unrestricted license until the age of 18, and one or both of the nighttime and passenger restrictions must last until age 18. States have not been given credit if teen drivers can obtain an unrestricted license before age 18.
• Child endangerment: Creates a separate offense or enhances an existing penalty for an impaired driving offender who endangers a minor.
• Open container: Prohibits open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. Does not apply to buses, taxi cabs, limousines, or persons in the living quarters of motor homes but does apply to vehicles on the shoulder of public highways.
• Text messaging restriction: Prohibits all drivers from sending, receiving, or reading a text message from any handheld or electronic data communication device, except in the case of an emergency.
• Booster seat law: Requires that children ages four through seven be placed in a child restraint system. Automobile crashes remain the leading cause of death for Americans ages five to 24.

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Indianapolis Car Insurance FAQs

We hope you now have a good grasp of the types of car insurance options available to you in the Crossroads of America, as well as some of the particulars about driving here.

We also want to help you make Indianapolis, Indiana feel like home.

Here are some of the questions asked most by new and soon-to-be Indianapolis residents.

Who handles the utilities in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis Power and Light is the primary electrical provider for Indianapolis.

The City of Indianapolis provides trash and recycling service, and you can learn more about their schedules on their comprehensive website.

Finally, Citizens Energy Group is the primary gas company in Indianapolis.

Do I need to get a resident parking permit?

In some densely-populated areas of the city, you will need a parking permit. A residential parking permit can be obtained fairly easily, however, through the City of Indianapolis.

 What are the state minimums for car insurance in Indiana?

Indiana requires drivers to have car insurance that meets or exceeds the following minimum coverage levels:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $50,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability
• $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury
• $10,000 uninsured motorist property damage
• $50,000 underinsured motorist bodily injury

And remember, these are minimums. Additional coverage might be beneficial for you and your family.

What are the teenage driving laws in Indiana?

AAA provides a great guide to teenage driving laws in Indiana, including a helpful explanation of the state’s graduated licensing laws.

What’s the sales tax like in Indianapolis?

You can expect to pay at least 7 percent in sales tax in Indianapolis.

Where is the airport?

Good question! Indianapolis and the surrounding region is primarily serviced by Indianapolis International Airport (IND), which is located at 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241.

IND is a hub for FedEx and a focus city for Allegiant Air.

How many people live in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area?

According to DataUSA, 2.03 million people call the metropolitan area home.

Is there really anything to do in Indianapolis?

Obviously! From fine, eclectic cuisine to world-class art and theater to historic memorial after monument, Indianapolis has a lot to offer for a weekend (or a lifetime).

Just check out the video below for some of the hotspots — especially edible ones — not to be missed.

Conclusion

Now that you understand the basics of driving, living and working in the Crossroads of America, it’s time to put your knowledge to work by getting the best deal on car insurance for you and your family.

We know understanding car insurance is no simple task, but by carrying some basic knowledge, you are better equipped to handle the challenges it brings.

And that’s why we created this guide: to help you obtain that basic knowledge.

What part of this Indianapolis car insurance guide was the most helpful?

Was there something we could explain better so that you can make a better car insurance decision?

To get started on finding the best car insurance rates in Indianapolis, Indiana, for you and your family, just enter your ZIP code below.