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SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF INDIANAPOLIS, IN | DETAILS |
---|---|
Population | 863,002 |
Density | 2,387 people per square mile |
Average Cost of Insurance in Indianapolis | $3,512.78 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Company | USAA |
Road Conditions | Poor: 22% Mediocre: 22% Fair: 15% Good: 42% |
Indianapolis is the third-largest city in the Midwest, with a population of around 863,000. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Area has a population of around two million people.
Home to the Indiana Colts and the Indiana Pacers, the city of Indianapolis has had a strong influence on national culture. The city has a rich history since it was established as the capital of Indiana in 1825. Presidents such as Lincoln and Kennedy have delivered famous speeches in the city.
The capital city is also a global center of motorsports. Every year on Memorial Day weekend, the city’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway plays host to the Indy 500, which is considered part of the prestigious Triple Crown of Motorsports. Around 500 motorsports companies and two racing bodies are headquartered in Indianapolis.
With such a strong pedigree, the love of cars in Indianapolis is well established. If you love to drive, auto insurance becomes inherently critical. It helps you not only protect yourself and your family but also your ride.
With so many options for car insurance, we understand that it can be overwhelming. We created this guide to clear the confusion and help you to decide the right coverage for your needs confidently.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the knowledge on factors impacting your auto insurance, such as coverage type, driving behavior, rate calculation, and more.
Use our FREE tool above with just your ZIP code to compare quotes from multiple insurance carriers. Read along to see how you can save money on your premiums.
Table of Contents
Shopping for insurance can be overwhelming. Researching the companies, types of insurance, and getting the best rate can be confusing and very time-consuming. However, to get the best price for your car insurance policy, you need to understand the factors impacting your auto insurance.
You might find yourself asking how does my Indianapolis, IN stack up against other top metro auto insurance rates? We’ve got your answer below.
In this section, we will discuss all the major factors that have an impact on your auto insurance rates.
Your age has a significant effect on how much you have to pay for your auto insurance premium. Teens have to pay a significantly higher premium for auto insurance. Why?
As a teen driver, you will not have a driving history, and therefore insurers have no way to directly assess your driving behavior.
Insurance data suggests that an average teen driver has a relatively higher risk of filing claims due to reckless driving. That is an overall perception that is applied in the absence of relevant driving history data. This may not apply to you.
These states no longer using gender to calculate your auto insurance rates — Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. But age is still a significant factor because young drivers are often considered high-risk. Indiana does use gender, so check out the average monthly auto insurance rates by age and gender in Indianapolis, IN.
If you keep a clean driving record, you can expect that your insurance rates will drop as you gain experience.
By the age of 25, young drivers can hope to see a substantial drop in their insurance rates. In Indianapolis, drivers can expect an average drop of $5,669 in auto insurance rates between the age of 17 and 25.
Indianapolis, IN auto insurance rates by company and age is an essential comparison because the top auto insurance company for one age group may not be the best company for another age group.
Here’s the summary of average insurance rates by age in Indianapolis:
AGE | 17 | 25 | 35 | 60 | CHEAPEST AGE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average Annual Rate | $8,085.57 | $2,416.35 | $2,040.98 | $1,876.95 | 60 |
As you can see, insurance rates drop as you gain experience. By the age of 35, the average rate is close to the minimum. That is a good thing considering that the median age in Indianapolis is 34.2 years.
On average, a 35-year-old driver in Indianapolis is expected to pay around $6,000 less for car insurance compared to a teen driver.
But keep in mind that these are average annual rates. The rates you get might be different based on a variety of factors that we will discuss later in this guide.
Apart from your age, insurance companies may also consider your gender and marital status to calculate your auto insurance rates. While gender and marital status may not have a significant impact, some car companies may employ these as contributing factors to your risk profile.
The average car insurance rate in Indianapolis is $3,604 for males and $3,314 for females. This is in line with the national trend where the average overall rates may be slightly higher for males.
Here are the average insurance rates in Indianapolis organized by age, marital status, and gender:
Demographic | Average Rate |
---|---|
Average | $3,604.96 |
Married 60-year old female | $1,849.21 |
Married 60-year old male | $1,904.68 |
Married 35-year old male | $2,039.61 |
Married 35-year old female | $2,042.35 |
Single 25-year old female | $2,265.85 |
Single 25-year old male | $2,566.84 |
Single 17-year old female | $7,099.65 |
Single 17-year old male | $9,071.49 |
We see that the average premium for married drivers is lower than that of unmarried drivers. The rate difference between married and unmarried individuals is because insurance companies consider married people relatively safer drivers.
Your location is a critical factor in determining your overall risk profile. Where you live can help insurance companies determine the following:
Check out the monthly Indianapolis, IN auto insurance rates by ZIP Code below:
Here are the average insurance rates across different zip codes:
ZIP CODE | AVERAGE RATE |
---|---|
46290 | $3,061.03 |
46280 | $3,098.61 |
46259 | $3,326.62 |
46268 | $3,371.41 |
46250 | $3,389.25 |
46234 | $3,394.96 |
46256 | $3,395.47 |
46217 | $3,400.62 |
46237 | $3,403.43 |
46240 | $3,427.53 |
46231 | $3,427.98 |
46278 | $3,428.78 |
46236 | $3,431.65 |
46220 | $3,435.45 |
46241 | $3,458.51 |
46214 | $3,467.94 |
46229 | $3,472.21 |
46260 | $3,477.91 |
46254 | $3,478.81 |
46219 | $3,489.50 |
46282 | $3,500.45 |
46228 | $3,503.62 |
46235 | $3,504.56 |
46239 | $3,510.03 |
46216 | $3,521.97 |
46227 | $3,549.21 |
46224 | $3,607.19 |
46221 | $3,614.21 |
46226 | $3,635.25 |
46222 | $3,663.91 |
46204 | $3,698.19 |
46203 | $3,707.05 |
46208 | $3,717.08 |
46205 | $3,725.41 |
46202 | $3,745.72 |
46201 | $3,810.79 |
46218 | $3,815.46 |
46225 | $3,817.96 |
Where you live in Indiana can make a substantial difference in how much you have to pay for your car insurance. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive zip code for car insurance is around $750.
Figuring out the best car insurance company is challenging. With so many insurance providers to choose from, the process can become overwhelming.
Which Indianapolis, IN auto insurance company has the cheapest rates? And how do those rates compare against the average Indiana auto insurance company rates? We’ve got the answers below.
The best car insurance will depend on your requirements.
Insurance companies use sophisticated models to calculate your rate. Based on what is important to you, you can choose the insurer offering the most competitive rate and the best customer service.
In this section, we will discuss factors such as driving requirements, drivers covered, coverage type, and more. Based on these factors, you can identify the insurance companies that may suit you the best
The plethora of options available in Indianapolis allows you to score some discounts.
However, you should not simply opt for the cheapest policy without reviewing the coverage you are buying. Insurance is a product that is used in times of distress. At that time, you will want your insurance company to process your claims promptly and provide excellent customer service.
To make sure you are getting the best deal, you will need to figure out what factors are most important you, and based on that information, seek quotes from various auto insurers.
Insurance carriers may offer varying rates based on a complicated method to calculate your premium. Based on what is important for you, insurance companies may end up offering slightly different quotes.
Here’s a table that shows the cheapest insurance carriers in Indianapolis based on average insurance rates:
Group | Average | Single 17-year old female | Single 17-year old male | Single 25-year old female | Single 25-year old male | Married 35-year old female | Married 35-year old male | Married 60-year old female | Married 60-year old male |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,837.91 | $3,306.78 | $3,680.29 | $1,568.47 | $1,668.91 | $1,162.30 | $1,141.19 | $1,086.90 | $1,088.41 |
GEICO | $2,604.98 | $5,268.68 | $4,887.93 | $2,020.54 | $1,771.45 | $1,760.01 | $1,755.89 | $1,655.39 | $1,719.96 |
State Farm | $2,674.64 | $5,046.17 | $6,439.56 | $1,789.54 | $1,995.57 | $1,612.78 | $1,612.78 | $1,450.36 | $1,450.36 |
Nationwide | $3,126.51 | $5,663.41 | $7,332.80 | $2,248.82 | $2,455.69 | $1,907.65 | $1,947.19 | $1,673.57 | $1,782.91 |
Farmers | $3,295.05 | $8,027.43 | $8,572.78 | $1,967.88 | $2,127.11 | $1,490.21 | $1,472.11 | $1,272.95 | $1,429.93 |
Travelers | $3,727.95 | $8,395.62 | $13,267.17 | $1,402.78 | $1,611.47 | $1,319.93 | $1,341.61 | $1,243.88 | $1,241.17 |
American Family | $4,062.05 | $7,073.22 | $10,190.81 | $2,526.77 | $3,092.23 | $2,526.77 | $2,526.77 | $2,279.90 | $2,279.90 |
Allstate | $4,263.87 | $8,199.29 | $10,354.82 | $2,627.12 | $2,859.35 | $2,604.72 | $2,662.02 | $2,294.51 | $2,509.11 |
Progressive | $4,316.55 | $10,866.99 | $12,214.98 | $2,284.76 | $2,327.70 | $1,817.25 | $1,714.68 | $1,647.85 | $1,658.19 |
Liberty Mutual | $6,140.11 | $9,148.93 | $13,773.78 | $4,221.86 | $5,758.89 | $4,221.86 | $4,221.86 | $3,886.83 | $3,886.83 |
As you can see, USAA, Geico, and State Farm are the cheapest auto insurance providers in the city. On the other end, Liberty Mutual is the most expensive auto insurance provider in the city.
However, the choice is not so linear. While Liberty Mutual is the most expensive on average, it is substantially cheaper than Progressive for a 17-year-old female driver. The bottom line is that rates vary by various factors, and average rates may not apply to you.
In this section, we will discuss the major factors that might impact your insurance premiums and the corresponding cheapest providers.
How much you drive in a year can also affect your insurance rates.
If you clock higher than average mileage, insurance carriers may see this as an additional risk.
Any additional risk results in a higher insurance premium.
Nevertheless, there are insurance companies that do not increase premiums for a reasonable increase in mileage. The best way to find the cheapest provider is to seek quotes from multiple providers for your higher than average commute.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the average commute in Indiana is 17,806 miles per year. This is considerably higher than the national average of 14,132 miles.
To understand the impact of commute on your insurance rates, we partnered with Quadrant Data Solutions. Here’s the table summarizing insurance rates based on annual commute:
GROUP | 10 MILES COMMUTE. 6000 ANNUAL MILEAGE. | 25 MILES COMMUTE. 12000 ANNUAL MILEAGE. | AVERAGE |
---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,813.70 | $1,862.12 | $1,837.91 |
Geico | $2,560.76 | $2,649.21 | $2,604.99 |
State Farm | $2,600.17 | $2,749.11 | $2,674.64 |
Nationwide | $3,126.51 | $3,126.51 | $3,126.51 |
Farmers | $3,295.05 | $3,295.05 | $3,295.05 |
Travelers | $3,727.96 | $3,727.96 | $3,727.96 |
American Family | $4,013.01 | $4,111.08 | $4,062.05 |
Allstate | $4,263.87 | $4,263.87 | $4,263.87 |
Progressive | $4,316.55 | $4,316.55 | $4,316.55 |
Liberty Mutual | $5,978.99 | $6,301.22 | $6,140.11 |
We can see that there are insurance carriers that are more lenient than others. Nationwide, Farmers, Travelers, Allstate, and Progressive do not tend to increase premiums for a reasonable increase in annual mileage. Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and Geico may increase your insurance rates if you clock a higher than average mileage.
However, our analysis takes into account mileage that is far less than the state average of 17,806 miles. Therefore, your insurance rates might differ in case you drive higher than the state average. Shop around to get the best rates for your policy.
We always recommend that you choose coverage based on your requirements. E.g., it is always advisable to purchase slightly higher liability coverage. In case you have substantial assets, you should buy coverage equal to the asset value.
Your coverage level will play a major role in your Indianapolis auto insurance rates. Find the cheapest Indianapolis, IN auto insurance rates by coverage level below:
Sometimes you may need a specific type of coverage on your policy.
All these additional or optional coverages increases the risk exposure for your insurance carrier. Therefore, to compensate for the additional risk, insurers will sometimes increase the corresponding rates.
However, the hike in premium may vary by insurer and the type of coverage that you opt for in your policy.
With the help of Quadrant Data Solutions, we calculated the impact of different coverage levels on the premium amount. Here’s the summary of auto insurance rates organized by insurance carriers:
Group | Average | High | Low | Medium |
---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,837.91 | $1,909.72 | $1,770.60 | $1,833.40 |
GEICO | $2,604.98 | $2,774.06 | $2,442.58 | $2,598.31 |
State Farm | $2,674.64 | $2,808.85 | $2,540.77 | $2,674.30 |
Nationwide | $3,126.51 | $3,115.39 | $3,162.14 | $3,101.99 |
Farmers | $3,295.05 | $3,409.48 | $3,185.65 | $3,290.01 |
Travelers | $3,727.96 | $3,765.35 | $3,656.18 | $3,762.34 |
American Family | $4,062.05 | $3,976.99 | $4,014.19 | $4,194.97 |
Allstate | $4,263.87 | $4,490.63 | $4,056.21 | $4,244.77 |
Progressive | $4,316.55 | $4,617.15 | $4,081.89 | $4,250.61 |
Liberty Mutual | $6,140.11 | $6,372.55 | $5,925.79 | $6,121.98 |
The difference between high and low coverage in Indianapolis is only around $240 per year. However, these are average rates and may vary from what applies to you.
To choose what coverage to opt for, you need to understand what is covered under different types of plans.
The minimum liability coverage required in Indianapolis is:
This may not provide adequate coverage, and you may have to consider a higher liability coverage and supplemental protection.
Some of the optional coverages that you can purchase are:
Remember, what you purchase over and above the minimum liability protection is based on your requirements. E.g., if you are leasing a car, you may need to purchase collision and comprehensive in addition to the liability coverage.
Insurance carriers also use your credit score to calculate the insurance rates. See the following video to understand how credit scores are used in auto insurance calculation:
Your credit score will play a major role in your Indianapolis auto insurance rates unless you live in these states where discrimination based on credit is not allowed: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Find the cheapest Indianapolis, IN auto insurance rates by credit score below.
A high credit score may indicate a lower risk for insurance companies. According to Experian, the average credit score in Indianapolis is 667, which is slightly less than the national average credit score (675).
Take a look at the following table to understand the impact of credit score on your insurance rate:
Group | Average | Good | Fair | Poor |
---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,837.91 | $1,404.99 | $1,637.53 | $2,471.20 |
GEICO | $2,604.98 | $2,072.62 | $2,604.98 | $3,137.34 |
State Farm | $2,674.64 | $1,806.57 | $2,326.40 | $3,890.95 |
Nationwide | $3,126.51 | $2,809.68 | $3,004.39 | $3,565.45 |
Farmers | $3,295.05 | $2,906.58 | $3,137.18 | $3,841.39 |
Travelers | $3,727.96 | $3,517.14 | $3,518.49 | $4,148.24 |
American Family | $4,062.05 | $3,019.57 | $3,605.80 | $5,560.78 |
Allstate | $4,263.87 | $3,573.75 | $3,935.99 | $5,281.87 |
Progressive | $4,316.55 | $3,980.85 | $4,217.90 | $4,750.90 |
Liberty Mutual | $6,140.11 | $4,924.17 | $5,323.59 | $8,172.56 |
As we see from the table, poor credit can significantly increase your auto insurance rates. If your credit score drops from good to poor, you can expect an average increase of around $1,480 in your annual auto insurance premiums.
But not all companies increase the rates by this much. Some companies are more lenient than others. You need to shop around to find the best possible rates.
From the table above, we see that Travelers and Progressive seem to be the most lenient. On the other hand, Liberty Mutual, American Family, and State Farm might increase your insurance rates by as much as $3,000 per year.
One of the most important factors impacting your insurance rates is your driving record. It gives a direct assessment of your driving risk and therefore is critical for your insurance carrier.
Your driving record will play a major role in your Indianapolis auto insurance rates. For example, other factors aside, a Indianapolis, IN DUI may increase your auto insurance rates 40 to 50 percent. Find the cheapest Indianapolis, IN auto insurance rates by driving record.
A poor driving record will increase the risk for the insurance carrier. Any increase in risk is directly proportional to an increase in premiums.
A clean driving record goes a long way in reducing your auto insurance rates.
To know your driving record, insurance companies access your motor vehicle report (MVR) that provides them access to the following information:
As per the data from Quadrant Data Solutions, here’s the average premium rate in Indianapolis organized by violations:
Group | Average | Clean record | With 1 speeding violation | With 1 accident | With 1 DUI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,878.08 | $1,383.73 | $1,717.39 | $1,977.95 | $2,272.56 |
GEICO | $2,688.02 | $1,695.34 | $2,355.87 | $2,691.08 | $3,677.64 |
State Farm | $2,696.66 | $2,608.59 | $2,608.59 | $2,872.79 | $2,608.59 |
Nationwide | $3,159.22 | $2,691.82 | $3,028.38 | $3,463.57 | $3,322.26 |
Farmers | $3,309.22 | $2,946.44 | $3,252.54 | $3,440.92 | $3,540.30 |
Travelers | $3,838.70 | $3,166.27 | $3,395.72 | $3,914.42 | $4,435.41 |
Progressive | $4,257.43 | $3,226.43 | $4,493.89 | $5,690.95 | $3,854.92 |
American Family | $4,302.17 | $2,806.87 | $3,341.68 | $4,449.64 | $5,650.00 |
Allstate | $4,336.73 | $3,388.84 | $4,045.30 | $5,003.01 | $4,618.33 |
Liberty Mutual | $6,440.43 | $4,736.88 | $5,239.14 | $5,624.20 | $8,960.20 |
In this table, you can see the increase in insurance rates based on accidents and common violations. As you can see, a speeding violation can increase insurance rates by $482 on average. However, every insurance company uses different models to calculate insurance rates.
While Progressive may increase your insurance rates by $1,267 for a speeding violation, State Farm may not penalize you for the first offense.
However, your insurance rates can increase substantially if you have a DUI offense or an at-fault accident on your record. For a DUI violation, you can expect your insurance rates to increase by an average of around $1,428. Here as well, you should consider shopping around to save on premium costs. You can expect a variety of rates available in the market. Liberty Mutual can increase the rates by as much as $4,200, whereas State Farm might not penalize you for the first DUI offense.
Remember, keeping a clean driving record is critical to getting insurance rate discounts.
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Many factors impact your auto insurance premiums. Some factors are in your control and others not so much.
Factors affecting auto insurance rates in Indianapolis, IN may include your commute, coverage level, tickets, DUIs, and credit. Controlling these factors will help you maintain cheap Indianapolis, Indiana auto insurance.
These external factors also have an impact on your auto insurance rates.
In this section, we will review how factors pertaining to Indianapolis can influence your auto insurance rate.
Indianapolis has seen steady growth in economic activity in the last ten years. The local economy has provided jobs in various sectors including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
According to the Brookings Institution, the Indianapolis metro area ranks 38th in growth and 60th in prosperity nationwide.
Growth (38th)
Prosperity (60th)
Compared to the national average, the Indianapolis metro area has shown weak growth in productivity during the last ten years.
According to DataUSA, the median household income in Indianapolis is $47,225. This is less than the national median household income of $60,336.
The median household income in Indianapolis is less than the state average, as well. Added to that, insurance rates in Indianapolis are slightly higher than the state average.
This means that if you live there, you may have to shell out a higher percentage of your income towards maintaining auto insurance compared to the rest of Indiana.
MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL | AVERAGE CAR INSURANCE PREMIUM | PREMIUM AS A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME | |
---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis | $47,225 | $3,512.78 | 7.44% |
Indiana | $54,181 | $3,232.31 | 5.97% |
As you can see, compared to the rest of the residents in Indiana, drivers in Indianapolis have to spend a higher percentage of their income towards maintaining car insurance.
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While being a homeowner does not directly impact your ability to qualify for a plan, it may help you get discounts on your insurance rates. You have to check with your insurer to find if they offer any discounts for homeowners.
According to DataUSA, the median property value in Indianapolis is $137,600. This is considerably less than the national median property value of $193,500. Despite the low property values, the homeownership rate in the city is only 53.5 percent compared to the national average of 63.9 percent.
– Education in Indianapolis
Your education level can also influence how much you have to pay for your auto insurance. Why?
Because insurance carriers have observed that people with higher education pose a lower risk to them.
The residents of Indianapolis have access to quality education. The three largest educational institutions in the city are:
These, combined with other smaller institutions, awarded around 34,000 degrees in 2016. The most common concentrations among students in Indianapolis are business administration, liberal arts, and registered nursing.
Asians, Whites, and Pacific Islanders are the highest-paid ethnicities in Indianapolis.
Here’s the average annual wage in Indianapolis organized by ethnicity:
RACE & ETHNICITY | AVERAGE SALARIES |
---|---|
Asian | $59,125 |
White | $46,930 |
Pacific Islander | $44,004 |
While insurance rates in Indianapolis are dependent on gender, there is also wage disparity among genders. The average annual male salary in Indy is $60,734, whereas the average annual female wage is $44,336.
This means that females have to shell out a larger chunk of their income to maintain auto insurance coverage in Indianapolis.
According to DataUSA, around 20 percent of the residents in Indianapolis live below the poverty line. This is much higher than the national average poverty rate of 13.4 percent.
This means that around 168,000 residents of the city live below the poverty line.
Poverty impacts both genders. However, the top three demographics living in poverty are females aged between 25-34 (9.4 percent), 18-24 (7.8 percent), and 35-44 (6.8 percent).
Maintaining auto insurance coverage is tough for young people living below the poverty line. Their auto insurance rates may be considerably higher than the average on account of their age and economic situation. This would mean that young people living in poverty have to shell out an even higher percentage of their income to sustain auto insurance premiums.
Poverty impacts people of all races, but according to DataUSA, White, Black, and Hispanic people are more likely to be affected by poverty in Indianapolis. Together, they make up around 87 percent of the people living below the poverty line.
In 2017, there were 414,000 people employed in Indianapolis across various occupations. The top three professions in the city are:
We have thus far discussed factors such as how you drive, but your insurance carrier may also consider what and where you drive to calculate your insurance risk.
In this section, we will discuss driving-related factors that may impact your insurance rates.
You may prefer some roads more than others based on congestion or general upkeep. Do you want to know which roads to take in Indianapolis?
Read this section to know the major roads, road conditions, speed traps, and much more.
The Crossroads of America was initially the nickname for Indianapolis, as the city is a hub for several major interstates that connect it to the rest of the country.
Here’s the map of interstates and highways connecting the city:
I-70 intersects the city east to west, while I-65 passes through downtown and travels northeast to southwest. I-69 connects the city from the northeast. All these interstates are connected through I-465, which circles the city.
The streets in Indianapolis are laid out in a grid pattern, with Meridian Street being the main north-south thoroughfare.
Indianapolis is well connected and provides many options for road trips.
You can take the I-69 to reach the Burne Waterpark, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, or the Mounds State Park. See what can you do at the Fort Wayne Zoo in the following video:
For a trip to the wilderness, take the I-65 to the Hoosier National Forest that has around 260 miles of trails. The next video gives an excellent overview of the Hoosier National Forest:
If you prefer to see what the city has to offer, watch the following video:
According to TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based transportation research group, roads in Indianapolis are in reasonably good condition. According to the TRIP report, around 57 percent of the roads in Indianapolis are either in good or fair condition.
Here’s the summary of the road conditions in Indianapolis:
ROAD CONDITION | POOR | MEDIOCRE | FAIR | GOOD | VOC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis, IN | 22% | 22% | 15% | 42% | $575 |
Due to the generally good conditions of the roads, drivers in Indy only have to spend around $575 towards car maintenance in the year.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Indiana doesn’t use red-light or speeding cameras.
Most people in Indianapolis prefer their cars over public transit for their daily commute. If you are driving from the suburbs, you may not have access to a very robust public transportation network.
In this section, we will review how the car you drive can have an impact on your auto insurance rate.
General Motors does well in Indiana. The Buick Encore and the Chevrolet Impala have been the most popular cars in the state lately. The Pontiac Grand Am was the most popular car in Indianapolis before GM discontinued the Pontiac brand.
The Buick Encore is a small SUV that is sold in North America.
The latest iteration of the Encore is rated highly on safety by IIHS. The car scored an excellent rating across almost all safety tests.
Buick Encore is equipped with modern safety features, including the forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash-imminent braking, and dynamic brake support.
What you drive can influence your auto insurance rates.
How?
First, insurance companies encourage drivers to use cars fitted with modern safety tech as it reduces the chance of an accident. Second, if you choose a luxury or expensive car, your premium for collision and comprehensive coverage go up. Because in case of a crash, parts and repair work will be costly for your luxury car.
Therefore, before buying a car, it is always advisable to talk to your auto insurer to understand the likely coverage cost.
People in Indianapolis rely on their cars for their transportation needs. Therefore, households in Indianapolis own an average of two cars per household. This is in line with the rest of the country.
According to DataUSA, only around 3.6 percent of households do not own a car in the city. This is slightly less than the national average of approximately 4 percent.
If you do not own a car, you can opt for a non-owners policy for protecting your occasional drives. This can be more cost-effective compared to the waiver programs offered by car rental companies.
Although Indiana does not allow automated red light and speeding cameras, people still have to follow posted speed limits. The local law enforcement put in speed traps to force people to follow the speed limits.
Indianapolis is the largest city in Indiana and therefore has the most number of speed traps.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, law enforcement in Indianapolis reported a total of 4,947 motor vehicle thefts in 2018. Motor vehicle theft is a growing problem in Indianapolis.
Thieves in Indianapolis may also use high-tech devices to steal your car.
However, Indianapolis is also facing other crime-related issues.
According to neighborhoodscout.com, it is one of the least safe cities in the U.S. If you compare the city with Indiana or the rest of the United States, it suffers from a high rate of violent crimes.
Geography | Violent Crimes (per 1,000 Residents) |
---|---|
Indianapolis | 13.52 |
Indiana | 3.99 |
United States (median) | 4 |
The violent crime rate is more than three times the rest of Indiana.
In Indiana, you have a one in 251 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime, whereas, in Indianapolis, it is one in 74.
However, there are relatively safer neighborhoods in the city. Here are the ten safest neighborhoods in Indianapolis:
Nobody likes to drive in traffic, but your commute usually involves handling congestion. With a little bit of information, you can be better prepared to handle or avoid this congestion.
With so many people using cars for their daily commute, there is bound be congestion. According to Inrix, Indianapolis is the 38th most congested city in the U.S. and 177th most congested in the world.
With congestion comes delays. In 2018, drivers lost around 59 hours in gridlock. The traffic resulted in a cost of congestion of about $826 per driver in 2018.
Many people commute from the Indianapolis metro area to work in the city. However, according to DataUSA, commuters have a shorter commute (22.5 minutes) in Indianapolis than the average US worker (25.5 minutes).
Around 8 percent of commuters have an average daily commute of over 45 minutes.
Due to a lack of last-mile connectivity through public transportation, around 81 percent of commuters prefer to drive alone to work.
According to a report by the American Transportation Research Institute, Indianapolis has three of the country’s most congested highways. The three most congested stretches of road in Indianapolis are:
Indianapolis is the home of Marion County, which is the most populous county in the state. Unfortunately, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is also the worst county in Indiana for traffic-related fatalities.
Here are the 10 worst counties in Indiana in terms of traffic fatalities:
Indiana Counties by 2018 Ranking | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Marion County | 83 | 97 | 104 | 102 | 109 |
2. Lake County | 48 | 59 | 50 | 51 | 51 |
3. Allen County | 31 | 30 | 36 | 43 | 33 |
4. St. Joseph County | 23 | 12 | 22 | 27 | 28 |
5. Bartholomew County | 12 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 21 |
6. Madison County | 23 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 20 |
7. Hamilton County | 14 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 19 |
8. Howard County | 10 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 19 |
9. Porter County | 13 | 22 | 19 | 28 | 19 |
10. Delaware County | 15 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
Top Ten Counties | 298 | 327 | 318 | 367 | 337 |
All Other Counties | 447 | 490 | 511 | 549 | 521 |
All Counties | 745 | 817 | 829 | 916 | 858 |
According to NHTSA, there were 109 cases of traffic-related fatalities in Marion County in 2018. Here are the biggest reasons for traffic fatalities in Marion County:
REASON | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver | 14 | 21 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Single Vehicle Crash Fatalities | 43 | 52 | 58 | 59 | 62 |
Fatalities in Crashes Involving a Large Truck by County for 2017 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 6 | 12 |
Fatalities in Crashes Involving Speeding | 20 | 30 | 31 | 18 | 23 |
Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Intersection | 31 | 28 | 31 | 37 | 28 |
Passenger Car Occupant Fatalities | 30 | 28 | 46 | 37 | 42 |
Pedestrian Fatalities | 18 | 31 | 21 | 27 | 27 |
Pedalcyclist Fatalities | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
FATALITIES (ALL CRASHES) | 83 | 97 | 104 | 102 | 109 |
Single-vehicle crashes are one of the biggest causes of traffic-related fatalities in Marion County. However, speeding and alcohol-induced driving have also been fatal for not only drivers but other car occupants and pedestrians as well.
We can also refer to another database of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to know which roads are best to use:
ROADS | FATALITIES |
---|---|
RURAL INTERSTATE | 1 |
URBAN INTERSTATE | 19 |
FREEWAY/EXPRESSWAY | 0 |
OTHER PRINCIPAL ARTERIAL | 26 |
MINOR ARTERIAL | 35 |
COLLECTOR ARTERIAL | 5 |
LOCAL | 11 |
UNKNOWN | 1 |
TOTAL | 98 |
According to NHTSA, minor arterial roads in Marion County are most fatal. You can refer to the website of NHTSA to understand how it classifies different types of roads.
Your car insurance rates are not only dependent on your driving style but also on how drivers in your city drive on the road.
While it is not in your control, it is relevant for your rate.
Bad driving behavior in a city might mean a higher than average claim rate. This would potentially mean losses for the insurance companies and, therefore, higher premiums for drivers.
To understand driver behavior, Allstate conducted a study that compared 200 cities in the U.S.
Indianapolis ranks as the 75th best city in terms of driving behavior. This means that the average period between claims by a driver is 9.5 years, which is less than the national average of 10.6 years.
In the absence of a robust transportation network, ridesharing solutions provide the last mile connectivity to people in Indianapolis.
The following ridesharing options are available in Indianapolis:
After an accident, you may have to take care of many things. One of those is probably to look for a reputable car repair shop.
To help drivers find the best repair shops around them, Esurance launched the E-star network. Here’s a list of five repair shops in Indianapolis:
Indianapolis has a humid continental climate that is characterized by humid summers and cold winters.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the year-long weather in Indianapolis:
WEATHER FACTS | DETAILS |
---|---|
Average Annual High Temperature | 62.4°F |
Average Annual Low Temperature | 43.8°F |
Average Temperature | 53.1°F |
Average Annual Snowfall | 23 inches |
Average Annual Rainfall | 40 inches |
Indianapolis has an even distribution of precipitation throughout the year. It receives around 40 inches of rain and 23 inches of snow.
Indianapolis is also prone to natural disasters. The total number of natural disasters in Marian County is 15, which is slightly more than the U.S. average of 13. Out of the 15, Indianapolis has thus far faced 11 natural disasters that required the presidential disaster declaration. The most common types of natural disasters in Indianapolis are:
Public transportation in Indianapolis is managed by the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo), which operates around 30 fixed-route buses. IndyGo has also recently announced the new red line rapid transit bus system that covers 13 miles and features 28 stations.
IndyGo charges the following fares:
Pass Types | Cost |
---|---|
2-Hour Transfer Ticket | $1.75 |
One Day | $4.00 |
10 Trips | $17.50 |
7 Days | $20.00 |
31 Days | $60.00 |
Summer Youth Pass | $30.00 |
College S-Pass | $30.00 |
Veterans Pass | $2.00 for initial, $5.00 for replacement |
You can buy tickets in person, online, or via soon to be launched MyKey app.
In May 2019, the city’s Department of Neighborhood and Service approved a new regulation for operating an e-scooter service in the city. The salient provisions of the new legislation are:
Residents in Indianapolis can now use e-scooters from Lime, Bird, and Spin.
Finding parking in the city, especially downtown, can be a hassle. However, you have multiple options to choose from to book a parking spot ahead of time.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, vehicular emissions contribute to air pollution by emitting pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In large cities, the air quality is relatively poor because we have a lot of cars plying on the road.
However, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area has relatively clean air when compared to cities of the same size.
According to the Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA), here’s the summary of air quality in Indianapolis:
YEAR | GOOD | MODERATE | UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS | UNHEALTHY | VERY UNHEALTHY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 187 | 162 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
In 2018, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area had 187 days of clean air and only 16 days of unhealthy air.
Although there are no military bases in Indianapolis, the Grissom Air Reserve Base is the nearest military base to the city. The Air Reserve Base is around an hour-long drive north of Indianapolis.
Indianapolis is home to a large number of veterans who have served the country in Vietnam and the Gulf Wars.
For military personnel, the following insurance carriers may provide additional discounts:
In the following table, you can see the average insurance rates for military personnel in Indiana:
CARRIER | AVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUM ($3,414.97) | HIGHER/LOWER (%) |
---|---|---|
USAA | 1630.86 | -52.24 |
GEICO | 2261.07 | -33.79 |
StateFarm | 2408.94 | -29.46 |
Travelers | 3393.75 | -0.62 |
Farmers Insurance | 3437.55 | 0.66 |
American Family | 3679.68 | 7.75 |
Progressive | 3898 | 14.14 |
Allstate | 3978.81 | 16.51 |
Liberty Mutual | 5781.35 | 69.29 |
Based on the data from Quadrant Data Solutions, it seems that USAA, followed by Geico, is the most economical insurer for military personnel in Indianapolis.
In this section, we will discuss some unique laws in Indianapolis.
The laws in Indiana prohibit drivers below the age of 18 from using cell phones or any electronic device while driving. Drivers over the age of 18 are not allowed to text or email while driving. However, they can make phone calls.
Indianapolis has a thriving food truck scene that offers a wide variety of delectable street food.
However, you have to follow a few rules if you plan on starting a food truck of your own. The good thing is that the city has fewer regulations which helps support the food truck industry. All food truck operators must follow the health codes and labor laws that apply to restaurants. According to the Government of Indiana, you must follow these rules:
If you do not follow proper safety precautions, you may end up with fines or worse.
There are plenty of spaces in Indianapolis for parking. You can use parking garages or metered parking spots downtown.
The metered parking spots are operational Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 11 PM. The fee is $1.50 per hour for the downtown core and $1 elsewhere.
The city is also spending around $20 million to improve infrastructure around parking meters and develop a mixed-use parking structure at the intersection of Broad Ripple and College avenues.
Here are some routinely asked questions on car insurance in Indianapolis.
Indiana is an at-fault state. That means that in case of an accident, the driver at-fault is liable for any damages and injuries sustained by the other driver.
To be able to drive in Indianapolis legally, you must have the following minimum insurance:
Indiana has stiff fines and penalties for those caught without valid insurance:
Insurance rates depend on various factors, such as your driving record, age, annual mileage, and more. Therefore, each insurance carrier may offer you varying rates based on your risk profile. However, based on average rates, the cheapest car insurance providers are USAA, Geico, and State Farm.
Based on your past driving record, auto insurers can deny you auto coverage in the voluntary market. You can apply for coverage under the Indiana Automobile Insurance Plan (IN AIP) that is designed to provide coverage to high-risk drivers. If you are eligible, IN AIP will assign you to an insurer. The coverage that you get will be the same as the voluntary market, but your premiums might be higher.
Now that you know about car insurance in Indianapolis, you can start comparison shopping today using our FREE online tool. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.
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