All About SR-50 Coverage in Indiana

Last Updated on December 29, 2025

If you’ve received a notice from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) asking for proof of insurance, you may see confusing terms like SR-50, SR-22, or Certificate of Compliance (COC). These are not different “types of car insurance” — they’re different ways the BMV verifies financial responsibility.

This guide explains what the Indiana SR-50 (Affidavit of Current Insurance) is, when it might still show up, and what most drivers need today to satisfy a BMV insurance verification request. If you’re shopping for coverage in-state, start here: best car insurance in Indiana.

Key Takeaways

• Indiana’s SR-50 (Affidavit of Current Insurance) is a proof-of-coverage form — not a type of car insurance — and it’s mainly used in limited/legacy situations.
• Most Indiana BMV insurance verification requests today are satisfied with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for a past incident date, or an SR-22 for future financial responsibility.
• You typically can’t submit proof of insurance to the BMV yourself — your insurer must file the required form electronically, so contact them immediately if you get a notice.
• A lapse or no-insurance suspension can trigger SR-22 requirements and reinstatement steps, so maintaining continuous coverage is the best way to avoid BMV complications.

What Is an SR-50 in Indiana?

SR-50 (often called the Affidavit of Current Insurance) is an Indiana-specific insurance form that shows you have an active policy. It typically includes the beginning and ending dates of your current coverage.

Important: the SR-50 is not an insurance policy. It’s paperwork (filed by an insurance company) that helps the Indiana BMV confirm you were insured.

Do You Still Need an SR-50 Form in Indiana?

In most modern cases, no. Indiana generally relies on the Certificate of Compliance (COC) to prove you had insurance on a specific date (like the date of a crash or citation), and the SR-22 to prove future financial responsibility.

That said, SR-50 can still appear in certain legacy situations (for example, older no-insurance cases). The key is to follow the exact wording of your BMV notice or your Official Driver Record (ODR) requirements.

When Does the Indiana BMV Ask for Proof of Insurance?

The BMV can request proof of insurance (financial responsibility) in several situations, including:

• After an auto accident
• After certain moving violations (especially if you’ve had multiple pointable violations within a short period)
• After serious traffic violations (misdemeanor or felony-related driving offenses)
• If you’ve been previously suspended for insurance-related reasons and get another pointable violation

If you’re wondering whether insurance is required to register or keep a car legally on the road, see: Do you need car insurance to register a car?

SR-50 vs. COC vs. SR-22

Most confusion comes from mixing up these three common filings. Here’s the practical difference:

If you’ve heard “Indiana requires insurance,” that’s correct — and it’s why the BMV is allowed to make these verification requests. (More context here: Is it required to have auto insurance?)

How to Get Proof Filed With the Indiana BMV

If you receive a BMV notice, treat it like a deadline-driven paperwork issue — because it is.

Step 1: Read the Notice Carefully

Your notice (or your ODR reinstatement requirements) should tell you what the BMV needs — usually a COC or SR-22, and occasionally an SR-50 depending on the case.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurer and Request Electronic Filing

In most cases, you cannot submit these forms yourself. The BMV expects your insurance company (or agent) to submit proof electronically. Call your carrier and ask them to file exactly what the notice requires.

Step 3: Make Sure the Dates and Vehicle Details Match

For a COC, the “date proof of insurance is required” must match the citation/accident date and the vehicle information. Mismatched details are a common reason proof gets rejected or delayed.

Step 4: Confirm the BMV Processed It

After your insurer submits proof, follow up by checking your BMV account/ODR status or calling the BMV to confirm your proof was received and processed.

Indiana Minimum Liability Insurance for Financial Responsibility

To satisfy Indiana’s financial responsibility requirement, you typically need at least the state minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident

These minimums are about protecting other people if you cause a crash. Optional coverages (like collision and comprehensive) protect your vehicle — learn when that protection may or may not be worth it here: Should you drop collision and comprehensive coverage?

What If You Were Uninsured or Your Coverage Lapsed?

If you didn’t have coverage when required — or if your policy lapsed — Indiana can suspend driving privileges and, in some cases, vehicle registration until the BMV receives acceptable proof and you meet reinstatement requirements.

If your license is impacted, read this next: car insurance suspended driver’s license.

Depending on your situation, the BMV may require an SR-22 filing for a period of time. If you’re trying to understand timelines, start here: How long does an SR-22 last?

Will an SR-50 (or Insurance Verification) Increase My Rates?

The form itself doesn’t “raise your rates.” What usually raises rates is why you’re being asked for proof — an accident, violations, a lapse, or a suspension history.

Traffic issues can have a direct pricing impact (more here: Do traffic violations affect insurance premiums?). And serious violations like impaired driving can cause major increases: How much does insurance go up after a DUI?

If you’re dealing with a conviction and wondering what insurers can see, this can help: How do insurance companies find out about a DUI?

If you’re currently in a higher-risk category, you may need a specialty policy: high-risk auto insurance. In some cases, drivers who can’t find standard coverage may need to explore assigned-risk options: how to get cheap assigned risk auto insurance.

The good news: many drivers can eventually lower their premiums by rebuilding a clean record and maintaining continuous coverage — here are practical next steps: how to move from high-risk to standard car insurance. Just be aware that some carriers may still decline certain applicants depending on underwriting rules: can car insurance deny coverage to me?

Avoiding Future Proof-of-Insurance Problems

• Keep your policy active (avoid missed payments and cancellation).
• Store proof of insurance on your phone (and keep a paper copy if you prefer).
• Respond quickly to any BMV request — waiting makes everything harder.
• If you’re cited for not carrying proof, learn what that could cost you: How much is a ticket for no proof of insurance?

FAQs on SR-50 Insurance in Indiana

Final Word on Indiana SR-50

The SR-50 is an Indiana-specific affidavit used to show current insurance coverage, but most drivers today will deal with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) or an SR-22 instead. The most important thing is to follow your BMV notice, contact your insurer immediately, and confirm the BMV processed the filing.

If you’re outside Indiana and comparing requirements, see our full guide here: state-by-state auto insurance requirements.