Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Indiana, United States

When you travel through Indiana on your motorcycle, the riding experience can instill both feelings of excitement and anxiousness. The reason for the latter is not just because you have to stay balanced and watch out for hazards on the highways. You also have to make sure you are complying with the rules of the road specific to this state. This can be especially nerve-wracking for any novice rider who is not yet comfortable with handling a motorcycle.

Providing a visual and literary aid, this article will focus on summarizing Indiana’s motorcycle laws and the process of getting a motorcycle license. 

After registering ownership of your motorcycle, you will have to acquire Indiana motorcycle insurance before you can begin operating your vehicle. You are required to purchase motorcycle insurance valid in Indiana that provides compensation for any harm to health or damage to property inflicted on another driver.

Though you can pay for higher coverage if you want to be offered better financial protection, the starting expenses for a motorcycle insurance plan used in Indiana include:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $50,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $25,000 for property damages sustained per accident

You can also obtain other types of motorcycle insurance that solely protect your well-being and motorcycle’s condition. If you are interested, here are a few examples available in Indiana:

• Collision coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Medical payment coverage

Any riders or passengers under 18 or in possession of a learner’s permit are required to wear a motorcycle helmet.

Statistics in recent years have shown how motorcycle helmets have helped saved lives and lowered the rate of motorcycle fatalities:

• From 2014 to 2018, 31% of riders involved with motorcycle accidents were wearing motorcycle helmets

• In 2018, 18% of riders killed were wearing motorcycle helmets while 29% of riders suffered only non-fatal injuries

• In 2019, 35% of riders involved with motorcycle accidents were wearing motorcycle helmets

• In 2019, 27% of riders killed were wearing motorcycle helmets while 33% of riders suffered only non-fatal injuries

What is considered as appropriate head protection in Indiana are three-quarter and full-face helmets manufactured by the Snell Memorial Foundation and comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

You are ready to own an Indiana learner’s permit if you are at least the age of 16 and can pay a fee of at least $9.

To be given the permit, you must fulfill all of the listed criteria:

• Present documents of identification

• Or present an I.D. card

• Sign an Agreement of Financial Liability document

• Pass the knowledge test

• Pass the vision exam

• Pay the required fees

• You cannot carry passengers

• You can only operate during daylight hours

• You must wear a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet

You are ready to try for an Indiana motorcycle endorsement if you are at least the age of 16 and/or have held onto the learner’s permit for the required time. To have the motorcycle endorsement added to your Indiana driver’s license, you need to pay $19.

Laid out below in the comparison chart are the conditions you need to meet to be allowed to have an Indiana motorcycle endorsement:

*If you are 16 years and 90 days old, you can acquire the endorsement by showing proof of completing an authorized Ride Safe Indiana Safety Course.

*If you are 16 years and 270 days old or above, you can acquire the endorsement by passing the skills test after you had successfully held a learner’s permit. 

Written Portion:

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions

• Questions will be based on content from Indiana Motorcycle Operator Manual

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

Riding Portion:

• Will either be conducted in an actual traffic environment or a controlled, off-street area

• Your motorcycle will be subjected to a pre-ride inspection to ensure it meets safety standards

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on your ability to stay within the speed limit, adjusting speed and position, maintaining visibility, operating under stress, accelerating, braking, turning, stopping, and swerving

• The examiner will grade you based on how well you ride at safe speeds, stay within the lanes, and demonstrate riding maneuvers

You will fail the Indiana motorcycle license test if:

• You fall off or drop your motorcycle

• Intentionally attempt an unsafe action

• Fail to follow the examiner’s instructions

If you fail the license test, you will have to wait for the following until you can try again. Should you fail three attempts in a row, you will have to wait two months after the date of the last failed test until you can try again. 

In Indiana, the passengers on your motorcycle do not have to be above or at a specific age group.

You are only allowed to carry two people on your motorcycle at a time. But before you can transport an additional person, your motorcycle must be outfitted with footrests and handholds to provide secure seating.

You will also need a passenger seat. Keep in mind that your passenger cannot be sitting ahead of you and has to have one leg on each side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is best to affix the passenger seat either:

• At the back of a large driver’s seat

• Towards the rear as a separate saddle

• Fixed to the side as a sidecar

If you are figuring out who is fit to ride with you on your motorcycle, make sure that your passenger has the following qualities:

Your passenger must be able to reach the footrests

• Your passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet

• Your passenger cannot be carrying any packages

• Your passenger must be able to understand and follow your directions

• Your motorcycle should only be able to transport one other person

Motorcyclists are not allowed to practice lane splitting in Indiana. Since lane splitting involves maneuvering in ways four-wheel vehicles cannot, it could take other drivers by surprise. As all forms of lane splitting are forbidden, riders will be penalized if they attempt any of the following:

• Riding on top of the dividing lines between lanes
• Riding in between adjacent rows of vehicles that are stopped
• Overtaking another vehicle in the same lane
• Lane sharing with another vehicle in the same lane

While there are restrictions placed on motorcyclists in Indiana, they are still legally entitled to make full use of the entire space within the lane they are currently traveling in.

When you can spare the time, make sure to examine the condition of your motorcycle. The buildup of debris, the passage of time, and overuse can put a strain on the primary components. Ideally, you should conduct periodic inspections of your motorcycle frequently or at least every time before you decide to head out. It is responsible to ensure your motorcycle runs smoothly to ensure the safety of the other drivers sharing the road with you.

Listed below is the required equipment your motorcycle must be outfitted with and needs to be kept in working order. They are integral to your vehicle’s visibility and performance when riding through Indiana:

• Horn
• Wheels
• Tires
• Handlebars
• Front and Rear Brakes
• Controls
• Headlight
• Taillight
• Brake Light
• Exhaust system
• Muffler
• Rearview mirrors

• Indiana Motorcycle Operators Manual
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Insurance Requirements
• Does Indiana Require Motorcycle Riders To Use a Helmet?
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
• Ride Safe Indiana - Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
• Ride Safe Indiana - Motorcycle Endorsement
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle Endorsement
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Motorcycle Skills Testing
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Fee Chart