Indiana House Bill 1200 has been signed into law, with a key change being that Indiana youths can now get their license at 16 years old. This is down from 16 years and 90 days to obtain a license. HB-1200 was signed by the governor of Indiana on March 12, 2026.
HB-1200 Lowers the legal age to obtain a drivers license to 16 years old.
It’s important to remind Indiana that youthful drivers are far more likely to get into an accident than their older counterparts. Teenagers are 4x more likely to be involved in a crash than any other age group and they are the least likely to be wearing a seatbelt. These statistics are the reason Indiana is the 7th highest state in the country with teen involved fatal crashes.
What can you do?
Educate your youthful drivers on the importance of wearing a seatbelt at all times. Continue to impose upon them the seriousness of staying protected, because 54% of those fatal accidents involved teen drivers NOT wearing a seatbelt. Use this opportunity to reinforce what drivers education has already told them, wear a seat belt, it can save your life.
Other than not wearing a seatbelt, another leading cause of teen fatalities on the road is alcohol use. 30% of the teenage auto fatalities in Indiana had alcohol in their system. Talk to your new drivers about the risks of alcohol consumption and how it impairs your ability to operate a vehicle. Don’t trust that they will just say no, ensure they understand the risk when getting behind the wheel.
Insurance for Youthful Drivers
With this new amendment taking affect, it’s projected that an increase in Indiana driver fatalities will increase by 4% and total collision claims by 1%. This increase in claims will undoubtedly increase premiums in Indiana. Right now Indiana ranks in the top 10 in the nation for lowest automotive insurance premium, but that may not be true come 2027.
If you are looking to get a competitive automotive insurance quote for your youthful driver, give me a call. I have access to a number of carriers, where I can price you a policy that fits your budget, even in Indiana’s changing insurance landscape.
