How Indianapolis Car Accidents Affect Your Driving Record

Even when a driver isn’t issued a ticket or charged with a crime, questions about how an accident affects their record often come up. That’s because Indiana law allows crash-related violations to impact both your Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) history and your insurance premiums—even if you weren’t technically “at fault” under civil liability rules.

But it’s important to distinguish between a crash and a citation. The accident itself won’t necessarily lead to BMV points, but if a police officer issues a ticket for something like failure to yield, improper lane use, or running a red light, those citations do become part of your official driving history. Over time, this record can affect everything from your license status to your employment if you drive for work. And if your insurer requests a driving record review or sees a pattern of violations, you may face higher premiums—even if the underlying crashes were relatively minor.

In our experience as car accident attorneys reviewing Indiana driving records, we’ve seen that administrative consequences from the BMV often arise unexpectedly—especially when drivers don’t realize how certain violations are reported. That’s why it’s worth understanding what shows up on your record, how points are assigned, and what you can do to prevent unnecessary long-term consequences.

Do Car Accidents in Indianapolis Automatically Appear on Your Driving Record?

In short, no—a car accident on its own does not automatically show up on your Indiana driving record unless it leads to a citation or conviction. Indiana’s BMV tracks traffic violations and criminal offenses that result in penalties, not accidents by themselves. However, accident-related violations often appear because law enforcement issues citations at the scene or shortly after.

For example, if you were cited for following too closely and that led to a rear-end collision, the ticket—not the accident—is what triggers the point assessment and notation on your record. This is outlined in Indiana Code § 9-26-2-4, which requires drivers to exchange information at the scene, and Indiana Code § 9-14-3-3, which gives the BMV authority to track and administer penalties for moving violations.

Even in the absence of BMV points, insurers may still see evidence of the crash through police reports or claim data. That means your driving record may remain “clean” in the eyes of the state, but still impact your risk profile with an insurance company.

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How Indiana Assigns Points After a Crash

Indiana’s BMV point system is based on traffic violations, not the occurrence of a crash itself. That means drivers who are involved in accidents but not cited for any violation generally will not receive points. However, if you’re ticketed for something like reckless driving or failing to yield, the associated violation—and the points—will show up on your record.

Points are typically assessed when a citation is issued and upheld, either through payment of the fine or conviction in court.

Below is a table with common Indiana traffic violations and their corresponding point values:

Points escalate with repeat offenses and severity. For most drivers, accumulating 20 or more points in 24 months prompts administrative action, typically beginning with a one-month license suspension and increasing by one month for every two additional points.

How Points Are Calculated for Car Accidents

When it comes to crashes, points are assigned only if the driver is ticketed for a related offense. For example:

• If you were speeding and struck another vehicle, the speeding ticket would result in points.
• If no citation is issued, even after a collision, your BMV record typically remains unaffected.

For most non-commercial drivers, this is relatively straightforward. But commercial drivers—those holding a CDL—may face additional administrative reviews or consequences from their employer or insurance provider, even if a violation isn’t reported to the BMV.

How Long Points Stay on Your Record

Points from a moving violation stay active on your record for two years from the conviction date. However, the presence of past violations—even those that no longer carry active points—may still influence insurance rates or BMV review decisions.

The Indiana BMV will send warning letters if a driver approaches 14 active points. At 20 points or more, a license suspension is likely. In some cases, the BMV may require the driver to complete a Driver Safety Program (DSP) to retain driving privileges.

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Can Insurance See Your Driving Record After an Accident in Indianapolis?

Yes. Even if a car crash doesn’t result in BMV points, insurance companies still review both official driving records and accident reports when setting premiums or renewing policies. That includes police reports, claim history, and sometimes third-party data aggregators that track accident involvement.

Insurers may increase your rate based on factors like:

• A pattern of accidents (even if you weren’t ticketed)
• Claims for injuries or property damage
• Driving violations associated with previous crashes

This means a clean BMV record isn’t always enough to protect you from higher insurance costs after a crash. For crashes involving multiple drivers, liability can also affect what insurers report.

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How a Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Driving Record

When a traffic violation leads to points or license consequences, an attorney can:

• Challenge the citation in court to prevent points from being assessed
• Negotiate reduced charges that carry fewer or no points
• Request corrections to inaccurate information reported on your BMV record
• Communicate with insurers when crash fault or liability is disputed

This can be especially important for professional drivers, young drivers with prior violations, or those at risk of license suspension. For more information about protecting your record and defending your rights, we invite you to speak with an Indianapolis car accident lawyer at CFLB.

If you’ve already received a citation or your record includes incorrect crash data, you can contact us to explore your legal options.

FAQs About How Car Accidents Affect Your Driving Record

Does a car accident in Indianapolis go on your record if you weren’t ticketed?

Not automatically. Indiana’s BMV only adds violations, convictions, or administrative penalties to your driving record. However, insurers may still see accident data via police reports or past claims, which could influence your rates.

Can an at-fault accident affect your Indiana driver’s license?

Yes. If the crash results in one or more traffic violations that lead to points, those may accumulate and trigger warnings or suspension. Drivers with 20 or more active points risk losing their license under the Indiana BMV points system.

What happens if I don’t agree with how the crash was reported?

If you were incorrectly cited or fault was wrongly assigned, a lawyer can help contest the citation in traffic court or request a correction to your BMV file. This can reduce your point exposure and prevent long-term insurance or employment issues.

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