No license is required
You’re about to jump in the tractor and head to another field.
Do you have your license? Do you even need one?
Throughout April Farms.com is looking into the necessary licensing and insurance requirements for operating farm equipment in different states.
The tour continues with a stop in Indiana.
Is a license needed to operate farm equipment in Indiana?
No license is required to operate ag equipment whether the machinery remains on private land or is driven on public roads.
This aligns with the rules in places like Iowa.
While there’s no state-mandated age in Indiana for farm equipment operation, a federal rule applies.
14- and 15-year-olds wishing to operate equipment on a hired basis must complete the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program.
Is equipment insurance mandatory?
Farm equipment insurance isn’t obligatory in Indiana but is highly recommended for multiple reasons.
1. Insurance policies protect against losses, damage, and liability.
2. Farm lenders like Farm Credit Mid-America and First Farmers Bank & Trust may require proof of insurance as a requirement to secure financing, similar to some lenders in Texas.
Indiana is home to multiple ag equipment insurance providers.
Hastings Mutual and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for example, are available to help farmers design a targeted insurance policy that can include different assets like equipment, crops, and buildings.
Since no farm is the same and policy costs vary depending on multiple factors, producers should contact brokers directly to begin these discussions.
Additional information for farm equipment operations on public Indiana roads
Farm equipment is legally allowed to take up more than one lane.
Operators must pull over at the next safe spot if three or more vehicles are lined up behind the equipment.