Indiana
Vehicle Resource Center
Most people know Indiana for its crops and its professional sports (Go Hoosiers!), but few think about all the drivers in the state and what they have to do to drive legally. Being a vehicle owner takes regular maintenance and involves knowing a long list of laws. It can feel overwhelming trying to stay up-to-date with the latest laws and requirements.
Ownership and Maintenance
Anyone who wishes to own a vehicle in Indiana must maintain the required paperwork. Without the proper registration, driver's license, emissions inspection, and insurance coverage, it isn't legal to operate the vehicle. Learn how to meet all these requirements with ease.
Drivers with vehicles in Lake or Porter County must get emissions inspections on their vehicles every two years. Any vehicle newer than 1975 in one of the two counties must be tested at one of the Clean Air Car Check stations. There is no fee to the state for having the vehicle inspected, but there is a small convenience fee required by the partnering location to enable the state to conduct emissions tests there. Vehicles manufactured in odd years must be tested in odd years, and even-year vehicles get tested in even years.
In Indiana, at-fault drivers are liable for any damages that occur during vehicle collisions. A driver who causes an accident can be sued, as well as face legal action from the state if they don't have adequate liability insurance. This is insurance that's meant to pay for any property damage and expenses related to injuries caused by an automotive accident.
The minimum liability insurance coverage amounts in Indiana are the following:
Indiana drivers who meet these insurance minimums can legally drive. Some choose to get higher coverage amounts for more protection. Drivers with a vehicle loan must take out collision insurance as well. Collision insurance covers repairs to the insurance holder's vehicle and serves as protection to avoid losing a vehicle after an accident. For more information about auto insurance requirements in Indiana, visit the government's insurance page.
Residents must renew their Indiana vehicle registration annually. The renewal process is simple, but costs vary based on the vehicle. Once a car owner receives their renewal notice in the mail, they are free to renew their vehicle's registration.
Registration renewals can be completed:
Renewing the registration only takes a few minutes and requires the information from the registration notice as well as basic data about your vehicle. You can renew online, over the phone, or by kiosk as long as no additional documents are required. If more documents are required, you must send them via mail or bring them to a BMV location to complete the renewal. Get more specifics about vehicle renewals through the Indiana government website here.
Every six years, drivers must go through the process of renewing their license in Indiana. The requirements for this process vary based on location and age, but they are typically very straightforward.
To renew a license, drivers must supply their name, Social Security number, driver's license number, and zip code. When renewing in person, they must also take a vision exam and update the photo on the license to finalize it. Driver's licenses typically must be renewed every six years, but they can be renewed online or via a kiosk every other time. That means residents must only visit an in-person location once every 12 years.
Driver's License
According to this government fee chart, a driver's license for individuals under 75 is currently $17.50 to renew. There are miscellaneous fees to be aware of, including a $6 fee for renewing the license after its expiration date. Licenses for different age groups come with different fees.
Registration
The standard fee for a passenger vehicle registration is $21.35, but there are different costs for other types of vehicles.
The fees for document renewals are simple to understand and are fully laid out in the Indiana government fee chart here. Use the chart to prepare to pay any upcoming fees.
Buying & Selling
Anyone who's interested in purchasing a vehicle or making a sale in Indiana must think about the laws involved, as well as all the paperwork that must be handled when completing a vehicle transaction.
During every vehicle sale, it's essential to have the original vehicle title filled out with odometer readings, purchase price, and more. If the title isn't fully filled out, it may be necessary to have a Bill of Sale and an odometer disclosure statement made up. With all these documents, it should be possible to title and register the new vehicle.
When going to title and register a new vehicle, some additional documents are required. Bring along proof of Identity, emissions test results while in Lake and Porter counties, and a statement of an existing lease agreement if the vehicle is leased. This information should provide all that's needed to license the vehicle properly.
Anyone who isn't already in the Indiana BMV system must supply additional documentation to register and title a vehicle. They must give proof of identity forms to verify they are who they claim. Out-of-state vehicles must also come with a filled-out physical inspection form to make registration and titling possible.
After gathering the required documents and making a trip to the local BMV office, it's time to pay any associated fees with titling and registering the vehicle. Fortunately, the fees are reasonable. Vehicle registration is estimated at $21.35 for a typical passenger vehicle, and the title will cost approximately $15.00. There is also a sales tax rate of 7% that's applied to the purchase price of the vehicle to make registering it more costly. A late fee of $30.00 can be applied to the title costs as well if too much time is taken after the purchase date before titling the vehicle. License plates come with a $9.50 fee for transferring or issuing a new set.
Use the Indiana State Government BMV Fees List to see any additional fees that may be assessed during the purchase or sale of a vehicle.
Sellers misrepresent vehicles all the time, which is why it's essential for interested buyers to carefully research any vehicle they're interested in. The most efficient way to investigate a vehicle is with a Vehicle VIN Check or a License Plate Lookup from GoodCar. With a quick search, buyers can see an in-depth report covering previous owners, odometer readings, title brands, open recalls, and a list of features and specifications for the vehicle. Getting a search report for a used vehicle is the fastest way to verify it has the right specifications and a reliable history.
Laws and Regulations
Indiana is home to a long list of driving laws that residents must be aware of in order to drive without trouble. This list includes some of the laws that cause regular problems for drivers. Learning these common laws is a simple way to avoid problems while driving and to stay safer, too.
In Indiana, everyone is expected to wear a seat belt, but the driver is held responsible for any child passenger under 16 years old. Anyone over 16 caught without a seat belt can be fined $25 for a first-time seat belt offense. The standard seat belt laws are simple to understand, but many parents need help with the car seat safety regulations.
Car Seat Safety Regulations
Tinting the windows in your vehicle is an easy way to protect against summer heat while guarding against interior fading and protecting your privacy. There are restrictions on what tint can be applied to a vehicle's windows in Indiana, and using a tint that's too dark can result in fines and issues with law enforcement.
According to state laws, vehicle owners must not use window tint with a VLT of less than 30%. That means that 30% of visible light must be allowed to travel through the glass of the windows. This same tint is allowed above the AS-1 line of the windshield or approximately the top 5 inches of the windshield. Get more specifics about the state's tint regulations using this informational tint page.
Indiana protects new car buyers through its Lemon law. This law states that vehicles may not have serious safety defects or issues that impact their resale value in a major way without the manufacturer being liable for resolving those issues.
Only vehicles with fewer than 18,000 miles and less than 18 months of ownership can be protected by the state's Lemon law. It's important to note that notice of the issue must be provided to the manufacturer, and the company has up to four chances to repair the same issue before the vehicle can be considered a lemon legally. If a single repair fails four times, or the vehicle is unavailable to use for more than 30 business days due to repairs covered under the Lemon law, it can be determined a lemon. Any vehicle determined to be a lemon must refunded or replaced by the manufacturer. Get more details about Indiana's Lemon law using this official government page.
Knowing these essential Indiana road laws makes it easier to avoid trouble and keep your vehicle in good standing over time.
Indiana has straightforward impaired driving laws that begin with strong penalties for first-time offenders. Anyone suspected of impaired driving can be given a breathalyzer test to check their BAC (blood alcohol content) to see if it's above the legal limit within the state. Drivers who are caught with a BAC above 0.08 will be charged with driving while intoxicated. First-time offenders will pay a minimum of $300 in court fees, up to $5,000 in fines, and could face license suspension for up to 2 years. They could also be placed in jail for up to one year on a first offense. The penalties become far stricter for 2nd and 3rd-time offenders, and it's vitally important to avoid driving while impaired in Indiana to avoid these harsh penalties. Get more details about the DWI laws in Indiana with this guide page.
Useful Things to Know
These Indiana driving resources help make being a vehicle owner simpler than ever before. Find the nearest EV charging stations, see complete driving information, rapidly find a BMV branch, and more with the data here.
Indiana Graduated Driver's License System Information
Learn how Indiana residents obtain their driver's license for the first time. Graduate License System Overview
Also, see the Learner Permit requirements via this link for a quick overview of what's needed to begin driving as a student in the state. Indiana Learner Permit Requirements
Locate Indiana EV Charging Stations
More Indiana residents are investing in electric vehicles each year. These vehicles can be conveniently charged at home, but sometimes they must be charged in public as well. Use this station locator to find the nearest charging station with the charging capabilities necessary for your vehicle. Indiana EV Charging Station Locator
Indiana Driver's Manual
Indiana residents interested in passing the written exam required to obtain a state learner's permit, or any driver who wants to know more about state laws, can study using the state's driving manual. It's available online and easily accessible. Indiana State Driver's Manual
Indiana Car Crash Trends
On average, Indiana is a safer state to drive in than many. According to IIHS 2021 statistics, Indiana drivers suffered from 1.19 traffic fatalities every 100 million (VMT) vehicle miles traveled, which is better than the national average of 1.37. There were 932 deaths from 863 accidents in 2021, a number that cannot be ignored by any serious driver. For a complete picture, see car crash statistics from GoodCar.
Branch and Kiosk Locator
Quickly find BMV locations or kiosk service locations using this simple search tool. BMV Branch or Kiosk Locator Tool
Get the Latest Indiana Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Indiana vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN Check and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.