Find a licensing center
If you want to find a licensing center in Indiana, the first place to look is the branch map on the IN.gov website. This has a list of all branches. Next to this, there is a link to branch closures for those branches that may have been affected by COVID-19.
Getting a license for the first time
If you are under the age of 21 and would like to get your license, your license will be considered as probationary. A probationary license requires you to meet the state’s age guidelines and to hold a learner’s permit for at least 180 days. This is around six months.
For those under 18, remember that you may need a cosigner. This person will sign for both financial liability. They will also verify your supervised driving record for the BMV.
Getting your probationary license
To get your probationary license, you will need to be at least 16 years and 90 days old. You’ll also need to complete an approved driver education program. Without this program, you will need to wait until you’re at least 16 and 270 days old before you get your license.
Once you get this license, you will keep it until you are 21. At that point, you have 30 days to renew it for your standard license.
Renewing your license
If you need to renew or replace your license, you can do so online or in person. To do so online, you will need to show that:
- Your name and address is the same as what’s on your license
- You don’t need to take a new exam
- You completed your last renewal in a branch
- You don’t have endorsements or restrictions that prevent online processing
Do you need a Real ID?
Indiana requires REAL ID-compliant licenses to board commercial flights or to go into certain federal buildings. You need to visit a BMW branch to get a REAL ID. You are not required to get a REAL ID, but if you would like it for federal purposes, you need to have it before May 3, 2023.
Upgrade your probationary license
When you are 21, you can upgrade your probationary license to a standard license. You should go to the BMV branch near you to upgrade your license with your current address, name and other identifying information. The standard license will be valid for six years if you’re under 75, three years if you’re over 75 but under 85 and two years if you are 85 or older.
Replace a lost or stolen license
You can replace your license online or in person. You will need your date of birth as well as your Social Security number. To replace your license online, your address and name will need to be the same as what is on the lost license. If not, then you should go to the local BMV.