Indiana Vehicle Registration

Registering a Vehicle in Indiana

You must register your vehicle through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Below is a quick summary of items to bring when visiting your local Indiana BMV office.

What to bring to the IN BMV:

• Proof of identity (e.g., driver’s license, ID, or passport).
• Proof of Indiana car insurance.
• Required emissions compliance forms, if applicable.
• Proof of vehicle ownership (e.g., vehicle title).
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), if applicable.
• Acceptable form of payment for IN car registration fees and taxes.

  Continue reading for more specific details about how to register a vehicle in Indiana.

  Registering Vehicles Purchased from an IN Dealer

  When you purchase either a new or used vehicle from a licensed Indiana car dealer, they will handle the registration and titling. Next, your dealer will submit the necessary documents to the IN BMV on your behalf.

  The dealership should complete and submit the paperwork for you within 45 days of your purchase. You will receive temporary tags while you wait for your registration documents to arrive by mail.

  Vehicles Purchased from a Private Party

  In Indiana, you must register and transfer the title of your vehicle within 45 days from the date of purchase. Otherwise, the Indiana BMV will assess a $30 penalty.

  You may register your vehicle online if:

  • You already submitted your Indiana title application AND purchased your vehicle within the last 45 days.

    You must register in person if:

    • You purchased your vehicle more than 60 days ago.

    To register your vehicle online, visit the MyBMV registration portal. You may either login to your existing account or create a new account. Next, have the following ready:

    • Your vehicle title information.
    • Your Indiana driver’s license number.
    • Appropriate payment for IN car registration fees.

    Follow the prompts to complete your registration application.

    To register your vehicle in person, visit your local Indiana BMV office and present:

    • Your Indiana driver’s license.
    • A properly assigned vehicle title.
    • A completed Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (Form 205).
    • Proof of residency (e.g., lease agreement, bank statement, utility bill, etc.).
    • Proof of Indiana car insurance.
    • Proof of a passing vehicle inspection, if applicable.
    • Payment for IN car registration and titling fees.

IN Vehicle Registration for New Residents

New to Indiana?

The Indiana BMV requires you to apply for an Indiana title and vehicle registration within 60 days of establishing residency to avoid any penalties.

As a new resident, you must take certain steps before you can register your vehicle. The Indiana BMV requires you to:

• Carry valid Indiana car insurance. Indiana does not require you to present proof of car insurance upon vehicle registration. However you must have car insurance to operate your vehicle on Indiana roads.
• Have an Indiana vehicle title in your name.
  • If the state of origin does not require vehicle titles, you must present proof of
    ownership, such as vehicle registration.
• Complete and submit a Certificate of Title Application (Form 205).
  • If your vehicle has a lien, you must complete and submit a Request for Title (Form 1014).

Once you complete these steps, visit your local Indiana BMV office and present your:

• Current certificate of title.
• Vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection.
  • NOTE: You can complete the VIN inspection at any IN BMV branch office for free.
• Proof of current Indiana address.
• Proof of Social Security Number.
• Payment for IN car registration, fees, and taxes.

IN Registration for Military Drivers

Indiana military residents who currently reside in the state can register their vehicles as normal. Visit Registering a Vehicle in Indiana above to learn more.

Registration for IN Residents Stationed Outside Indiana

To register your vehicle as an Indiana resident stationed outside of the state, visit MyBMV and follow the same online process outlined above in Register a Vehicle in Indiana.

Registration for Non-Residents

The IN BMV does not require non-resident military service members stationed in Indiana to register their vehicles in state.

Indiana military personnel must maintain current registration and car insurance from their home state during deployment. If a military service member becomes a resident of Indiana, they’ll need to apply for IN car registration.

Read Vehicle Registration for New Residents to learn more.

NOTE: Military members who opt to register their vehicles in Indiana may be exempt from paying the vehicle excise tax portion of the vehicle registration.

Renewing Your Registration in Indiana

In Indiana, you can renew your vehicle registration online, in person, by phone or by mail. You may not renew online if your vehicle weighs over 26,000 pounds.

Importantly, you must register your vehicle on or before the registration’s scheduled expiration date in order to avoid a $15 administrative penalty.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• The Indiana BMV emails or texts your renewal notices 60 days, 30 days, and 7 days prior to your registration expiration. If you have not signed up to receive email or text notifications, the BMV will mail your notice 60 days before your registration expiration.
• You must renew your Indiana vehicle registration annually.
• Even if you did notreceive your renewal notice in the mail, you must still renew your registration before it expires.

See Indiana Registration Renewals to learn more.

Replace Lost or Damaged Registration

If your Indiana registration cards or tabs are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a replacement online, or in person at your local Indiana BMV office OR a BMV Connect Kiosk.

Online Replacements

To replace your IN registration card online, visit the BMV’s myBMV online services portal and provide the following:

• Your license plate number
• Your driver’s license number
• Your vehicle identification number (VIN)
• A credit card for the $9.50 duplicate registration card fee:
  • NOTE: You can print a copy of your duplicate registration upon completing the transaction which is free. However, should you choose to order a duplicate registration card, the $9.50 fee applies.

Replace Registration In Person

To replace your Indiana registration card or decals in person, you’ll need to visit your local IN BMV office and present:

• A valid photo ID.
• Your driver’s license number.
• Your social security number.
• Your vehicle year, make and model.
• Appropriate payment for the $9.50 for the duplicate registration card fee.

To replace your Indiana registration card in person at an Indiana BMV Connect Kiosk, you must provide the same items above.

NOTE: To replace lost or stolen decals, you must visit the Indiana BMV in person.

Change Your Indiana Car Registration

Name Changes

Before you can make changes to your Indiana registration documents, you must first change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once you complete your name change with SSA, you can make changes to your name with the Indiana BMV.

To change a name on your vehicle registration in person at the IN BMV, be ready to provide:

• Legal documents supporting your name change such as a:
  • Marriage license if the name changed due to marriage.
  • Divorce decree.
  • A court-ordered name change document.
• Certificate of citizenship/naturalization or other documents issued by a U.S. Federal Agency.
• Your corrected Social Security card.
• Payment for the $9.50 duplicate registration fee.

Address Changes

You may change your address with the Indiana BMV online, or in person.

Residents can only update a car registration address in Indiana in person for residency.

However, they may change their mailing addresses (i.e., the addresses for sending important information) either online or in person at a BMV office.

You have 30 days from the time of your move to change your address with the Indiana BMV.

Online Address Change in Indiana

To change your mailing address online, visit the Indiana BMV myBMV online services portal.

Please follow the prompts and be ready to provide the following:

• Your Indiana license or ID number.
• Your vehicle VIN.
• The year, make and model of your vehicle.
• Payment for duplicate license and/or registration fees.

Once complete, the Indiana BMV’s system will update your new mailing address on your registration. This ensures the delivery of notices and other pertinent information arrive at your new address.

Address Changes in Person

To change your address in person, please visit any IN BMV office and provide:

• Your Indiana license or ID number.
• Proof of residency (e.g., utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, etc.).
  • You must present 2 forms of proof of residency.
• Your license plate number and/or (VIN).
• Payment for duplicate registration fees.

Indiana Vehicle Registration Fees

Indiana Vehicle Registration Fees

The Indiana BMV has standard vehicle registration fees for passenger vehicles. Moreover, the BMV determines truck registrations by weight.

Below you will find some of the current Indiana registration fees:

• Passenger vehicle registration: $21.35
• Trucks less than 11,000 pounds: $30.35
• Motorcycle registration: $26.35
• Title application fee: $15
• Replacement Indiana title fee: $15
• Plate transfer fee: $9.50
• Replacement registration card fee: $9.50
• Late registration penalty fee: $15
• Vehicle sales use/tax: 7%

Please note that registration fees do not include state or local excise taxes. For a more complete listing of Indiana’s vehicle registration fees, visit the Indiana BMV website.