Indiana State Form 37135 is the “Report of Stolen License Plate or Registration Decal,” and it exists for one purpose: to document that a plate or decal was stolen so the BMV will issue you a replacement. A law enforcement officer fills out the first section, you fill out the second, and then you take the completed form to any Indiana BMV branch to apply for a new plate. If your plate is only lost, damaged, or unreadable, you don’t need this form at all — you just go to a branch.
When Form 37135 Is the Right Form
Indiana law requires you to report a stolen plate or decal to law enforcement before the BMV can replace it. The report goes to either the agency where the theft occurred or the agency covering the address on your vehicle registration.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9 Article 18.1 Chapter 11 Section 9-18.1-11-8 – Duplicate or Replacement License Plate or Other Proof of Registration; Notice to Law Enforcement; Fee Form 37135 is how that report travels with you to the BMV.
One consequence to understand before you file: a stolen plate always results in a new plate number. Once the old number is flagged as stolen in the system, it cannot be reissued to you.2Indiana State Government. How do I replace my license plate, sticker, or registration? If you’re genuinely unsure whether your plate was stolen or simply fell off somewhere, you get to make that call. Reporting a lost plate as stolen means giving up the old number.
For situations that aren’t theft, Form 37135 isn’t involved:
- A damaged or unreadable plate: go to a BMV branch for a duplicate, keeping your same plate number and type.
- A lost (not stolen) plate: go to a branch for a replacement, same plate type but a new number.
- A missing expiration year sticker: buy a replacement at a BMV Connect kiosk or branch.
- A missing month, day, county, or weight sticker: visit a branch.
- A lost registration document: print a free duplicate through myBMV.com.2Indiana State Government. How do I replace my license plate, sticker, or registration?
Filling Out the Three Sections
You can download Form 37135 from the Indiana BMV website or pick one up at any branch.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. State Form 37135 – Report of Stolen License Plate or Registration Decal Use blue or black ink, or print the form after filling it out on a computer. The form has three sections. You are only responsible for one.
Section 1: Law Enforcement
Don’t fill this in yourself. Bring the form to the agency where you’re reporting the theft. The officer enters the agency name and address, your vehicle identification number or hull identification number, and the stolen plate or decal number, then signs, prints their name, and adds their badge number and the date.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. State Form 37135 – Report of Stolen License Plate or Registration Decal That signature is what certifies the theft to the BMV.
Section 2: Applicant
Print the registered owner’s full name (or the business name, if the vehicle is company-owned), followed by your residential address, city, state, and ZIP code. Sign and date. The form itself doesn’t ask for a driver’s license number, title number, or any supporting paperwork.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. State Form 37135 – Report of Stolen License Plate or Registration Decal
Section 3: BMV Branch Use Only
Leave this blank. A BMV employee completes it when you turn in the form.
Where to Submit It and What It Costs
Once law enforcement has signed Section 1, take the form to any Indiana BMV branch. The form’s own instructions say it “must be presented to a BMV branch at time of application for a replacement license plate or registration decal.”3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. State Form 37135 – Report of Stolen License Plate or Registration Decal Mail and online submission are not options. Branches accept walk-ins, and you can also book an appointment through the BMV’s scheduling system.
The replacement fee is $9.50, set by Indiana Code 9-18.1-11-8. The same amount applies whether the plate was stolen, lost, or damaged, and it also covers replacement stickers.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV Fee Chart
After You Apply
Allow up to 21 calendar days for your replacement plate or sticker to arrive by mail. That figure comes from the BMV’s own FAQ and its vehicle registration page.5Indiana State Government. How long will it take for me to receive my registration and/or sticker6Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registrations If nothing has arrived after 21 days, call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841.
Because you’ll be assigned a new plate number, update it anywhere the old number was on file: E-ZPass and other toll accounts, parking permits, gated community systems, and any employer or garage that tracks plates. Auto insurance policies generally don’t need updating, since they’re tied to the VIN rather than the plate number.
Don’t Put Off the Replacement
Indiana law requires every vehicle to display its plate on the rear, fastened horizontally at least 12 inches off the ground, with all text, numbers, and stickers visible.7Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. License Plate Frame and Sticker Display Requirements A plate that’s missing, obstructed, or covered violates Indiana Code 9-18.1-4-4, which is a Class C infraction.8Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9 Motor Vehicles 9-18.1-4-4 – Display of License Plates A Class C infraction can carry a judgment of up to $500.9Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 34 Civil Law and Procedure 34-28-5-4 That’s a substantial penalty next to a $9.50 replacement, and a missing plate is a common reason for a traffic stop. File the report and get to a branch soon after.