To change your address on an Indiana driver’s license, visit a BMV branch in person within 30 days of your move, bring your current license and two original documents proving your new Indiana residential address, and pay the $9.00 amendment fee. The BMV will issue you an amended license with the updated address. This cannot be done online, by mail, or at a kiosk.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Amending Your Driver’s License or Identification Card – Section: Address Change
The 30-Day Deadline
Indiana Code 9-24-13-4 says you “shall” apply for an amended license within 30 days of a change in your residential address.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-13-4 Application for Amended License or Permit Due to Change in Residence or Name The clock starts on the day you actually move, not the day your lease ends or your mail starts forwarding. Because the update has to happen in person, plan a branch visit into your first few weeks at the new place.
Documents You Need to Bring
You need your current Indiana driver’s license and two original documents that show your name and your new Indiana residential address. A P.O. box will not work. The BMV accepts a range of paperwork:
- Utility, credit card, doctor, or hospital bills dated within 60 days of your visit
- Bank statements or transaction receipts within 60 days, or a current vehicle loan payment book
- A mortgage or loan contract, a lease or rental agreement, or a property tax bill from the current or prior year
- A valid homeowner’s, renter’s, or auto insurance policy dated within one year
- First-class mail from a federal or state court or agency, dated within 60 days
- A USPS change-of-address confirmation, an Indiana voter registration card, a pre-printed pay stub within 60 days, or a W-2 from the current or prior year
Two documents from different categories on the list are the safest combination.3IN.gov. Real ID Documentation Checklist
The Fee
The amended credential costs $9.00.4IN.gov. BMV Fee Chart Under Indiana Code 9-24-13-4, the address amendment is treated as a replacement license, so the single fee covers both the record change and the new physical card you take home.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-13-4 Application for Amended License or Permit Due to Change in Residence or Name
Mailing Address Is Not the Same Thing
The BMV keeps two separate addresses on file. Your residential address is your legal address in Indiana; your mailing address is wherever you want plates, renewal notices, and letters sent. Only the residential change requires an in-person visit and satisfies the 30-day rule. You can update a mailing address through your myBMV account at mybmv.com or at any branch, but doing so does not update your residential address and does not meet the legal deadline.5Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Update Your Contact Info on myBMV If you have actually moved, do both: amend the residential address at a branch, and update the mailing address if it differs.
Your Vehicle Registration Is a Separate Update
Changing the address on your license does not automatically change the address on your vehicle registration. Whether you moved across the state or across the street, updating the registration takes its own trip and its own two proofs of address. You can handle it at your next renewal or as a standalone amendment at any branch.6IN.gov. BMV: Registration and Plates: Vehicle Registrations Many people take care of both at the same visit.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
An out-of-date address on file quietly creates several problems. Renewal notices, registration reminders, and court correspondence go to the address the BMV has, so mail sent to your old home can cause you to miss deadlines that trigger late fees, a lapsed registration, or a license suspension.
Auto insurance is the other quiet risk. Insurers price policies based on where a vehicle is kept, and coverage generally has to reflect your actual residence. A mismatch between your policy address and where you actually live can lead to a denied claim, a canceled policy, or a misrepresentation flag. And when you update your address at the BMV, your voter registration updates through the Indiana Election Division at the same time unless you opt out, so keeping the license current keeps you assigned to the right precinct. A USPS forwarding order does not update your voter registration on its own.
If You’re in the Military or Away at College
Service members often assume the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act exempts them from updating an Indiana license. It does not. The SCRA covers taxes, leases, and certain legal proceedings, but it does not override state licensing rules. If Indiana is still your permanent legal residence and your Indiana address changes, the 30-day amendment rule applies. If you are stationed out of state and your Indiana home address has not changed, there is nothing to amend.
The same logic applies to college students. A dorm or apartment address at an out-of-state school is not a change to your Indiana residential address, so your license stays valid as-is. If your permanent Indiana address does change, the standard 30-day rule kicks in.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Amending Your Driver’s License or Identification Card – Section: Address Change
Commercial Driver’s License Holders
If you hold an Indiana CDL, the 30-day deadline is the same and the process is the same: visit a branch with your current CDL and two proofs of your new address. Federal regulations require CDL holders to notify their state licensing agency of any address change, and Indiana handles that through the standard BMV amendment. Falling behind can lead to a downgraded CDL status, which affects your ability to work, so it is worth keeping your employer informed of the change as well.