To replace a lost title in Indiana, apply to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a duplicate using Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205). The fee is $15, and you can file online through myBMV, in person at any branch, or by mail. Standard processing takes up to 21 calendar days; a $25 Speed Title upgrade gets it to you in a few business days.
Who Can Request a Duplicate
Only the registered owner on the BMV’s records can apply. A duplicate replaces a missing title; it does not change ownership and it does not remove a lien.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Duplicate Title Application
If the owner has died, a legal heir or executor can apply. Bring a certified copy of the death certificate along with court documents showing your authority, such as letters testamentary or an affidavit of heirship. The BMV may ask for more depending on the estate.
Someone else can file for you if you give them a notarized Limited Power of Attorney, State Form 1940.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Limited Power of Attorney Vehicle and Watercraft Transactions
If There’s a Lien on the Vehicle
When a lender holds a lien, the BMV sends the duplicate to the lienholder rather than to you. Call your lender before applying: some require written authorization, and some will handle the whole duplicate process on your behalf.
Electronic Titles
The duplicate title process only covers paper titles. If Indiana holds your title electronically, this transaction does not apply.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Duplicate Title Application Call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841 to find out how to proceed.
What to Gather Before You Apply
- An unexpired photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or a school or bank card with your photo.
- The vehicle’s VIN, make, model, and year.
- The current odometer reading. For vehicles less than 20 model years old, also complete an Odometer Disclosure Statement (State Form 43230). The federal threshold moved from 10 to 20 model years in 2021, so it applies to 2011 and newer vehicles.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV Title Forms4Federal Register. Odometer Disclosure Requirements
- The lienholder’s name and address, if there is one.
- A notarized State Form 1940 if a representative is filing for you.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Limited Power of Attorney Vehicle and Watercraft Transactions
Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205) is on the BMV website and at every branch.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV Title Forms Check every field before you submit. Incomplete or inaccurate applications get returned and restart the clock.
Three Ways to File
Online
Log in at myBMV.com and go to the Titles section. This is the fastest route because you skip the branch entirely.1Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Duplicate Title Application Pay by credit card, debit card, or e-check.5Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fees and Taxes
In Person
Bring your photo ID, vehicle information, and completed State Form 205 to any Indiana BMV branch. Branches take credit cards, debit cards, cash, and checks.5Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fees and Taxes Go in person if your situation is unusual or you want help with the form.
By Mail
Send the completed State Form 205 and supporting documents to:
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Indiana Government Center North
Room 402
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 462046Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Bureau of Motor Vehicles Contact
Include payment with the application. Mail payments can be credit card, debit card, check, or e-check.5Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fees and Taxes
Fees
A duplicate title is $15. The Speed Title service adds $25, for a total of $40 if you need it expedited.7Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fee Chart
How Long It Takes
Standard processing runs up to 21 calendar days. The BMV mails the title to the address on file, or to the lienholder if one is recorded.8IN.gov. How Long Will It Take for Me to Receive My Title If 21 days pass and nothing has arrived, call 888-692-6841 to check the status.
Speed Title is much faster. The BMV describes it as “substantially shorter than the normal processing period,” and most people see the title within a few business days.8IN.gov. How Long Will It Take for Me to Receive My Title If you’re closing a sale or using the vehicle as loan collateral, the $25 upgrade is usually worth it.
Your replacement will be stamped “DUPLICATE” on its face. If the original later turns up, it is void and should be destroyed.
When a Duplicate Won’t Solve the Problem
The duplicate process only works if you are already the owner on record. If you bought a car and the seller never transferred the title into their name, or you inherited a vehicle and no one with authority can sign the old title over, a duplicate is the wrong tool.
Indiana handles those situations through a court-ordered title. You file a petition in your county court, obtain a judge’s order establishing ownership, have the vehicle inspected by a law enforcement officer, and submit the packet to the BMV’s Central Office. The order must describe the vehicle by year, make, and VIN and direct the BMV to issue a title in your name. You have 30 days from the date of the court order to file with the BMV; miss that window and a $30 late fee applies. Call 888-692-6841 before you start this path to confirm you actually need it.
If Your Title Was Stolen
A vehicle title carries your full name, home address, and VIN. Someone who gets hold of it could try to sell the vehicle fraudulently, file bogus insurance claims, or use the VIN to get a replacement key from a locksmith.
If the title was stolen rather than misplaced, file a police report before applying for the duplicate. Keep a record of your VIN, title number, and application date. Store the new duplicate somewhere secure rather than in the glove box. None of this guarantees you avoid trouble, but it creates a paper trail that makes misuse harder.