An Indiana identification card is a state-issued photo ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for residents who don’t hold a driver’s license. It costs $9, is valid for six years, and is free for U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and eligible to vote. First-time applicants must apply in person at a BMV branch with documents proving identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency.
Documents to Bring
You need original documents or certified copies in four categories:
- Identity: a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or similar government-issued document.
- Lawful status: proof of U.S. citizenship or authorized immigration status.
- Social Security number: your Social Security card or a document showing your full SSN.
- Indiana residency: two documents such as utility bills, bank statements, or a lease showing your Indiana address.
One document can cover more than one category. A U.S. passport, for example, proves both identity and lawful status. The BMV publishes a full checklist on its website, and bringing extra paperwork is worth the effort; being turned away for a missing document is a common frustration at the branch.
Real ID or Standard
Indiana issues two versions of the card: Real ID-compliant and standard. Both work for banking, age verification, and dealings with state agencies. The difference shows up at airport security and federal buildings.
As of May 7, 2025, a Real ID-compliant credential is required to board domestic commercial flights and enter certain federal facilities. A non-compliant Indiana card has “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” printed across the top.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Real ID Overview If you show up at TSA with a non-compliant card and no other acceptable ID like a passport, TSA charges $45 to attempt identity verification through its ConfirmID process, that verification lasts only ten days, and there’s no guarantee it will succeed.2Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID
The fee is the same for either version. If you might ever fly domestically without a passport, choose the compliant card.
How to Apply for the First Time
First-time applicants must visit a BMV branch in person so staff can review original documents and take a photograph. A new card cannot be issued online or at a kiosk.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards
Indiana law prohibits holding a driver’s license and a state ID card at the same time, including a license from another state. If you currently drive and want an ID card instead, you must surrender all driving credentials.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-11-4 – Only One License or Identification Card at the Same Time; Exception; Violation Surrender can be done online, at a BMV Connect kiosk, or at a branch. Customers with lawful temporary or permanent resident status must handle it at a branch.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards
Fees and the Free Voter ID
The fee for an initial, renewal, replacement, or amended card is $9, whether the card is Real ID-compliant or standard.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards
The card is free for any Indiana resident who is at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and eligible to vote. Bring the required documents to a branch and tell the clerk you need a free identification card for voting purposes.5Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Voter Information The free card is functionally identical to any other Indiana ID and meets the state’s photo ID requirement at the polls.
Renewing Your Card
A standard card expires at midnight on your birthday six years after it was issued. Cards issued to noncitizens with temporary authorization expire when the authorized stay ends or at the six-year mark, whichever comes first, and expire one year after issuance if the authorization carries no end date.6Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-24-16-4 – Expiration
You can renew up to 24 months before the printed expiration date. Renewal is available online through myBMV.com, at a BMV Connect kiosk, or at a branch. Customers with lawful temporary or permanent resident status must renew at a branch, and photo-exempt cards must also be renewed in person.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards
Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card
A replacement costs $9 and can be handled online, at a BMV Connect kiosk, or at a branch. The voter exception applies here too: an eligible voter’s replacement is free.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards Customers with lawful temporary or permanent resident status must visit a branch.
Changing Your Name or Address
Indiana law gives you 30 days after moving to update your card. An address change must be done at a branch, not online, and requires two approved documents showing the new Indiana address.7Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Amending Your Driver’s License or Identification Card A name change following marriage, divorce, or a court order also requires a branch visit with supporting documents such as a marriage certificate or court decree. The amendment fee is $9.
Using the Card to Vote
An Indiana ID card meets the state’s photo identification requirement at the polls. Under Indiana law, a voting ID must display your photo, show a name matching your voter registration, be issued by Indiana or the U.S. government, and either be current or have expired after the most recent general election.8Indiana Secretary of State. Photo ID Law
A recently expired card still works if the expiration date falls after the last general election. If it expired earlier, renew before Election Day.
Veteran and Organ Donor Designations
The card can carry optional indicators for veterans and organ donors.
For the veteran designation, bring your DD-214 long form showing a discharge status other than dishonorable. Adding the indicator when you first get or renew the card carries no extra charge; adding it to an existing unexpired card outside of a renewal costs a standard amendment fee.9Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Military Families
During any ID transaction, the BMV will ask whether you want to join Indiana’s organ donor registry. Saying yes counts as first-person authorization under Indiana gift law and is legally binding: if donation is clinically possible after your death, the Indiana Donor Network is obligated to honor that decision. You can change your mind later, and the most recent registration decision on file controls.10Indiana Donor Network. Understanding the Donor Registry
Cards for Minors
Minors under 18 can get an Indiana ID card, but a parent or legal guardian must take part in the application. The guardian brings their own identification along with documentation of the relationship, such as the child’s birth certificate or guardianship papers. The minor still has to satisfy the same four document categories. If two residency documents aren’t available in the minor’s own name, an adult at least 18 who lives with them can sign a residency affidavit.
Penalties for False Information
Using false information to obtain a card falls under Indiana’s deception statute and is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail.11Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-43-5-3 – Deception Identity deception, using another person’s identifying information with intent to harm or defraud, is a Level 6 felony punishable by six months to two and a half years. The charge rises to a Level 5 felony if the scheme involves more than 100 victims, causes at least $50,000 in harm, or targets a minor in the offender’s care.12Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-43-5-3.5 – Identity Deception