To complete an Indiana vehicle registration, bring a valid Indiana certificate of title, proof of identity and Social Security number, two documents proving Indiana residency, and proof of insurance to a BMV branch (or use myBMV for straightforward renewals), then pay the $21.35 base fee along with your vehicle excise tax and any county charges. New residents have 60 days from establishing residency to register, and anyone buying a vehicle has 45 days from the purchase date. Miss either deadline and the BMV adds a $15 administrative penalty on top of a Class C infraction.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.1-11-5 – Delinquent Registration; Administrative Penalty
Documents You Need
Registration starts with a valid Indiana certificate of title for the vehicle.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-17-2-1 – Vehicles Requiring Certificates of Title; Proof of Residency; Violation If your title is from another state, convert it by filing the Application for Certificate of Title/Registration (State Form 44049), which captures the VIN, odometer reading, and owner information.3Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Title Forms The BMV may require a physical VIN inspection to confirm the number on the vehicle matches your paperwork, so plan on that extra step for an out-of-state transfer.
Along with the title, the BMV wants:
- One original document showing your full Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub.
- Two original documents showing your name and Indiana residential address, such as a utility bill issued within 60 days, a lease or mortgage contract, or a recent bank statement. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
- A current Indiana auto insurance policy that meets the state’s minimum liability limits.
Those residency and Social Security requirements come from the BMV’s standard documentation checklist.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Real ID Documentation Checklist Check that your name and address read the same way on every document. Small mismatches stall the process.
Insurance Minimums
Indiana will not register a vehicle without proof of at least the state minimum liability coverage: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage, commonly written as 25/50/25. The BMV verifies coverage electronically, so your insurer needs your policy loaded into the state’s database before you arrive. Bring your current insurance card or declarations page as a backup in case the electronic check misses. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is not required by Indiana law, though many drivers add it.
Emissions Testing (Lake and Porter Counties Only)
If you live in Lake or Porter County, your vehicle must pass an emissions test before the BMV finalizes registration. The requirement applies to vehicles manufactured after 1975 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less, and the test must be renewed every two years.5Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Emissions Testing Program Residents of every other Indiana county skip this step entirely.6Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Administrative Code 326 IAC 13-1.1 – Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Requirements
What It Costs
The base registration fee for a passenger vehicle is $21.35.7Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Fee Chart The bigger line is the vehicle excise tax, calculated from the vehicle’s original manufacturer’s suggested retail price and its age. Indiana uses 17 value classes, and the tax drops as the vehicle gets older. A brand-new car with a high sticker price can run several hundred dollars in excise tax; an older vehicle near the bottom of the schedule can come in as low as $12.8Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 6-6-5-2 – Vehicle Excise Tax; Imposition
Many counties add their own charges on top. The motor vehicle excise surtax uses the same value class as the state excise tax, with a $7.50 minimum per vehicle.9Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 6-3.5-4-2 – Imposition and Rate of Surtax; Wheel Tax The wheel tax is a flat amount that varies by county and vehicle type. Not every county imposes these charges, so what you pay depends on where you live. The BMV calculates everything automatically and shows the full amount before you check out.
Between the base fee, excise tax, and county charges, someone registering a new vehicle might owe $400 or more, while registering a 15-year-old car can come in under $50. The BMV publishes excise tax tables you can use to estimate your bracket before you file.
Where to File
Indiana gives you four ways to submit a registration, and the right one depends on what you’re doing:
- Online through myBMV. The fastest path for most transactions, with payment by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. A small transaction fee applies to credit card payments.10Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Online Services at myBMV.com
- BMV Connect self-service kiosks at many branches, available around the clock and accepting cash, debit, and credit cards.11Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Registrations and Plates
- In person at a BMV branch. Usually the simplest path for a first-time registration or an out-of-state title transfer, especially when a VIN inspection may be needed.
- By mail to the BMV’s central processing office. Build in extra time beyond the standard window.
Online and kiosk options work best for renewals and anything where the BMV already has your title on file. A branch visit is the smoother move for new registrations tied to an out-of-state title.
Driving a Vehicle You Haven’t Registered Yet
Indiana allows a narrow window to drive a newly purchased vehicle before registration is finalized. Buy from a licensed dealer and you can drive on the dealer-issued interim plate for up to 45 days. Buy from a private party without a temporary permit and you can drive the vehicle for only 72 hours, and only to take it home, to an emissions testing station, or to a BMV branch to register it.12Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.1-2-8 Carry the title or bill of sale showing ownership while you drive on this temporary basis. Scheduling a BMV visit within the first day or two of a private purchase keeps you inside that 72-hour window.
After You File
If you register at a branch, you leave with a temporary paper permit that lets you drive while the BMV processes your permanent plates and sticker. Allow up to 21 calendar days for them to arrive by mail. If nothing shows up after 21 days, call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841 to check the status.13Indiana BMV FAQs. How Long Will It Take for Me to Receive My Registration and/or Sticker Mail-in applications take longer than that.
Check that the registration card matches your vehicle before affixing the sticker to your plate. If the BMV finds an error in your paperwork or payment, you’ll get a notice explaining the fix. Don’t let that notice sit. Your temporary permit has an expiration date, and driving past it carries the same consequences as never registering at all.
If You Register Late
Missing the deadline costs more than the paperwork. If you buy a vehicle and don’t register within 45 days, or you’re a new resident and don’t register within 60 days, the BMV adds a $15 administrative penalty to your regular fees, and the violation is a Class C infraction.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.1-11-5 – Delinquent Registration; Administrative Penalty Driving an unregistered vehicle on public roads is a separate Class C infraction and can draw its own traffic stop and citation.14Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.1-2-11 – Failure to Register; Violation The same $15 penalty applies when an existing registration lapses without renewal.
Renewing Each Year
Indiana registration must be renewed every year. The BMV usually mails a renewal notice before your registration expires, but you’re responsible for renewing on time whether the notice arrives or not. You can renew through myBMV, at a BMV Connect kiosk, by phone, or in person.11Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Registrations and Plates In Lake and Porter counties, you’ll need a current emissions certificate every other renewal cycle.
Renewal cost tracks the initial structure: the $21.35 base fee, excise tax at the vehicle’s current age class, and any county surtax or wheel tax.7Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Fee Chart Because excise drops each year as the vehicle ages, renewals get cheaper over the life of the car.