To replace a lost Indiana driver’s license, pay the $9 fee through myBMV.com, a BMV Connect kiosk, or a BMV branch. The whole process takes about 15 minutes if your documents are in order, and your new card arrives in the mail within roughly two weeks. Which channel you can use depends on your citizenship status, whether anything has changed since your last card was issued, and whether you want to upgrade to a Real ID.
Pick the Right Channel
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers three ways to request a replacement, but not everyone qualifies for all three.
Online Through myBMV
The online option is the fastest. You can use it only if all of the following are true: you hold a standard operator’s license (with or without motorcycle or for-hire endorsements), you are a U.S. citizen, your license is not expired, your name and address have not changed since your last card, your driving record has no suspensions or revocations, and you are not switching from a non-compliant credential to a Real ID.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Replacing a Driver’s License Learner’s Permit or Identification Card If any of that doesn’t fit your situation, you need a branch or kiosk.
BMV Connect Kiosks
BMV Connect kiosks are self-service machines that handle duplicate driver’s licenses, CDL replacements, and learner’s permit replacements. They run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Sundays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET for maintenance. Kiosks inside BMV branches accept cash; standalone kiosks take credit and debit cards only.2IN.gov. BMV Connect Kiosks Kiosks are a good middle path if you don’t qualify online but want to skip the branch line.
In Person at a BMV Branch
A branch is your only option if your address has changed, your license is expired, you’re upgrading to Real ID, or you’re a non-citizen. Branches operate on a walk-in basis. You don’t have to retake any vision, written, or road skills test just because your card was lost. You’ll fill out a credential replacement request, verify your identity, and pay the fee. Checking estimated wait times on the BMV website before you go can save you a wasted trip.
Fees and Payment
The replacement fee is $9, per the BMV’s fee chart revised January 1, 2026.3IN.gov. BMV Fee Chart What you can pay with depends on where you’re paying:
- myBMV online: credit card, debit card, or e-check.
- BMV branch: credit card, debit card, cash, or check.
- BMV Connect kiosk inside a branch: credit card, debit card, or cash.
- Standalone BMV Connect kiosk: credit card or debit card only.
You can also request a replacement by phone with a credit or debit card, or by mail using a credit card, debit card, check, or e-check.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fees and Taxes
Documents to Bring to a Branch
If you already have a Real ID-compliant license and nothing has changed, your branch replacement is straightforward and you likely won’t need to resubmit every document. If your information has changed or you’re upgrading from a non-compliant credential, expect the BMV to ask for documents in several categories.
Proof of Identity
One document proving who you are. The common choices are an unexpired U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate filed with a state office of vital statistics. Foreign-born applicants can use a foreign passport with a visa and I-94 form.5IN.gov. Real ID Overview If your identity document shows a different name than your current legal name, bring the paperwork that connects the two, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Proof of Indiana Residency
Two separate printed documents showing your current residential address. Utility bills, bank statements, pay stubs, and Medicaid or Medicare statements all work. Bills must be dated within 60 days of your visit. A P.O. box alone is not enough unless you also bring a document showing your physical address.5IN.gov. Real ID Overview
Social Security Verification
If your SSN isn’t already on file with the BMV, you’ll need a document showing the full number. A Social Security card, W-2, SSA-1099, or a pay stub with your name and SSN all qualify.5IN.gov. Real ID Overview
Non-Citizens
Non-citizens must verify legal presence. Permanent residents can use a valid green card. Those on temporary visas need immigration documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security. Temporary and permanent residents are required to provide Real ID documentation on subsequent transactions, including replacements.
If your lost card carried a veteran designation and you want it back on the new one, bring your DD-214 (long form) showing a discharge other than dishonorable. There is no extra charge to carry the designation over during a replacement.6IN.gov. Military Families
What You Get Right Away, and What Comes Later
Once the BMV processes your request, you get a temporary paper license valid for 30 days. That paper document lets you drive legally while your permanent card is printed and mailed. The permanent card usually arrives within 14 days. If it hasn’t shown up after 21 days, contact the BMV. Double-check your mailing address when you apply; a wrong address is the most common reason cards go missing.
Carry the temporary paper license. Indiana law requires you to have your license in your immediate possession while driving and to show it when a police officer asks. Failing to do so is a Class C infraction with a fine of up to $500.7Justia. Indiana Code Title 9 Article 24 Chapter 13 – Rights and Duties of Licensees and Permittees There’s a useful wrinkle: you can avoid a conviction entirely if you produce a valid license to the officer or their headquarters within five days of the stop. If you’ve applied for the replacement and can show proof of a valid license within that window, you have a defense.
Upgrading to Real ID at the Same Time
Since May 7, 2025, a Real ID-compliant license has been required to board commercial flights and enter certain federal buildings. If your lost card was non-compliant (it would have said “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” across the top), replacement is a natural moment to upgrade. Starting February 1, 2026, TSA requires travelers without a Real ID or another approved federal ID such as a passport to go through additional identity screening at the airport, which costs $45 and is valid for only 10 days.5IN.gov. Real ID Overview
You cannot upgrade to Real ID online or at a kiosk. It has to be a branch, with the full identity, residency, and Social Security documents described above.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Replacing a Driver’s License Learner’s Permit or Identification Card If you already have a Real ID (look for the star in the top-right corner), a simple replacement keeps that status automatically, and the BMV won’t require you to resubmit documentation unless you have temporary or permanent resident status.
If You’re Out of State or on Active Duty
If your license is lost or stolen while you’re traveling, try myBMV first. If you don’t qualify online, you can request a 30-day interim credential by submitting a completed Request for Interim/Extension License (State Form 54580). That temporary document gives you authority to drive back to Indiana and visit a branch for the permanent replacement.1Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Replacing a Driver’s License Learner’s Permit or Identification Card
Indiana law also protects service members. Under Indiana Code 9-24-12-6(b), the license of an Indiana resident serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and living outside Indiana remains valid for 90 days after discharge or post-deployment, regardless of the printed expiration date. The same extension applies to a service member’s spouse and dependents living outside Indiana. If you can’t replace online and your license has expired while you’re deployed, contact the BMV at 1-888-692-6841 or print the Military Extension Letter from the BMV’s website. Carry that letter at all times while driving; it stands in as your legal authority to operate a vehicle until you can visit a branch.6IN.gov. Military Families
If Your License Was Stolen, Not Just Lost
A driver’s license carries your full name, date of birth, address, and photo, which is enough for someone to attempt identity fraud. If you suspect theft rather than a misplaced wallet, move quickly.
File a police report with local law enforcement. The BMV doesn’t require one for replacement, but a report documents the theft and helps if your identity is later used. Place a free one-year fraud alert by calling any one of the three credit bureaus: Experian at 888-397-3742, TransUnion at 888-909-8872, or Equifax at 800-685-1111. The bureau you contact is required to notify the other two.8Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Steps
Pull your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com and check for accounts you don’t recognize. For stronger protection, consider a credit freeze, which blocks new creditors from accessing your report entirely and is free to place and lift. You can also lock your Social Security number for employment verification through E-Verify at e-verify.gov/mye-verify, a system run by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.8Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Steps
If someone has already used your information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will generate an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.