Transfer a License Plate in Indiana: Deadline, Fees, and Old Plate

To transfer a license plate in Indiana, pay the $9.50 transfer fee through myBMV.com, at any BMV branch, at a BMV Connect kiosk, or through a full-service or partial-service provider, once the vehicle receiving the plate is titled in your name. The fee itself is small. The registration charges that ride along with it — excise tax, a state infrastructure fee, possible county or municipal tax, and 7% sales tax if you just bought the vehicle — are what actually determine your out-of-pocket cost.¹²

Where You Can Do It

Four channels handle plate transfers:

Online at myBMV.com, if your plate type qualifies
Any BMV branch, which can process every plate type
A BMV Connect self-service kiosk
A full-service or partial-service provider (FSP/PSP) authorized by the BMV

Online transfers are limited to four plate types: passenger, truck rated at 11,000 pounds or less, motorcycle, and In God We Trust. Specialty and distinctive plates outside that group have to go through a branch or service provider. Even with a qualifying plate, certain account conditions can block an online transfer and send you in person.¹

What You Need Before You Start

The vehicle receiving your plate has to be titled in Indiana first. If you bought it from a private seller, plan to title it either before or at the same time as the transfer. Beyond the title, bring:

Proof of insurance, if your policy has changed since your last BMV transaction
Two proofs of your legal address, if your address has changed since your last transaction

Online transfers pull most of this from your existing BMV record. Anything out of date will get flagged, and you’ll be prompted to update it before the transaction can finish.¹

The 45-Day Deadline

Indiana gives you 45 days from the purchase or acquisition date to register a vehicle. If you’re transferring a plate onto something you just bought, that clock started on the day of purchase. Miss the window and you’re looking at late fees on top of everything else.¹

What It Actually Costs

The transfer fee is $9.50 in every channel.² Registering the receiving vehicle triggers additional charges:

Vehicle excise tax, calculated annually from the vehicle’s original retail price and age. For passenger vehicles, this runs from $12 for older, lower-value cars up to $532 for new vehicles originally priced at $42,500 or more.³
The Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee (TIIF), charged on every motor vehicle registration and again at each renewal.
A supplemental fee if the vehicle is a hybrid or electric, with narrow exceptions for motor-driven cycles and government vehicles.
County or municipal vehicle tax, if the county or city where you live imposes one. Some do, some don’t, and rates vary.

The BMV’s Quick Quote tool on its website will estimate the total before you start the transaction, which is worth doing if a big excise tax bill would change your plans.⁴

Sales Tax if You Just Bought the Vehicle

Indiana charges 7% sales tax on vehicle purchases, whether from a dealer or a private seller. If the seller was an out-of-state dealer, the sales tax collected at the point of sale is capped at 7% even when the other state’s rate is higher.⁵

What to Do With the Old Plate

Indiana does not require you to return plates from a vehicle you’ve sold or stopped driving. The plate stays with you, not with the car. You have two choices: put it on another vehicle you own through the transfer process above, or destroy it. If you’re retiring the plate, bend or cut it so no one can mount it on another vehicle, since an intact plate left in circulation can generate registration or law enforcement problems tied to your name.⁶

Driving on Expired Plates

Operating a vehicle with expired plates is a Class C infraction under Indiana Code 9-18.1-11-2.⁷ The maximum fine is $500.⁸ Handling the transfer inside the 45-day window keeps you clear of it.

If You’re Moving to Indiana

You can’t transfer an out-of-state plate onto an Indiana registration. New residents have to title the vehicle in Indiana and get Indiana plates issued, using a Social Security number document, two proofs of Indiana address, the most recently issued out-of-state title, and a VIN inspection. New residents have 60 days after establishing residency to complete the title transfer and avoid an administrative penalty.⁹

1
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registrations
2
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV Fee Chart
3
IN.gov. BMV – Excise Tax Information
4
IN.gov. Vehicle Registration Fees and Taxes
5
IN.gov. Sales Tax Information Bulletin 84
6
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Buying and Selling a Vehicle
7
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.1-11-2 – Operation of Vehicle With Expired License Plates
8
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 34 – 34-28-5-4
9
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. New Indiana Resident Packet