What States Recognize an Indiana Carry Permit?

Roughly 31 states formally recognize the Indiana License to Carry a Handgun, and a growing number of permitless carry states let any legally eligible adult carry without a permit at all.¹ The exact count moves as states revise their laws, and several of the states that do honor Indiana’s permit attach conditions on residency or age. Verifying the rules for every state on your route before each trip is the only safe approach.

The States That Honor an Indiana LCH

Based on available state sources, the following states recognize Indiana’s License to Carry a Handgun: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.¹

Indiana itself no longer requires a permit to carry inside the state. Since July 1, 2022, anyone at least 18 and not prohibited from possessing a firearm can carry a handgun in Indiana without a license.² The LCH exists primarily so Hoosiers can carry in states that still require a permit.

Conditions Some Recognizing States Attach

Recognition is not always unconditional. Pennsylvania honors Indiana permits only when the holder is an Indiana resident and at least 21.³ Colorado, Florida, and Michigan impose similar resident-only restrictions. A non-resident Indiana permit, or an Indiana permit held by someone under 21, may not qualify in those states even though the state generally recognizes Indiana licenses.

Before you travel, confirm that the destination state recognizes your specific permit type, including whether it draws any line based on residency or age.

Permitless Carry States

Reciprocity is only half the picture. About 29 states have permitless or “constitutional” carry laws that let anyone legally allowed to possess a firearm carry a handgun without any permit. Indiana residents passing through are covered under those laws even in states that do not formally recognize the Indiana LCH. South Carolina joined this group in March 2024.⁴

Watch the age threshold. Most permitless carry states require you to be 21. Indiana issues the LCH at 18, so an 18-year-old Hoosier with a valid Indiana permit may be able to carry at home but not in a permitless carry state that sets the minimum at 21.²

States That Do Not Recognize the Indiana Permit

Several states neither honor the Indiana LCH nor allow permitless carry. Carrying a handgun in these states on the strength of an Indiana permit alone is illegal and can lead to arrest. The states that generally do not recognize Indiana’s permit include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. The District of Columbia also does not recognize it.

New York and New Jersey are especially strict. Both treat unlawful handgun possession as a serious criminal offense, and travelers who believed they were passing through lawfully have been arrested and prosecuted. An Indiana permit offers no legal protection in these jurisdictions.

Driving Through a State That Doesn’t Honor Your Permit

Federal law provides a narrow safe-passage right. Under 18 U.S.C. § 926A, you may transport a firearm through a state where you could not otherwise carry it, but only if you meet every condition: you must be traveling from a place where you can legally possess the firearm to another such place, the firearm must be unloaded, and neither the gun nor the ammunition can be readily accessible from the passenger compartment.⁵ If the vehicle has no separate trunk, both must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or center console.

In states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, this federal protection is treated as an affirmative defense. You can still be arrested, charged, and booked, and would then raise the federal law to defend yourself in court. Stopping overnight, taking a side trip, or deviating from your route can also void the protection. Treat section 926A as a last resort for an unavoidable pass-through, not as general permission to spend time in a hostile state.

Using a Non-Resident Permit to Expand Your Coverage

If you travel often to states that do not recognize the Indiana LCH, a non-resident permit from another state can fill some of the gaps. Utah and Florida are popular because their permits are honored broadly. Utah’s non-resident permit costs $87 and requires a firearms course.⁶ Holding two or three permits from different states can meaningfully expand where you can legally carry, though no combination covers every state.

Utah adds one wrinkle: if your home state recognizes the Utah permit, as Indiana does, you must first hold your home state’s permit before applying for the Utah non-resident version. Keep your Indiana LCH current even if you add permits from elsewhere.

Verify Before Every Trip

Reciprocity agreements change with little public notice. A state that honored your permit last year may have revised its rules since. The most reliable sources are the official state police or attorney general websites for your destination. Indiana’s own FAQ page tracks reciprocity at a high level and directs permit holders to confirm with individual states.¹ Check every state on your route, not just where you plan to stop. A non-reciprocating state you only intend to drive through still counts, and federal safe-passage rules apply the moment you cross that line.

1
IN.gov. Which States Honor My Indiana Handgun License?
2
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-47-2-3 – License Requirement; Application
3
PA Office of Attorney General. Concealed Carry Reciprocity
4
South Carolina Legislature. 2023-2024 Bill 3594 – Constitutional Carry
5
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms
6
Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. How Do I Apply for a Concealed Firearm Permit?