What Do I Need for an Indiana Title Transfer?
In order to successfully perform a vehicle title transfer in the state of Indiana, you need to obtain certain documentation. You need to make sure you have the following documents available:
- The manufacturer’s certificate of origin or certificate of title
- Application for Certificate of Title for a vehicle
- An odometer disclosure statement or a completed odometer statement on the vehicle title
- A physical inspection of a vehicle or watercraft (if required)
- Proof of address
- Proof of social security number or a federal identification number (FIN)
- Payment for all applicable vehicle title transfer fees and sales tax fee of 7%
It’s important for you to contact your local IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before heading to the BMV location to ensure you have the required documentation for your specific situation. You may be required to obtain a bill of sale to complete the Indiana vehicle title transfer.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection
As an Indiana resident, your vehicle is required to undergo an emissions test before you can register your vehicle. Once you have established residency in Indiana, you have 60 days to register your vehicle.
Indiana Emissions and Smog Check Requirements
Vehicles that are registered in Indiana are required to endure an emissions test every 2 years before its registration can be renewed. If your vehicle is registered in Lake or Porter counties and was manufactured after 1975 and weighs 9,000 pounds, your vehicle requires an inspection. Your vehicle will be tested according to the year it was made.
The following types of vehicles are exempt from Indiana emissions testing:
- All vehicles that are not registered in Lake or Porter County
- Vehicles that are 4 model years old and newer
- Vehicles that weight over 9,000 pounds
- Electric or diesel-powered vehicles
- Vehicles that are model year 1975 and older
- Motorcycles
- Recreational vehicles
- Ceremonial vehicles
- Kit cars or dune buggies
- Show cars
- Construction equipment that is used off-highway
- Farm equipment (this equipment must be registered solely for farm use)
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in Indiana?
New residents of Indiana are required to title their vehicle with the IN BMV within 60 days of establishing residency, or you risk paying late fees. In this situation, you will be exempt from paying sales tax on your vehicle. Residents who are new to the state of Indiana, are required to have a vehicle inspection. Additional steps are required if you have a lien on your vehicle.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title When Buying or Selling a Vehicle in Indiana
Depending on whether you’re the buyer or seller of a vehicle, you have different steps you need to follow to transfer a vehicle’s title in Indiana.
If you’re purchasing a vehicle out of state, you will be credited all sales tax you paid on your vehicle towards the sales tax you owe to the state of Indiana. If you paid less than the required state amount of 7%, the difference will be owed to the IN BMV.
Buying a Vehicle
When you’re buying a vehicle from a dealership, the dealership handles the bulk of the paperwork for you, including the vehicle application. If the dealership does not partner with the Indiana BMV, you must visit your local IN BMV branch and submit all documents that are required for titling a vehicle in Indiana and a properly assigned title certificate or manufacturer’s certificate of origin, which is provided by the dealer.
When the sale of the vehicle is complete, and you have made the necessary payments, the dealer has 31 days to provide you with the vehicle’s title. If the dealer doesn’t provide the vehicle within 31 days, you can write the dealer a request delivery of the vehicle title. The dealer will then have 10 additional days to deliver the vehicle title.
Buying a Vehicle From an Out-of-State Dealer
When you purchase a vehicle from a dealership in a different state, you need to have specific documentation. You have 45 days to complete the out-of-state vehicle title transfer, and you are responsible for obtaining proof of ownership from the dealer, which can include one of the following documents:
- Certificate of origin
- Title certificate
- Purchase order
- Bill of sale
- Sales contract
When you have your documents in order, you can visit your local IN BMV office and transfer the vehicle’s title in person. You can also initiate the vehicle title process by mail.
Buying a Vehicle From a Private Seller
When you purchase a vehicle from a private seller in Indiana, you are responsible for completing the vehicle title transfer and paying the transfer fee. Residents of Indiana have 45 days after the purchase date of the vehicle to complete the vehicle title transfer. Failure to meet the 45-day deadline will result in a late fee you are also responsible for paying.
In order to complete a vehicle title transfer in Indiana, you need to obtain the vehicle title from the seller with the following information completed on the title:
- The seller’s signature
- The purchase date
- The price of sale
- Information indicating you are the vehicle’s buyer
- The odometer reading (if the vehicle has a lien and the lien holder has possession of the vehicle title, there are additional steps you need to follow)
- The seller of the vehicle needs to remove the license plate
Once you have filled out the vehicle’s title, you can visit your local Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and submit:
- A completed Application for Certificate of Title (Form 205)
- The vehicle’s title (if the odometer information isn’t completed on the title, you will need to provide an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 43230)
- Proof of residency (such as a current utility bill, driver’s license, etc.)
- Proof of a vehicle inspection
- Payment for titling the vehicle and registration fees
Selling a Vehicle
If you’re selling a vehicle in Indiana, you are responsible for signing over the vehicle’s title to the new vehicle owner. On the vehicle’s title, you need to:
- Sign where instructed on the vehicle title certificate
- Filling out the purchaser’s information
- Providing an odometer disclosure
- Noting the date and price of sale
Make sure you remove the license plates from the vehicle before the transaction is complete. You may be eligible for a refund on your paid excise tax from when you registered your vehicle.
How to Transfer a Car Title When the Owner is Deceased?
When the owner of a vehicle passes away, the process you need to follow for transferring the vehicle’s title varies depending on whether the vehicle’s title was in the individual’s name as a descendant or in joint ownership. If the vehicle’s title was solely in the descendant’s name, you are responsible for determining if the estate is being probated.
Probate is a legal process that allows the administering of the estate of a deceased individual according to their will. The Probate Court will determine how you need to proceed with the individual’s belongings. During the probate process, the deceased individual’s property will be distributed according to their will.
If the vehicle is part of a probated estate, you need to follow these steps to transfer the vehicle’s title of the deceased individual:
Contact Probate Court and Attorney
Until the probate is complete, a vehicle’s title isn’t valid for transfer. If you are the administrator or executor of the deceased, make sure you contact Probate Court or an attorney as soon as you can to receive further instruction on the probate process. When the probate process is complete, the heir receives the vehicle or the executor can choose to sell it if they were given the vehicle.
Gather the Required Documents
You need to make sure you have the following documents to successfully transfer the vehicle’s title in Indiana:
- Death certificate
- Odometer reading
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle
- Certificate of title
- Transfer fee
Visit the Title Office
If you are the administrator of the deceased individual’s estate or the beneficiary of the vehicle, you can visit the title office with the above-mentioned documents and initiate the Indiana vehicle title transfer.
How to Transfer a Vehicle Title Without Probate
If you’re transferring a vehicle title without probate in Illinois, the deceased person’s property can’t exceed a certain amount and a certain amount of time needs to have passed since the person passed away before the vehicle title transfer process can be initiated.
As an administrator, spouse, joint owner, or beneficiary, you may only be required to provide the death certificate and the vehicle’s title to the title office. The vehicle’s title can be retitled at the title office without an attorney or court order.
Transferring a Title After a Lease Buyout
As a resident of Indiana, if you purchased a vehicle with a car loan, the lender will have a lien hold on the vehicle’s title. Once you pay off your loan, the lender will send you a lien release. In order to have the lien removed from the vehicle’s title, you need to bring your lien release to your local IN BMV office and apply for a new vehicle title.
If there is a current lien on your vehicle title, and the lender has possession of the vehicle title, you are required to visit your local Indiana, BMV branch and complete a Request for an Out-of-State Title to Perfect a Lien (Form 1014). Once this process is completed, the new Indiana vehicle title will be sent back to the lender to hold until the lien is ready to be released.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Vehicle Without a Title in Indiana?
Vehicle owners who have lost or damaged their vehicle title or if the vehicle title was stolen can replace the title by requesting a duplicate Indiana vehicle title. You can apply for a duplicate vehicle title in person at your local IN BMV office, or request a duplicate vehicle title by mail. If you choose to receive your vehicle title by mail, send a copy of your photo ID and payment for all applicable fees along with the Indiana title application to the main Indiana BMV location in Indianapolis.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
Yes, you can gift a car to a family member in Indiana. The process for gifting a vehicle to a family member is similar to the process of transferring a vehicle’s title after the sale or purchase of a vehicle. In this situation, the person gifting the car is the seller, and the person receiving the car is the buyer. The person gifting the vehicle is responsible for signing the current title over to the recipient. On the vehicle’s title, there is a section where the sales price of the vehicle should go. In this space, the gifter of the vehicle needs to write “GIFT” in the provided area. Gifted vehicles are exempt from sales tax in Indiana.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
When you transfer vehicle titles after moving from one state to another, you are required to complete certain steps. You may be required to complete additional steps, such as completing a vehicle identification number (VIN) verification and showing proof of a valid Indiana auto insurance policy.
In order to finalize the transfer of certificate of title when moving to a different state, applicants are required to complete the following steps:
- Test their vehicle for emissions (if required)
- Visit your local IN BMV location
- Complete the corresponding application forms
- Submit your out-of-state documents (such as your vehicle’s title and vehicle registration)
- Obtain proof of a valid Indiana vehicle insurance policy
- Pay all applicable vehicle title transfer fees and related costs
You may be able to apply for a vehicle title and vehicle registration simultaneously.
Transferring Out-of-State Vehicle Titles with Liens or Lease Agreements
When you’re transferring a vehicle title with a lien, you can complete this process by filling out and mailing a vehicle title release form to your lien holder. Once the vehicle title is received by the lien holder, they will send the title to your new state’s BMV. Once the BMV receives the vehicle’s title, you can return to your local Indiana BMV and complete the remaining steps in this process. If you pay off your vehicle’s loan before you transfer the vehicle’s title, you can avoid transferring your lien holder to your new vehicle title.
In order to successfully complete a vehicle title transfer on a leased vehicle, you are required to obtain power of attorney from your leasing agency before you can complete the remaining steps in this process. You need to submit a request to your leasing company to obtain official paperwork that authorizes you to apply for the vehicle title transfer.
Transferring a Vehicle From a State That Doesn’t Issue Vehicle Titles
If your previous state doesn’t issue titles for your type of vehicle, you won’t be able to complete the certificate of title transfer. As a driver of an untitled vehicle, you must apply for a new vehicle title in your new state of residence.
You will have to submit specific documents that prove the transfer of ownership, such as the registration card of the previous owner and the bill of sale for the vehicle. The vehicle’s bill of sale must contain the contact information and signatures of the buyer and seller of the vehicle. This bill of sale also needs to include information regarding the vehicle, such as its VIN, year, date of sale, and make.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in Indiana
You are required to have a vehicle title in Indiana, so if you lose it, damage it, or it was stolen, you must replace it. To replace a vehicle title in Indiana, make sure you have an approved ID, such as a:
- Valid driver’s license
- State-issued ID
- Military ID
- School ID
- Passport
- Bank card
- Probation card
- Membership card
- Work ID
In addition to proof of identification, you will also need to provide documentation that identifies the vehicle, such as the registration card or the VIN. If there is a lien present on the vehicle, you need to provide a completed release form from the lien holder.
How to Replace an Indiana Vehicle Title
When you have the required paperwork in order, you can apply for a duplicate Indiana vehicle title online, in person at your local Indiana BMV office, at a certified BMV certified partner location, or by mail.
If you’re mailing your duplicate vehicle title request, submit:
- A completed Application for Certificate of Title (Form 205)
- A valid photo ID
- A check or money order to pay the Indiana duplicate vehicle title fee of $15
Mail these documents to:
Indiana BMV
100 N. Senate Ave
Room N411
Indianapolis, IN 46204
You will receive your duplicate vehicle title in the mail. If you’re applying for a duplicate Indiana vehicle title in person, take your proper identification, payment for the applicable fees, and a completed application to your local IN BMV location.
How Much Does a Title Transfer Cost in Indiana?
There are vehicle title transfer fees in Indiana you need to know.
The following are the basic titling and vehicle title transfer fees in Indiana:
- New title/title transfer/vehicle title amendment: $15
- Duplicate vehicle title: $15
- Late fee: $30
- Expedited vehicle title service: $25
When you purchase a vehicle, you are required to pay a 7% sales tax to the state of Indiana. If you have not yet paid this tax, you must pay it in order to apply for your Indiana vehicle title. Gifted vehicles and vehicles brought to the state of Indiana by new residents of this state are exempt from paying this sales tax.
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Indiana?
There are different locations in Indiana where you can transfer your vehicle’s title.
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Madison Ave. Branch
1440 Madison Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46225
(888) 692-6841
Monday (Closed)
Tuesday (8:30 AM to 6:30 PM)
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday (8:30 AM to 5 PM)
Saturday (8:30 AM to 5 PM)
Sunday (Closed)
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Michigan Road Branch
8330 N Michigan Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46268
(888) 692-6841
Monday (Closed)
Tuesday (8:30 AM to 6:30 PM)
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday (8:30 AM to 5 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (Closed)
How to Fill Out the Indiana Title and Title Transfer Forms
In order to successfully complete an Indiana vehicle title and vehicle title transfer form, you need to ensure all required forms are filled out completely with accurate information. Make sure you have a bill of sale that discloses information pertaining to the vehicle, such as the year, make, model, the color of the vehicle, and the vehicle’s VIN.
If you sold the vehicle instead of gifting it to someone, you need to add sales tax to the vehicle’s price. You also need to provide an odometer reading in the “transfer of title by seller” section provided on the title. The vehicle’s buyer needs to sign the vehicle title in the provided spaces.
Additional documentation, such as proof of a valid Indiana auto insurance policy that meets or exceeds the coverage requirements specified by the state of Indiana. Make sure you have your valid government-issued photo ID. If you don’t have a government-issued ID, you can use your foreign passport as proof of identification.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
Your vehicle’s title can be signed, but not transferred. There’s no cause for alarm. This situation occurs more often than many people realize. If your vehicle’s title was signed but not transferred, this means the vehicle’s seller didn’t transfer ownership or register the vehicle in their name, meaning your vehicle has an open title. An open vehicle title removes the responsibility of the vehicle from the vehicle’s owner because their name is not listed on the vehicle title.
If the seller lost the vehicle’s title, the title for the vehicle will remain open temporarily. The seller of the vehicle or the person listed on the vehicle’s title will need to apply for a duplicate Indiana vehicle title, then sign it over to you so you can put the vehicle in your name.