Indiana Vehicle Registration

Indiana drivers need to register their vehicles with the Indiana BMV to drive their cars legally. Let’s see what entails for existing residents and those new to Indiana.

Registering a Vehicle in Indiana

Vehicles in Indiana can be registered in person or online. Indiana residents need to provide their vehicle’s title information, their valid IN driver’s license, proof of car insurance, and payment for the registration fee.

The state of Indiana requires all vehicles to be registered with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to legally be driven on IN state roadways.

New Residents of Indiana

New residents of Indiana have 60 days to complete their vehicle registration in person at an Indiana BMV branch office. Before the registration process can occur, IN residents must have the vehicle’s title in their name.

Vehicles Purchased from a Dealership

Indiana residents who purchase a vehicle from a dealership may not have to worry about titling and registering their vehicle. In most situations, the dealership handles the titling and registration process.

The fees associated with registering a vehicle are included in the vehicle’s purchase price. If the dealership does not title and register the vehicle, IN residents must do so in person or online at an Indiana BMV office.

Vehicles Purchased from a Private Party

Indiana residents who buy a vehicle from a private party are responsible for completing the required paperwork to title and register the vehicle themselves. IN residents can do so:

Online, if the vehicle was purchased within the last 45 days AND the title application has already been submitted.

In-person if the vehicle was purchased more than 60 days ago. Indiana residents can also title their vehicle by mail.

Registering an Indiana Vehicle Online

To register an Indiana vehicle online, IN residents must have an Indiana title for the vehicle and register within 45 days of purchase.

Once the title application has been submitted, IN residents can visit the MyBMV online registration portal and either log into their existing MyBMV account or create a new account. Indiana residents need to be prepared to provide:

Their IN driver’s license number.
Their vehicle title information.
Payment for the registration fees

If Indiana residents have not registered within 60 days, they must visit their local IN BMV branch office in person to get their car, truck, or other vehicle registered.

Registering an Indiana Car in Person

If the vehicle was purchased over 60 days ago, or the resident has yet to title their vehicle in Indiana, IN residents need to visit an IN BMV office and provide:

A valid IN driver’s license.
The original vehicle title.

Residents who have not yet titled their vehicle in their name will also be required to submit additional titling paperwork and documentation.

Proof of a valid Indiana auto insurance policy
Payment for all registration fees and taxes

Title by Mail

Indiana only provides an option to title a vehicle by mail if the vehicle is being registered out of state. Individuals can mail in their Application for Certificate of Title (Form 205) to title the vehicle from out of state.

Once the vehicle is titled, IN residents can then register the vehicle using the online registration process.

Transferring a Vehicle Registration in Indiana

Indiana residents who wish to transfer their existing license plate from a vehicle they’ve just sold to their newly-purchased vehicle may do so within 45 days of purchase.

The vehicle must first be titled in the resident’s name; typically, IN residents can complete their titling and registration/transfer at the same time. Indiana residents are also responsible for the $9.50 plate transfer fee.

Vehicle Registration Fees

The amount an IN resident pays to register their vehicle depends not only upon the type of vehicle they drive, but also the taxes related to their vehicle’s age and price, and the county they live in.

Indiana Vehicle Registration Fees

Indiana registration fees for cars & other passenger vehicles are standardized, while those for trucks are determined based on their weight. Other vehicle registration fees:

License plate transfer fee: $9.50.
Late vehicle registration fee: $15.
Duplicate registration certificate: $9.50.
Duplicate license plate or sticker: $9.50.
Change vehicle registration information: $9.50.
Change license plate type: $9.50.

Registration Taxes

Indiana residents are required to pay an excise tax when registering their vehicle. The taxes are determined based on the age and price of the vehicle being registered.

*NOTE TO NON-RESIDENT MILITARY MEMBERS: Non-resident military stationed in Indiana who have registered a vehicle in the state are eligible for an excise tax exemption upon renewal of their registration.

To find out if this exemption applies to first-time vehicle registration in the state, please call the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Contact Center at (888) 692-6841.

Indiana Vehicle Inspections

Emissions Inspections

While IN residents do not need to get an inspection before they register their vehicle. Indiana residents will be required to get an emissions inspection every 2 years to keep their vehicle legal in Indiana.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections

A VIN inspection is required for any vehicle that has never had an Indiana title. IN residents who are new to the state, will need to have this inspection completed. The VIN inspection can be completed at any IN BMV branch office for free, or by a police officer who may charge a fee of up to $5.

The police officer will need to fill out the Affidavit of Police Officer/Physical Inspection of an Indiana Resident’s Vehicle/Watercraft (Form 39530).

Obtain a Duplicate Indiana Vehicle Registration

If an Indiana car registration certificate has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, IN residents can replace it online or in person at any Indiana BMV branch office.

Online Replacement

Indiana residents who have a MyBMV account can replace a lost registration online. IN residents must be prepared to provide:

Title information.
Driver’s license number.
Payment for the $9.50 duplicate car registration fee.
In-Person Replacement

To replace an Indiana vehicle registration in person, Indiana residents can visit their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and provide:

The vehicle’s title.
Valid driver’s license.
Payment for the $9.50 duplicate vehicle registration fee.

Motorcycle Registration in Indiana

By law, Indiana residents who plan to operate a motorcycle in the state of Indiana need to have it registered. Whether IN residents are new residents or long-time Indianans who recently purchased a motorcycle, they must follow the simple registration process.

New Indiana Residents

Congratulations on the move! IN residents have 60 days to register their motorcycle with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) after they have established residency. To do so, IN residents must provide the following items at their local BMV office:

A completed Inspection of an Indiana Resident’s Vehicle/ Motorcycle or Watercraft (Form 39530).
VIN inspections must be completed by a BMV agent OR law enforcement officer.

Proof of:

Residency.
Social Security number.
The motorcycle’s out-of-state title and registration.
Payment for the $26.35 registration fee, plus any other applicable fees and taxes.

Registering a Motorcycle in Indiana

Indiana allows its residents to register a new vehicle online, provided they do so within 45 days of purchasing the motorcycle. If more than 60 days have passed since the purchase date, Indiana residents need to register their motorcycle in person.

Additionally, the steps to registering your motorcycle may differ depending on whether the resident bought the bike from a dealership or a private seller.

Online Registration

Online registration is available for Indiana residents. IN residents may be eligible to register their motorcycle online if:

They are within 45 days of your purchase date.
The titling application has already been filed.

IN Residents who qualify can log into the Bureau’s MyBMV portal and follow the instructions and submit:

The IN motorcycle license number.
Proof of motorcycle insurance.
Information about the motorcycle title or titling application. (This may include an odometer disclosure)
Payment for the $26.35 registration fee, plus any other applicable fees and taxes.

Dealer-Purchased Motorcycles

Indiana residents who bought a motorcycle from a dealer in Indiana, don’t have to worry about the titling and registration process because, in most instances, the dealership will handle the registration process.

Before leaving the dealership, IN residents need to be sure and ask one of the agents if there are additional steps they need to take. The dealer will usually include all applicable fees in the sale price.

Private Sale Transactions

After buying a motorcycle from a private seller, Indiana residents need to handle the registration process themselves. As long as they’re still within 45 days of the purchase date of the motorcycle AND have already applied for a title in their name, they can register their motorcycle online.

If it has been more than 60 days since the resident bought their motorcycle, they must register it in person at their local BMV. To register their motorcycle in person, IN residents need:

Their Indiana motorcycle license.
The title for the motorcycle.

If the resident hasn’t applied for a title in their name, they will need to fill out all the titling paperwork and fulfill each of the requirements.

Proof of a valid Indiana motorcycle insurance policy.
The $26.35 registration fee plus any other applicable taxes and fees.

Indiana Motorcycle Registration Fees & Taxes

Below are the fees and taxes associated with registering a motorcycle with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The fees to register a motorcycle in Indiana can vary depending on the amount of taxes due in their county of residence. The Indiana motorcycle registration fees and taxes are as follows:

Motorcycle registration: $26.35.
Duplicate registration certificate: $9.50.
Duplicate license plate sticker: $9.50.
Changes to your motorcycle registration: $9.50.

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET): varies based on the age of the motorcycle and its value.

Surtax: Varies depending on the bike’s age AND price; only required in certain counties.

Indiana Boat Registration and Licenses

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) handles the registration and titling of all watercraft in Indiana.

IN Vessels Requiring Title & Registration

All vessels operated on Indiana waters must be titled and registered, with the following exemptions:

Non-motorized boats (except sailboats), including:
- Canoes.
- Rowboats.
- Paddle boats.
Boats registered in another country temporarily being used in Indiana.
Boats valued under $3,000 when it was new.
Boats purchased before January 1, 1986.
Homemade boats.
Ship lifeboats.
Vessels moored/docked on the Indiana portion of Lake Michigan for up to 180 days.
Non-resident boats currently registered in another state that hasn’t been in Indiana for more than 60 consecutive days.

Indiana residents who are unsure about whether your watercraft requires titling and registration, call the BMV at (888) 692-6841 for assistance.

Title & Register Your Boat in Indiana

Indiana residents have 45 days from a vessel’s purchase date to title and register their boat with the IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles. PRIOR to submitting the vessel’s title and registration application, Indiana residents need to make sure their boat has a hull identification number (HIN). If the vessel does not have a properly assigned HIN, Indiana residents need to apply for a special identification number before titling and registering their boat.

IN residents can then complete their vessel’s title and registration application by providing the following documentation at their local BMV office:

A completed Application for Certificate of Watercraft Title (Form 38529).
Proof of ownership document, such as:
- The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin.
- The boat’s properly assigned title.
Acceptable documents to prove Indiana residency.

As long as the address is correct, Indiana residents may present their IN driver’s license OR identification card in lieu of the residency documents listed in the acceptable documents brochure.

Social Security number.
Documentation regarding payment of sales/use tax; if an IN resident:
- Already paid sales tax: Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid on the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft (Form 48842).
- Are exempt from paying IN sales tax: Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption for the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft (Form 48841).
- Haven’t paid and aren’t exempt from paying sales tax: You must provide payment for Indiana sales tax when you submit your application for a boat title and registration.
Payment for all applicable vessel title and registration fees.

The BMV will mail residents their Indiana vessel documentation and registration decals.

IN Boat Title & Registration Fees

The fees IN residents may have to pay when titling and registering their watercraft with the BMV are as follows:

Original/renewal registration (depends on the length of your boat):
- 13 ft or less: $15.
- 13 ft up to 26 ft: $18.
- 26 ft up to 40 ft: $21.
- 40 ft or longer: $24.
Original, corrected, OR replacement title: $15.
Duplicate registration: $9.50.
IN Department of Natural Resources annual fee.

Watercraft excise tax: Depends on the vessel’s class and age
Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) fee: Varies according to your boat’s excise class
State: 7% of the purchase price.
Local: Varies from IN county to county.

Title & Registration Renewals & Replacements

Indiana boat registrations expire annually on a staggered basis. The specific date IN residents is required to renew their registration is determined by their last name. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will send IN residents a renewal notice prior to their registration’s expiration. Indiana residents can renew their boat registration by providing information about their vessel and the appropriate renewal fees:

Online using the BMV’s renewal portal (IN residents will need to create a MyBMV account).
By mail to the address listed on the renewal notice.
In-person at a local BMV office branch (IN residents must bring their renewal notice with them).

Replace Lost Title or Registration

Residents who damage or lose their boat’s title or registration can request a duplicate online or at a local BMV office by providing:

Their personal identification information (e.g. driver’s license or state ID card).
Their boat’s hull identification number.
The applicable fees for a replacement title/registration.

Indiana Boater Qualifications

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires anyone operating a motorized boat with more than 10 horsepower to be at least 15 years old AND hold an Indiana driver’s license UNLESS they’re:

At least 15 years old and:
Have completed a boating education course.

AND

Hold a valid IN identification card.
At least 21 years old and have a state ID card that was issued before January 1, 1996.

Accepted Forms of Payment

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) accepts payment in the form of:

Debit/credit card
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express

Some IN BMV locations may accept cash. Indiana residents need to check with their local BMV office to make sure they have the correct form of payment before visiting a local BMV office.