how to become an indiana resident

Welcome to Indiana! When you become a resident of Indiana, you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you hold a valid driver's license from another state. You must also transfer the titles and registrations of any vehicles you own from your previous state to Indiana.

View the New Indiana Resident Packet to learn more about Indiana residency requirements.

Family Moving In

Obtaining a Driver's License

When you apply for an Indiana driver's license, you must surrender all valid credentials (identification card, learner's permit, or driver's license) you hold from other states.

Residents Not Holding a Valid Driver's License From Another State

If you do not hold a valid driver's license from another state, you must hold an Indiana learner's permit for 180 days before you may obtain an Indiana driver's license.

Residents 18 Years Of Age or Older Holding a Valid Driver's License from Another State

If you are at least 18 years of age and have held a valid out-of-state driver's license from the state of your prior residence, you must visit a BMV branch to:

Present ONE of the following three items:
- Your current out-of-state driver's license,
- A copy of your official driving record, or
- A verification letter.
You must also present documentation proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency.
And you are required to pass a vision screening.

If your out-of-state license has been expired when transferring to Indiana, you are required to take a knowledge exam. If your out-of-state license has been expired for more than three years or you have held an unrevoked out-of-state driver's license less than one year, you must also pass a driving skills examination. The BMV will issue an interim license, valid for 30 days, authorizing the holder to drive pending authentication of documents submitted to BMV.

Residents Younger than 18 Years of Age Holding a Driver's License from Another State

If you are under 18, but more than 16 years and 180 days old, and have held a valid out-of-state driver's license for at least 180 days in your previous state(s) of residency, you must visit a BMV branch to:

Present your current out-of-state driver's license or a copy of your official driving record.
You must also present documentation providing your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency.
Applicants under 18 years old are required to pass a knowledge examination and a vision screening.

A driving skills exam is required if your out-of-state driver's license has been expired for three or more years, or you have held a valid out-of-state driver's license less than one year. The BMV will issue an interim license, valid for 30 days, authorizing the holder to drive pending authentication of documents submitting to BMV.

Residents with an Out-of-Country License

An out-of-country driver's license cannot be used for identification purposes. Out-of-country driver's license must be in English or presented with a verifiably accurate English translation of the document.

If you have an out-of-country driver's license and intend to become an Indiana resident and also wish to obtain an Indiana driver's license, you must provide an English translation of your driver's license or your International Driving Permit. You must also pass the vision screening, written knowledge examination and driving skills examination to obtain an Indiana driver's license.

All documents proving your identity, Social Security number, lawful status, and Indiana residency will be verified through a central verification process. The BMV will issue an interim license, valid for 30 days, authorizing the holder to drive pending authentication of documents submitted to the BMV.

Understanding the Lawful Status Verification Process

When your documents are verified, the BMV will mail the driver's license, learner's permit or identification card to you. If the documents cannot be verified, you will receive a letter explaining the determination and your rights to request an administrative hearing to review the determination. No refunds will be issued in the case of documents that cannot be verified.

Titling and Registering a Vehicle

Within 60 days of becoming an Indiana resident, you must apply for a vehicle title or submit a completed Request for Title – State Form 1014 for all vehicles you own with an out-of-state title otherwise an administrative penalty will be charged. You must visit a BMV branch to apply for your Indiana certificate of title and registration.

Estimate the Cost of Your Registration

Documentation Requirements for Titling and Registering a Vehicle in Indiana

When you visit the branch to apply for your Indiana title and registration, you will need to bring some documents with you:

Certificate of title.
Vehicle inspection of the vehicle identification number (VIN). Vehicle must be present at the BMV branch for an inspection. If the vehicle cannot be present, you must submit a Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft – State Form 39530, which must be completed by law enforcement.
Proof of address: a driver's license or identification card may be accepted as proof if the address on the credential is correct. If the address is not correct, any document from the approved BMV documentation list that is dated within the last 60 days may be used as proof.
Proof of your full Social Security Number (SSN) or Federal Identification Number (FIN) may be required in accordance with Indiana Code 4-1-8-1. Acceptable proofs of SSN/FIN are located on the BMV documentation list.

New Car and Keys

Check out our interactive guide to walk you through what to expect when you need to get a title and registration!