Moving to Indiana: plates, insurance, deadlines

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/new-indiana-residents

When you move to Indiana, you have 60 days to 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.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/new-indiana-residents

If you don't, you will be charged an administrative penalty.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person must obtain a certificate of title for all vehicles owned by the person not later than sixty (60) days after becoming an Indiana resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual who operates a vehicle without a certificate of title commits a Class C infraction.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/new-indiana-residents

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.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

An individual may not hold or possess: (1) a physical credential; and (2) a driver's license or identification card issued by a government authority that issues driver's licenses and identification cards from another state, territory, federal district, commonwealth, or possession of the United States. (c) An individual shall destroy or surrender to the bureau any and all physical credentials that would cause the individual to violate subsection (a) or (b).

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

An individual who violates this section commits a Class C infraction.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/new-indiana-residents

You must bring your vehicle to the BMV branch for an inspection. If you cannot bring your vehicle, you must submit a Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft – State Form 39530 completed by law enforcement.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided in section 7 of this chapter, an individual must have a valid: (1) driver's license; or (2) permit; including any necessary endorsements, issued to the individual by the bureau in the form of a physical credential to operate upon a highway the type of motor vehicle for which the driver's license, endorsement, or permit was issued.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

An individual who violates this section commits a Class C infraction.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/new-indiana-residents

you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you hold a valid driver's license from another state.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2025-title49-vol5-part383.xml

Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may legally operate a CMV unless such person possesses a CDL which meets the standards contained in subpart J of this part, issued by his/her State or jurisdiction of domicile.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2025-title49-vol5-part383.xml

No person who operates a commercial motor vehicle shall at any time have more than one driver's license.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/commercial-drivers-license-overview/transferring-out-of-state-cdl-and-non-domiciled-cdl

You must meet all requirements to transfer a driver's license and pass the general knowledge written exams to transfer a CDL to Indiana.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided in sections 4 through 9 of this chapter, a vehicle may not be operated on a highway unless the vehicle: (1) is registered under this article; and (2) displays proof of registration in accordance with this article.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A nonresident that becomes an Indiana resident may operate a vehicle on a highway for not more than sixty (60) days after becoming an Indiana resident without registering the vehicle under this article if the vehicle is registered in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the nonresident was a resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

The bureau shall collect an administrative penalty of fifteen dollars ($15) from the following persons:

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person who: (A) owns a vehicle; (B) becomes an Indiana resident; and (C) fails to register or provide full payment for the registration of; a vehicle within sixty (60) days after the person becomes an Indiana resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person that fails to register a vehicle that is required to be registered under this chapter commits a Class C infraction.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person that knowingly or intentionally owns a motor vehicle that is registered outside Indiana but that is required to be registered in Indiana commits a Class B misdemeanor.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

License plates shall be displayed on a vehicle as follows: (1) For a tractor, a dump truck, or a truck with a rear-mounted forklift or a mechanism to carry a rear-mounted forklift or implement, upon the front of the vehicle. (2) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), for every other vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

(b) A license plate shall be: (1) securely fastened, in a horizontal and upright position that displays the registration expiration year in the upper right corner, to the vehicle for which the plate is issued

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person that violates this section commits a Class C infraction.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person may not: (1) register a motor vehicle; or (2) operate a motor vehicle on a public highway; in Indiana if financial responsibility is not in effect with respect to the motor vehicle under section 4 of this chapter, or the person is not otherwise insured in order to operate the motor vehicle.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person who violates this section is subject to the suspension of the person's current driving privileges or motor vehicle registration, or both, under this article.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Financial responsibility in one (1) of the forms required under this chapter must be continuously maintained as long as a motor vehicle is operated on a public highway in Indiana.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided in section 6 of this chapter, the minimum amounts of financial responsibility are as follows: (1) Subject to the limit set forth in subdivision (2), twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for bodily injury to or the death of one (1) individual. (2) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for bodily injury to or the death of two (2) or more individuals in any one (1) accident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

(3) Before July 1, 2018, ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for damage to or the destruction of property in one (1) accident. Beginning July 1, 2018, twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for damage to or the destruction of property in one (1) accident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

The bureau shall suspend the driving privileges, motor vehicle registration, or both, of a person who fails to maintain financial responsibility as required under this article.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

As to any suspension described in this section: (1) the bureau shall stay the suspension for one hundred and eighty (180) days upon a showing of proof of future financial responsibility by the person who has had the person's driving privileges, motor vehicle registration, or both, suspended

https://www.in.gov/bmv/registration-plates/vehicle-emissions-testing-program/

Vehicles registered in Lake and Porter counties are required to undergo emissions tests and tampering inspections every two years if they were manufactured after 1975 and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 9,000 pounds or less.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

The bureau may not register the following vehicles: (1) A vehicle that: (A) is subject under rules adopted under air pollution control laws (as defined in IC 13-11-2-6 ) to: (i) inspection of vehicle air pollution control equipment; and (ii) testing of emission characteristics; and (B) has not been: (i) inspected; and (ii) certified by an inspection station

https://secure.in.gov/dor/i-am-a/individual/individual-income-tax-overview/

If you were a part-year resident and received income while you lived in Indiana or if you were a full-year nonresident of Indiana and received any income from Indiana sources, you must file.

https://secure.in.gov/dor/i-am-a/individual/individual-income-tax-overview/

Part-year residents who received income while living in Indiana and full-year nonresidents who received income from Indiana sources file Form IT-40PNR, Part-Year Resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

Returns required to be made pursuant to section 1 of this chapter shall be filed with the department on or before the later of the following: (1) The 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the taxable year.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

"Homestead" means an individual's principal place of residence: (A) that is located in Indiana; (B) that: (i) the individual owns;

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(ii) the individual is buying under a contract recorded in the county recorder's office, or evidenced by a memorandum of contract recorded in the county recorder's office under IC 36-2-11-20 , that provides that the individual is to pay the property taxes on the residence, and that obligates the owner to convey title to the individual upon completion of all of the individual's contract obligations

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(iii) the individual is entitled to occupy as a tenant-stockholder (as defined in 26 U.S.C. 216) of a cooperative housing corporation (as defined in 26 U.S.C. 216); or (iv) is a residence described in section 17.9 of this chapter that is owned by a trust if the individual is an individual described in section 17.9 of this chapter;

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

and (C) that consists of a dwelling and includes up to one (1) acre of land immediately surrounding that dwelling, and any of the following improvements: (i) Any number of decks, patios, gazebos, or pools.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(ii) One (1) additional building that is not part of the dwelling if the building is predominantly used for a residential purpose and is not used as an investment property or as a rental property. (iii) One (1) additional residential yard structure other than a deck, patio, gazebo, or pool.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

"Dwelling" means any of the following: (A) Residential real property improvements that an individual uses as the individual's residence, limited to a single house and a single garage, regardless of whether the single garage is attached to the single house or detached from the single house.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(B) A mobile home that is not assessed as real property that an individual uses as the individual's residence. (C) A manufactured home that is not assessed as real property that an individual uses as the individual's residence.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

"Principal place of residence" means an individual's true, fixed, permanent home to which the individual has the intention of returning after an absence.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

Except as provided in sections 17.8 and 44 of this chapter and subject to section 45 of this chapter, an individual who desires to claim the deduction provided by this section must file a certified statement on forms prescribed by the department of local government finance with the auditor of the county in which the homestead is located.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

To obtain the deduction for a desired calendar year under this section in which property taxes are first due and payable, the individual desiring to claim the deduction must do the following as applicable: (1) Complete, date, and file the certified statement described in subsection (e) on or before January 15 of the calendar year in which the property taxes are first due and payable.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(2) Satisfy any recording requirements on or before January 15 of the calendar year in which the property taxes are first due and payable for a homestead described in subsection (a)(2).

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

Each year a homestead is eligible for a standard deduction from the assessed value of the homestead for an assessment date.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(c) Except as provided in section 40.5 of this chapter, the total amount of the deduction that a person may receive under this section for a particular year is: (1) for assessment dates before January 1, 2025, the lesser of: (A) sixty percent (60%) of the assessed value of the real property, mobile home not assessed as real property, or manufactured home not assessed as real property; or (B) forty-eight thousand dollars ($48,000); or

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

(2) for assessment dates after December 31, 2024: (A) in 2025, forty-eight thousand dollars ($48,000); (B) in 2026, forty thousand dollars ($40,000); (C) in 2027, thirty thousand dollars ($30,000); (D) in 2028, twenty thousand dollars ($20,000); and (E) in 2029, ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_6.html

Beginning with the 2030 assessment date, and each assessment date thereafter, the deduction amount under this section is zero (0).

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_35.html

Licenses to carry handguns, issued by other states or foreign countries, will be recognized according to the terms thereof but only while the holders are not residents of Indiana.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided in subsection (b), a watercraft may not be operated, used, docked, or stored in Indiana during any part of a calendar year unless the watercraft: (1) is registered under this chapter; and (2) displays proof of registration under this chapter.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A watercraft becomes subject to registration under this chapter: (1) On the date the watercraft is acquired; or (2) not later than sixty (60) days after a person who owns the watercraft becomes an Indiana resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

The bureau shall collect an administrative penalty of fifteen dollars ($15) from the following:

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person who: (A) owns a watercraft; (B) becomes an Indiana resident; and (C) fails to register or provide full payment of the registration of the watercraft within sixty (60) days after the person becomes an Indiana resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

Except as provided under subsections (b) and (c), an off-road vehicle or a snowmobile must be registered under this chapter to be operated in Indiana.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

A person that: (A) owns an off-road vehicle or a snowmobile; (B) becomes an Indiana resident; and (C) fails to: (i) register; or (ii) provide full payment for the registration of; the off-road vehicle or snowmobile within sixty (60) days after the person becomes an Indiana resident.

https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html

The bureau shall collect an administrative penalty of fifteen dollars ($15) from the following: