Registering a Car in Indiana

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Indiana's vehicle registration process is handled entirely by the Indiana BMV, the same agency that issues driver's licenses. New residents have 60 days from establishing residency to register an out-of-state vehicle, and Indiana applies one of the higher state sales tax rates in the country — 7% — to vehicle purchases.

Documents required

To register a vehicle in Indiana, bring to any BMV branch:

The signed-over title from the seller (or the manufacturer's certificate of origin for a new vehicle).
A bill of sale or dealer's invoice showing the purchase price.
Proof of Indiana auto insurance meeting the 25/50/25 minimum — see Indiana car insurance.
Your Indiana driver's license or state ID.
Proof of Indiana residency dated within 60 days (utility bill, lease, or bank statement).
Completed Form 44049 (Application for Vehicle Registration).
Completed Form 44237 (Application for Certificate of Title) if the vehicle is being titled in Indiana for the first time.
The current odometer reading on the title or a separate odometer disclosure form for vehicles less than 20 model years old.

Sales tax on the vehicle

Indiana applies a 7% state sales tax to vehicle purchases, calculated on the higher of the sale price or the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) trade-in value. There is no county or local add-on. Trade-in credit is allowed: if a buyer trades a vehicle worth $8,000 toward a $25,000 purchase, the sales tax is calculated on $17,000 and totals $1,190. Out-of-state purchases by Indiana residents are subject to use tax at the same 7%, with a credit for sales tax already paid to the seller's state.

Title fee and registration fee

Indiana title and registration fees:

Title fee: $15 (new title or transfer from another state).
Standard passenger registration: $21.35 plus a $15 transportation infrastructure improvement fee.
Excise Tax: billed annually with the registration; varies by vehicle age and class (a new mid-size sedan typically falls between $200 and $400 the first year, dropping over time).
Wheel Tax / Surtax: charged in some counties (Marion, Lake, others) on top of the state registration.
License plate replacement: $9.50 if the original plate is damaged or lost.

The annual Excise Tax

Indiana's Vehicle Excise Tax is unique among states with a combined BMV — it is billed every year as part of the registration renewal rather than as a separate county property tax bill. The Excise Tax is set by IC 6-6-5 and uses a depreciation schedule: a vehicle that cost $30,000 new pays approximately $300 in Excise Tax the first year, dropping by roughly 15% each year through year 10 and stabilizing at the minimum charge thereafter. The tax appears as a line item on the registration receipt and is paid in a single transaction at the BMV.

License plates

Indiana issues a single rear license plate for passenger cars. Standard plates are blue with white characters and the Indiana cardinal logo. Specialty plates are available for hundreds of qualifying organizations, with the supplemental fee distributed back to the sponsoring nonprofit. Personalized plates cost an additional $45 per year. The plate stays with the registered owner — when the vehicle is sold, the plate is removed and either transferred to a new vehicle within 30 days or returned to the BMV for cancellation. See the other vehicle registrations page for trailer, motorcycle, and antique plate options.

The 60-day deadline for new residents

New Indiana residents have 60 days from establishing residency to title and register their out-of-state vehicles. Driving on out-of-state plates beyond 60 days is a Class C infraction, and any traffic stop after the deadline may result in a citation that flags the registration on the BMV record. New residents can complete the registration and title transfer in a single branch visit; the out-of-state title is surrendered and an Indiana title is issued in the owner's name with the lien holder noted if applicable.

Indiana does not require a statewide vehicle inspection at registration, with the exception of federal-mandate emissions in Lake and Porter counties for some gasoline vehicles. Most registrations close in a single visit. For renewals, see the registration renewal page; for a name correction or address change, see the address and name change page.