Getting an Indiana Driver's License

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

An Indiana driver's license is issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles on a 6-year cycle for most adults — one of the longest cycles in the country. The application uses BMV Form 39530 and is processed at any of the state's 134 branches, with REAL ID compliance required for any license issued since 2010.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a full unrestricted Indiana license is 18. Teens can earn a probationary license at 16 years 90 days with completed driver education and 50 supervised driving hours (10 of those at night), or at 16 years 270 days without driver education. The probationary stage carries passenger and curfew restrictions until the driver turns 18 or holds the probationary license for 12 months — see the Indiana teen license page for the staged requirements.

Documents required

For a federally compliant REAL ID license (the standard option in Indiana since 2010), bring:

One identity document — a U.S. birth certificate (with raised seal) or valid U.S. passport.
Proof of your Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or SSA-1099.
Lawful Status documentation if not a U.S. citizen — permanent resident card, employment authorization, or visa with I-94.
Two proofs of Indiana residency from two different sources, dated within the last 60 days — utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement, voter registration, or pay stub showing the Indiana address.
A completed Form 39530, available at the branch or downloadable from myBMV.

Fees

The Indiana driver's license fee schedule is one of the simpler ones in the country. A new 6-year Class C license is $17.50; a learner's permit is $9; a duplicate license is $9. The knowledge test and road test are included in the application fee — there is no separate exam charge. If you fail the road test, the second attempt requires a same-day rescheduled appointment and no additional fee for the first reattempt.

Knowledge test

The Indiana knowledge test is 50 multiple-choice questions drawn from the current Indiana Driver's Manual. You must answer at least 42 correctly (84%) to pass. The test is offered in English, Spanish, and several other languages at most branches. Topics emphasized in Indiana: right-of-way at four-way stops, school-bus passing rules on undivided roadways, the move-over law for emergency vehicles, the 0.08% BAC threshold under IC 9-30-5, and the rules for using portable electronic devices while driving.

Road skills exam

Indiana requires a road skills exam for nearly every first-time applicant of any age. The exam typically runs 15 to 20 minutes and includes:

Vehicle pre-drive inspection (lights, signals, brakes, tires, defroster, mirrors).
Right and left turns from the correct lane to the correct lane.
Lane changes with mirror checks, signal, and shoulder check.
Backing in a straight line for at least 50 feet.
Stopping at controlled intersections with smooth, controlled braking.
Parallel parking on streets where the examiner directs (some branches use a simulated parking lane).

The most common reasons applicants fail in Indiana: rolling stops at stop signs, failure to perform a complete shoulder check before lane changes, and entering a turn from the wrong lane on multi-lane roads. The examiner uses a standardized scoring sheet, and any single critical error (running a stop sign, hitting a curb, requiring examiner intervention) ends the test immediately.

License delivery

Indiana issues a paper interim license at the branch that's valid for 30 days. The permanent card is mailed within 14 to 21 days from the BMV's central card production facility. The permanent card features the Indiana BMV standard design with a small star indicating REAL ID compliance. If your permanent card has not arrived after 30 days, request a duplicate through myBMV or visit any branch with your interim license.

For drivers transferring an out-of-state license to Indiana within 60 days of establishing residency, the BMV waives the road test if the previous license is current and unexpired. The knowledge test and vision screening are still required. See the Indiana learner's permit page if your out-of-state license has been expired more than 12 months.