Reinstating an Indiana Suspended License

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

An Indiana driver's license can be suspended for several reasons — accumulated points, an OWI arrest, an unpaid traffic ticket, child-support arrears, or a lapse in financial responsibility. The reinstatement steps depend on which suspension applies, and the Indiana BMV publishes a "Driver Status" report through myBMV that shows every active hold on the record.

Common types of Indiana suspensions

The most frequent suspension categories the BMV imposes are:

Administrative License Reinstatement (ALR): 180-day suspension for a chemical-test failure or refusal under IC 9-30-6, beginning before any criminal OWI verdict.
Court-ordered OWI suspension: 6 months to 2 years on a first OWI conviction, depending on BAC and aggravators.
Point-related suspension: imposed when a driver accumulates 18 or more points within a two-year window — see the Indiana point system.
Habitual Traffic Violator (HTV): 5- or 10-year suspension for repeat moving convictions over a 10-year lookback.
Failure to maintain insurance: 90-day to 1-year suspension for a financial responsibility lapse, requiring an SR-22 to reinstate.
Failure to appear in court or pay a ticket: indefinite suspension until the underlying citation is resolved.
Child support arrears: imposed by court order; lifted only after the family court issues a release.

The Driver Status report

Before any reinstatement effort, request a current Driver Status through myBMV or in person at any branch. The report lists every active suspension, the case or court that triggered it, the reinstatement fee for each, and any document the BMV needs to clear the hold. Reinstating one suspension when others are active does not restore driving privileges — every hold has to clear before the license is valid.

Reinstatement fees

Indiana reinstatement fees are set in IC 9-29-10:

$150 for the first reinstatement.
$225 for the second reinstatement within five years.
$300 for the third or any subsequent reinstatement within five years.
$250 additional Habitual Traffic Violator reinstatement fee.
$200 BMV fee for OWI reinstatement, in addition to court costs.

Reinstatement fees are paid through myBMV with a credit or debit card, or by certified check at any branch. The fee covers BMV processing only — court costs, ignition interlock, treatment program tuition, and SR-22 premiums are paid separately.

SR-22 financial responsibility

Indiana requires an SR-22 certificate after most suspension reinstatements. The SR-22 is a filing made by your insurance company directly with the BMV that certifies the driver carries at least the minimum 25/50/25 liability coverage — see Indiana car insurance. The SR-22 must remain on file for 3 years from reinstatement; any lapse results in immediate re-suspension. Not every Indiana insurance carrier writes SR-22 policies, so drivers may need to switch carriers to obtain the filing.

Specialized Driving Privileges (probationary permit)

Indiana courts can issue a Specialized Driving Privilege (SDP) — sometimes called a probationary permit — that allows limited driving during the suspension period. SDP eligibility is set by IC 9-30-16 and depends on the underlying suspension; it is most often granted for OWI, points, and Habitual Traffic Violator cases. The SDP is granted by petition to the court that imposed the suspension (or the county circuit court for administrative suspensions), with conditions that may include:

Driving only to and from work, school, treatment, or court.
An ignition interlock device for the entire SDP period.
Filing an SR-22 before the SDP becomes effective.
Reporting any traffic stop to the court within 48 hours.

Reinstatement after a Habitual Traffic Violator finding

An HTV designation is one of Indiana's most serious driver actions. After the suspension period (5 or 10 years), the driver must petition the BMV for reinstatement, demonstrate completion of any required treatment program, and file SR-22 insurance. The BMV may also require the driver to retake the knowledge test, vision screening, and road skills exam — see the Indiana driver's license page for the new applicant procedure.

Driving on a suspended Indiana license is a Class A misdemeanor on a first offense and a Level 6 felony on subsequent offenses or when the underlying suspension was for OWI. Penalties include fines, jail time, and an extension of the original suspension period.