Pro tip: As you set out to explore Indiana's scenic byways and highways, it's important to master driving fundamentals. Our comprehensive tutorials on manual driving and parallel parking will be beneficial. Get comfortable with reversing into parking spaces and navigating three-point turns. Make sure to adjust your mirrors accurately for the best visibility. Utilize our Online Driving Simulator to practice, and for international drivers, acquaint yourself with Indiana's international driver's license regulations.
In Indiana, every resident, regardless of age, must obtain a learner's permit and hold it for at least 180 days before applying for a driver's license. For drivers under 18, the learner's permit is the first stage of Indiana's Graduated Driver's Licensing program.
The learner's permit allows you to practice driving while you're supervised at all times by an adult licensed driver sitting in the front seat next to you. If you are between 16 and 18, your driving supervisor must be one of the following:
If you are 18+, you must be supervised by a licensed driver of 25 years of age or older, or your spouse who is at least 21 and holds a license.
You should verify the following:
Use this checklist to choose documentation easily.
If you are younger than 16, bring a valid Certificate of Driver Education enrollment form from the driver education course provider. If you are older than 16, you don't have to be enrolled in a course.
Normally, your learner's permit will be valid for two years. You must hold it for at least 180 days before applying for the license.
Note that you can start practicing supervised driving only when you turn 16 even if you obtained the learner’ permit before your 16th birthday.
The probationary (restricted) driver's license is the second stage of Indiana's Graduated Driver's Licensing program. You can get this license if you are at least 16 years and 90 days of age but younger than 21. It allows you to drive unsupervised but with the following restrictions.
For the first 180 days, you may not drive unsupervised between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. While you drive unsupervised, you may not carry any passengers except a member of your immediate family.
After the first 180 days, you still may not drive unsupervised during the following hours: Sunday through Thursday, after 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, before 5 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The only exceptions are traveling to or from employment, to or from a school-sanctioned activity and to or from a religious event.
Hold your instruction permit for at least 180 days
Use this time to practice supervised driving.
Complete An approved driver ed program Or wait longer
If you have successfully completed an approved driver education program, you can apply when you are 16 years and 90 days old. Otherwise, wait until you are at least 16 years and 270 days old to apply for a driver's license.
Apply in person
You must apply at any BMV branch office. Use this map to locate the one close to you.
Submit your driving log
You must log at least 50 hours (10 hours at night) of supervised driving into your Log of Supervised Driving Practice. Your parent, guardian, driving instructor, or other responsible adult must sign it.
Submit an application
The form is available at BMV offices. Note that your parent or guardian must co-sign your application at the BMV office if you are younger than 18.
Bring documentation
You should verify the following:
Use this checklist to choose documentation easily.
Pass a vision test
If your visual ability does not meet state standards, you will be referred to an eye doctor for examination. You may return with a statement from an eye doctor certifying that your vision has been corrected to meet the standard.
Pass a driving skills exam
You must make an appointment online or by calling the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841. Provide your own vehicle. If you fail the exam, you must wait 14 days before you can take it again.
If you completed driver's education at one of authorized driving schools with at least an 80 percent grade and you also passed a driving exam there, they should have given you a driving test waiver. Submit it to the BMV and you can waive the BMV driving skills exam.
Pay the fee
$17.50 paid by cash, check or card (Master Card or Visa).
Have your picture taken and surrender your permit
You will be issued a temporary probationary driver's license valid for 30 days. The BMV should mail you your permanent probationary license within 14 days. If you haven't received it by then, contact the BMV at 888-692-6841 or visit a BMV branch office in person.
Your probationary driver's license will expire 30 days after your 21st birthday. Once you are at least one day past your 21st birthday and renew your probationary license, you'll be issued a full, unrestricted driver's license. You may not renew your probationary license until one day after your 21st birthday.
In Indiana, every resident, regardless of age, who is applying for the driver's license for the first time, must obtain a learner's permit and hold it for at least 180 days before applying for a driver's license.
If you don't hold a learner's permit, learn how to obtain it here.
If you have a learner's permit, start with step 1.
Use this time to practice supervised driving.
You should verify the following:
Use this checklist to choose documentation easily.
You must make an appointment online or by calling the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841. Provide your own vehicle. If you fail the exam, you must wait 14 days before you can take it again.
If you completed driver's education at one of authorized driving schools with at least an 80 percent grade and you also passed a driving exam there, they should have given you a driving test waiver. Submit it to the BMV and you can waive the BMV driving skills exam.
No appointment is needed, but you must arrive at a BMV license branch at least one hour before the branch closes.
If you require to have the examination read to you or you are deaf or hard of hearing, schedule with a branch manager or by calling the BMV's Contact Center at 888-692-6841.
The official driving skills exam evaluates your knowledge of a motor vehicle's basic equipment and your ability to operate a vehicle safely while obeying traffic laws.
You'll take the driving skills exam at a BMV branch office unless you passed such an exam at a BMV-approved driving school and got a waiver. You must make an appointment for the BMV driving skills exam online or by calling the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841. You can schedule no more than 14 days, and no less than 48 business hours, ahead of time.
No one other than the BMV examiner or other authorized BMV personnel is allowed in your car during the exam.
The BMV examiner will ask you some questions and tell you what to do. Your job is to follow the instructions and operate your car safely. During the test the examiner will be filling the form, don't be distracted by it.
You should demonstrate the following skills:
Avoid the following errors:
You will fail immediately if you do any of the following:
At the end of the exam, the BMV examiner will inform you if you pass or fail. Your errors will be discussed with you.
If you fail the exam, you must wait 14 days before you can take it again. If you fail it three times in a row, you must wait two months before you can take it again.
Indiana considers you a resident of the state if any of the following apply to you:
You can transfer your out-of-state driver's license if you are at least 16 years and 180 days of age. Transfer your license in person at any BMV location, no appointments are available. Note that you'll have to pass a vision test and a written knowledge exam. You will be required to pass a driving skills test as well if your license expired more than three years ago.
The form is available at BMV offices.
You should verify the following:
Use this checklist to choose documentation easily.
If your visual ability does not meet state standards, you will be referred to an eye doctor for examination. You may return with a statement from an eye doctor certifying that your vision has been corrected to meet the standard.
You'll take the knowledge exam at a BMV branch office on a walk-in basis. If you fail the knowledge exam, you may take it again on the next business day.
Pay by cash, check or card (Visa or MasterCard).
If you don't have it, submit a copy of your official driving record or a letter of verification of your out-of-state license from the motor vehicle agency that issued it.
The procedure of transferring your foreign license is similar to transferring an out-of-state license. Check how to do it here.
There are several differences, though:
How long your new driver's license will be valid depends on your age when it is issued to you. If you are a lawful temporary resident (foreign national), your license may expire earlier when your stay in the US ends.
