Driving Tests

Indiana BMV Driving Test: What to Bring, Automatic Fails and Retest Wait

informational·how to guide·Published August 19, 2026

How do I schedule the Indiana BMV driving test and what do I bring?

Book on myBMV at least 48 hours and at most 3 weeks ahead, or call 888-692-6841 if you cannot book online. Arrive at least 15 minutes early with your learner's permit, your completed driving log, proof of driver's ed if it applies, a licensed driver and an insured, registered car. The BMV test is free. After a fail, wait 7 days.

Where these Indiana driving test rules come from

The rules come from the BMV driving skills test page, the Indiana Driver's Manual (published July 2026) and the BMV driver education providers page. Other details come from the BMV pages on the driver's license, the probationary license and branch visits, and from the BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

How to schedule your Indiana driving skills test

1
Book an appointment
A BMV branch gives driving skills tests by appointment only. Book in your myBMV account at least 48 hours and at most 3 weeks ahead. Your appointment time shows on the Schedule Driving Test page of myBMV.
2
Call if you cannot book online
Call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841 if you are a foreign national with no Social Security number, if your permit expired, or if you renewed your permit in the last 6 months.
3
Change the booking if your plans change
If you cannot keep the appointment, edit or cancel it within 24 hours. The BMV can take only a set number of appointments each day.
4
Arrive early
Be at the branch at least 15 minutes before your appointment time, and tell the nearest BMV associate that you are there for a skills exam.

What to bring to the Indiana driving test

A valid Indiana learner's permit. An out-of-country license also works, and so does a driver's license or ID card expired more than 5 years, with proof of your driving record.
Your completed Supervised Driving Log (50 hours, 10 of them at night).
Proof of completing driver's ed, if it applies to you.
A person with a valid driver's license. If you are under 18, bring a parent or guardian who can sign for financial responsibility.
A car that you provide yourself and that meets the vehicle rules below.

Which car passes the vehicle check?

The car must be properly registered, insured to the state minimum liability standard, legally equipped, safe and clean. The examiner inspects it just before the test: for example, both brake lights and all four turn signals must work, the doors must open and close, the windshield must have no crack that blocks your view, and none of the tires may be a spare. If the examiner finds the car unsafe, the test is canceled and you come back another time with a safe car. Turn off any driver assistance technology and any interior camera before you start.

Take the test at a BMV branch or at your driving school?

Your driving school takes part in the BMV skills test program

The school can give you the test. You need a valid learner's permit, and the 36 driver education hours if driver's ed is required for your age. A pass counts until your permit expires.

Your school does not take part in the program

Take the test at a BMV branch.

You scored 79 percent or below in the classroom or behind-the-wheel part of driver's ed

Take the test at a BMV branch.

Your learner's permit expired

Take the test at a BMV branch, and call 888-692-6841 to book it.

Automatic fails and mistakes that cost points

Automatic fails and mistakes that cost points
Result	What the BMV lists
Automatic fail: signs and signals	Disobeying a yield, stop, school zone or no-turn-on-red sign. Disobeying a traffic signal. Not stopping completely at a stop sign. Breaking the railroad crossing laws.
Automatic fail: lanes and speed	Passing in a no-passing zone or crossing a solid yellow line. Driving left of center. Straddling marked lanes. Turning into the wrong lane. Speeding or driving too fast for conditions.
Automatic fail: other road users	Not yielding the right of way. Driving too close to pedestrians or bicycles. Not pulling over for emergency vehicles. Not stopping for a school bus, or passing one with its arm out.
Automatic fail: car handling	Backing over a curb. Driving into a parked vehicle. Causing an accident. No seat belt. Not reacting to hazardous conditions. Not following the examiner's instructions.
Can cost points or fail you	Not signaling, a wrong gear, one hand on the wheel, failing to check your blind spot, leaving a turn signal on after a lane change, driving too slowly.

Practice the rules behind three automatic fails

Do not pass when a solid yellow line is on your side of the center line. The practice question on crossing a solid yellow line tests that rule. Indiana law requires every occupant to wear a factory-installed seat belt whenever the car moves, so buckle up before you leave the parking space. The question on seat belts with airbags checks this. For the stop-arm rule behind the school bus fails, read the Indiana school bus stop law.

Is parallel parking on the Indiana driving test?

No. Parallel parking is no longer part of the skills exam, but Indiana driving schools must still teach it. The test does check how you park and how you back out of a space. Before you back out, use your mirrors and check your blind spots. To park, check traffic in your mirrors, signal, and move into the space smoothly and at the proper speed.

What happens after you fail the Indiana driving test?

You fail once or twice

Wait 7 days, then book another test.

You fail a third test while you hold a learner's permit

Wait 2 months from the date of the last failed test.

Your permit expires before you can test again

Renew the permit. If it has been expired for more than 180 days, you must also retake the knowledge exam.

What does the driving test cost, and how long does a pass count?

The BMV gives the driving skills test at no charge. Your learner's permit costs $9 (U.S. dollars, as of 2026) on the BMV Fee Chart. A pass counts until your learner's permit expires, and never longer than 2 years. A permit is valid for 2 years from the day it is issued. If you are under 18, your license also needs a permit held for 180 days and 50 logged hours, as the guide to the Indiana driver's license at 16 explains.

Key takeaways

Book at least 48 hours and at most 3 weeks ahead on myBMV, or call 888-692-6841 if you cannot book online.
Bring your permit, completed driving log, driver's ed proof if it applies, a licensed driver and an insured, registered, safe car.
Turn off driver assistance technology and interior cameras. Only the examiner rides with you.
Rolling a stop sign, crossing a solid yellow line and skipping the seat belt fail you at once.
The BMV test is free. Wait 7 days after a fail, and 2 months after a third fail on a permit.
Next step: practice the signs and rules on the free Indiana operator practice test (English only).

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an Indiana driving test sooner than 48 hours?

Not online. The Driver's Manual says at least 48 business hours ahead. You may also get an earlier appointment if you visit a BMV branch in person. Online, the latest you can book ahead is 3 weeks.

Can my parent ride with me during the Indiana driving test?

No. No one besides the BMV examiner may be in the car while you drive. Your parent still comes to the branch: if you are under 18, a parent or guardian who can sign for financial responsibility must be at the appointment.

Do I have to turn off my backup camera for the Indiana driving test?

No. The camera rule covers interior cameras, and backup cameras are not included. Interior cameras must stay off for the whole test, and so must any driver assistance technology. Check your owner's manual before test day so you know how to switch these features off.

Can I take the test at a BMV branch if my driving school offers it?

Yes. You may choose to take the skills exam at a branch when you apply for your driver's license. The BMV test is free. If you scored 79 percent or below in a part of driver's ed, the branch is the only place you can take the test.

Does one small mistake fail the Indiana driving test?

Not always. A missed signal or one hand on the wheel lowers your score, and these mistakes can also fail you. An automatic fail, such as a rolling stop, ends your chance to pass that day. The examiner decides whether the drive goes on, so follow each instruction until told to stop.