Indiana Hands-Free Law: Phone Rules for All Drivers and Drivers Under 21
What does the Indiana hands-free law ban?
Since July 1, 2020, Indiana's hands-free law bans holding a phone or other device while your vehicle moves. You may use Bluetooth, a headset or voice control, and you may hold a phone to call 911 in a true emergency. A violation can bring a Class C infraction and a fine of up to $500. Drivers under 21 may not use a phone, even hands-free, except for 911.
Where the Indiana hands-free rules come from
The rules come from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Hands-Free Indiana page and its 2020 fact sheet, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) distracted driving page and the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) probationary driver's license page. The BMV Driver Safety Program page gives the point rules, and the Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026) repeats the phone rules. The law text (Indiana Code 9-21-8-59) comes from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) copy of the statutes, as of July 1, 2022. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.
What the Indiana hands-free law says
Indiana bans holding mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, while you drive. The law text (2022 copy) says a person may not hold or use a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle. The term covers a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager and a text messaging device. There are two exceptions: use with hands-free or voice-operated technology, and a call to 911 to report a real emergency. Our question on when a driver 21 or older may hold a phone tests these exceptions. In the first year of the law, more than 5,000 citations and 10,000 warnings were issued statewide.
Phone rules in Indiana by age
| Situation | Drivers 21 and older | Drivers under 21 (probationary license) |
|---|---|---|
| Hold a phone while the vehicle moves | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Call with Bluetooth or a headset | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Call or text by voice control | Allowed | Not allowed |
| GPS or map app on your phone | Allowed if you use it hands-free | Not allowed |
| Call 911 in a true emergency | Allowed, and you may hold the phone | Allowed, and you may hold the phone |
Bluetooth and hands-free calls if you are under 21
In Indiana, every license issued to a driver younger than 21 is a probationary license, and its restrictions apply until your 21st birthday. The BMV phone rule for these drivers is stricter than the hands-free law: you may not use any type of telecommunication device while you drive, except to make an emergency 911 call. That includes a Bluetooth call, a voice text and a map app on your phone. Try our question on a hands-free call by a 20-year-old driver. The passenger and nighttime limits are in the Indiana probationary license rules.
Can you use GPS or Google Maps while you drive in Indiana?
Yes, if you are 21 or older and you use it hands-free. Phone maps and GPS apps are allowed while you drive, as long as the device is not in your hand. Set your route before you start, and follow the voice directions. Picking up the phone to read the map or to type a new address breaks the law. To change the route on the way, use a voice command, or park in a safe place out of traffic first.
What to do with your phone in common driving situations
Can you hold your phone at a red light in Indiana?
Indiana's law bans holding or using a phone while you operate a moving motor vehicle. The safe choice is to treat a red light or a stop sign like the open road and keep the phone out of your hand. If you are 21 or older, start your call, music or route by voice control or Bluetooth before you shift out of park. If you must read or send a message by hand, park in a safe place out of traffic first.
Fines, points and penalties for a hands-free ticket
A hands-free violation can bring a Class C infraction and, according to CJI, a fine of up to $500 (U.S. dollars). Points apply to violations from July 1, 2021, and stay active on your driving record for two years from the conviction date. Drivers under 21 face more. A probationary license holder does not qualify for court diversion programs. A driver under 21 with two or more traffic offense convictions can be required to complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program. The BMV mails the notice, and the course must be finished within 90 days, or the license is suspended. See the penalties for new drivers in Indiana.
Key takeaways
- Since July 1, 2020, Indiana bans holding a phone or other device while your vehicle moves.
- Drivers 21 and older may use Bluetooth, a headset, voice control and hands-free GPS. Any driver may hold a phone to call 911 in a true emergency.
- Drivers under 21 with a probationary license may not use a phone at all while they drive, even hands-free, except for 911.
- A violation can bring a Class C infraction, a fine of up to $500 and points that stay on your record for two years.
- Next step: practice the phone rule and other road rules on the free Indiana operator practice test.
Indiana hands-free law: common questions
Can I use voice-to-text while driving in Indiana?
Yes, if you are 21 or older and the phone is not in your hand. The law allows a phone used with hands-free or voice-operated technology, so you can dictate and send a text by voice command. If you are under 21 with a probationary license, you may not text at all while you drive, even by voice.
How many points is a hands-free ticket in Indiana?
The Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026) lists a violation for a hand-held device as 4 points. Indiana gives each moving violation a point value from zero to ten, based on how much risk the offense poses to traffic safety. The BMV lists the value of each offense in its Point Value Table on in.gov/bmv.
Can a Driver Safety Program take hands-free points off my record?
It can offset them. When you finish a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program, the BMV applies a 4-point credit to your Indiana driver record, once every three years. The course does not remove the citation from your driver history. Courses take at least four hours and cost no more than $55.
Can a police officer take or search my phone after a hands-free stop?
Not to check this rule without your consent. The law text (2022 copy) says an officer may not take your phone to check compliance, or keep it as evidence for this violation, without your consent. The officer also may not download data from it for this violation, unless there is probable cause of a crime, a valid search warrant or other legal authority.
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