Indiana Learner's Permit: Age 15 With Driver's Ed or 16 Without
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Indiana?
You can get an Indiana learner's permit at 15 if you are enrolled in a BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel driver's ed course, or at 16 with no course. At a BMV branch you show your documents, pass a vision screening and pass the knowledge exam, with 80 percent on each part. The permit is valid for 2 years and costs $9.
Where these Indiana permit rules come from
The rules come from the Indiana BMV learner's permit page, the Indiana Driver's Manual (published July 2026), the BMV agreement of financial liability page and the BMV vision screening and knowledge exam pages. The fee comes from the BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26). The driver's ed details come from the BMV driver education page and BMV FAQs. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.
Permit at 15 or at 16: what changes
| Topic | At 15 | At 16 or older |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's ed | Enrolled in a BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel course | Not needed |
| Extra paper | Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment from the driving school | None for driver's ed |
| Under 18 | Emergency contact aged 18 or older, and an adult signs the financial liability form | Same |
Steps to get your Indiana learner's permit
- 1Choose your route
At 15, enroll in a behind-the-wheel course with a BMV-licensed driving school. At 16 or older you can skip the course.
- 2Collect your documents
Bring documents that prove your identity, Social Security number, lawful status and Indiana residency (two unique documents). With no two residency documents, an adult aged 18 or older who lives with you can sign an Indiana Residency Affidavit.
- 3Name an emergency contact if you are under 18
The contact must be 18 or older.
- 4Bring a signing adult if you are under 18
The adult signs the agreement of financial liability in person at the branch. If you are in Department of Child Services (DCS) care, you show proof of that care and proof of car insurance that meets the Indiana minimum instead.
- 5Pass the vision screening
You also take it when you renew a permit. If you normally drive with glasses or contacts, wear them for the screening.
- 6Pass the knowledge exam
You need 80 percent or higher on each part. You do not need an appointment unless you need the exam read to you, but you must arrive at the branch at least 30 minutes before it closes. A passed result is valid for 180 days.
What does a 15-year-old need from driver's ed?
A 15-year-old shows proof of enrollment in a BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel program. The proof is the Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment from the driving school, and its date must be no earlier than three weeks before the class starts. BMV FAQs also say the 30 hours of classroom or online theory come first, so ask your driving school what to bring. A full driver training program is 30 hours of classroom training and six hours behind the wheel. Online training can replace the classroom part, but the six driving hours stay.
Who can ride with you on a learner's permit?
| Your situation | Who may sit beside you |
|---|---|
| Under 16 and in driver's ed | A licensed driver training instructor or a certified driver rehabilitation specialist; a licensed driver aged 25 or older who is related to you by blood, marriage or legal status; or your spouse if licensed and 21 or older |
| Under 18 and not in driver's ed | A licensed driver aged 25 or older who is related to you by blood, marriage or legal status; your spouse if licensed and 21 or older; a licensed driver training school instructor; or a certified rehabilitation specialist |
| Under 18 in Department of Child Services (DCS) care | A related licensed driver aged 25 or older, or a licensed driver aged 25 or older approved by DCS |
| 18 or older | A licensed driver aged 25 or older, or your spouse if licensed and 21 or older |
Rules for your permit supervisor
Each supervisor must be licensed, and a supervisor aged 25 or older must have valid driving privileges: not expired, suspended or revoked. A parent counts only when licensed and 25 or older. If you are under 18, the supervisor sits in the front passenger seat. The practice question on who may supervise a 17-year-old permit holder tests this rule.
What is the financial liability form?
If you are under 18, Indiana law requires an adult to sign and swear to your permit application. With the BMV agreement of financial liability, the adult agrees to be responsible, together with you, for injury or damage you cause by driving, if you are liable in damages. The agreement ends when you turn 18. Before that, the adult can ask the BMV in writing (State Form 55834 or a letter) to cancel your permit, and is then relieved from liability. To drive again, you apply for an amended permit with a new adult who signs.
Who can sign the financial liability form, in order
- First: the parent who has custody of you, or a designee that this parent names.
- Second: the other parent (the noncustodial parent), or a designee that this parent names.
- Third: the guardian who has custody of you.
- When none of them is available: any other adult who is willing to take on the liability.
- The adult signs in person at a BMV branch and shows ID that proves identity and age, including a U.S. government photo ID with a U.S. address.
How long is the permit valid, and what does it cost?
A learner's permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. The BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26) lists the learner's permit fee as $9 (U.S. dollars). A permit for a lawful temporary resident expires on the end-of-stay date, so it can be shorter than two years. The practice question on how long an Indiana learner's permit is valid checks the two-year rule.
Renewing or replacing your permit
What comes after the permit?
Hold the permit for 180 days before you apply for your first license, and log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 of them at night. The minimum license age is 16 after you complete a BMV-licensed driver education program, or 16 years and 270 days without one. The Indiana permit test guide explains the knowledge exam in detail, and the guide to the Indiana driver's license at 16 covers the next step.
Key takeaways
- Get a permit at 15 with enrollment in a BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel course, or at 16 with no course.
- At the branch you show documents, pass a vision screening and pass the knowledge exam (80 percent on each part).
- Who rides with you depends on your age and driver's ed status. Most supervisors must be licensed and 25 or older; a licensed spouse can be 21 or older.
- The permit is valid for 2 years and costs $9. Expired more than 180 days means a new knowledge exam.
- Next step: practice the signs and rules on the free Indiana operator practice test.
Indiana learner's permit: common questions
Can I drive alone with an Indiana learner's permit?
No. On a learner's permit you practice only with a qualified licensed supervisor in the car. If you are under 18, the supervisor sits in the front passenger seat. Who qualifies depends on your age, your driver's ed status and, for teens, your family relationship to the supervisor.
Can my parent ride with me on my learner's permit?
Yes, if your parent is licensed, is 25 or older and has valid driving privileges (not expired, suspended or revoked). A parent counts as a relative, so this works with or without driver's ed. A parent who is younger than 25 or has no valid license cannot supervise you.
Can I use only an online driver's ed course to get a permit at 15?
No. The online certificate of completion for the theory part is not an acceptable document for the permit. At 15 you must be enrolled in a BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel program and show the enrollment certificate. If you take online training first, check that your driving school accepts that course.
Can I replace a lost learner's permit online?
Yes, if your name and address have not changed since you last got the permit. To replace it, you give your name, date of birth, residential address and Social Security number. If your name or address changed, take the required documents to a BMV branch.
What happens if the adult who signed my financial liability form dies?
The agreement of financial liability ends when that adult dies. You must tell the BMV, and another adult must sign a new agreement of financial liability for you. The new adult signs in person at a BMV branch and shows ID that proves identity and age.
Practise for your Indiana Operator's Knowledge test
5 free practice tests with 100 questions, answers and explanations.
Start free Practice Test 1Share or ask AI about this article
Continue the conversation or send this guide to someone who needs it.
Related guides
How to Get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Alberta (2026 Steps)
You can apply for an Alberta Class 7 learner's licence at 14. See the four steps, the knowledge test fee, the temporary licence and what you may drive.
Florida Learner's License at 15: Requirements, Hours and Rules
How to get a Florida learner's license at 15: the tests, the course, parental consent, who must ride with you, when you can drive and what comes next.
Can International Students Drive in Michigan? License Rules
Yes, if you are temporarily in the U.S., you may drive on your home license, with a translation or IDP if it is not in English. See the F-1 and J-1 documents.