Driving Tests

Moving to Indiana: Get Your Indiana Driver's License Within 60 Days

informational·how to guide·Published August 13, 2026

How long do I have to get an Indiana driver's license after I move?

You have 60 days after you become an Indiana resident to get an Indiana driver's license. If you are 18 or older and have held a valid license from another state for at least one year, you pass a vision screening, show documents and take no knowledge exam. An expired license means a knowledge exam. A license expired more than five years also needs a driving skills test.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) page for new Indiana residents, the Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026) and the BMV Real ID page. It also uses the BMV New Resident Packet and the BMV driver's license, knowledge exam, out-of-country license and mail-delivery pages. The rules are as of 2026, and the BMV can change them. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

When the 60-day clock starts

The 60 days start on the day you become an Indiana resident. Signs of Indiana residency include a home address in Indiana with no claim of residency in another state, registration as an Indiana voter, or a dependent who attends an Indiana elementary or secondary school. You can practice this rule with our free question on the 60-day deadline for new residents.

Which tests you take at 18 or older

Which tests you take at 18 or older
Your out-of-state license	What you do at the BMV
Valid, held 1 year or more	Vision screening and documents. No knowledge exam.
Expired	Knowledge exam, vision screening and documents
Expired more than five years	Knowledge exam and driving skills test, plus vision screening and documents
Valid, held less than 1 year	Plan for a knowledge exam and a driving skills test, as the BMV page lists. The Driver's Manual lists only a knowledge exam, so confirm with the BMV toll-free at 888-692-6841 before you go.

What the knowledge exam and driving test involve

The knowledge exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam at a BMV branch. It has two sections, traffic maneuvers and traffic signs, and you need 80 percent or higher on each section. You need no appointment, but arrive at least 30 minutes before the branch closes. If you fail, you can retake it on the next business day. Practice with our free question on passing both knowledge exam parts.
The driving skills exam at a BMV branch has no charge, and you bring your own vehicle. Book it no more than three weeks and no less than 48 business hours ahead. After a failed skills exam, you wait 7 days.

Moving to Indiana under 18

You are at least 16 years and 180 days old, and you held your out-of-state license for less than 180 days

Go to a BMV branch. Pass a knowledge exam and a vision screening, and apply for a learner's permit.

You are at least 16 years and 180 days old, and you held your out-of-state license for at least 180 days but less than one year

Go to a BMV branch. Pass a knowledge exam, a vision screening and a driving skills exam with a BMV examiner.

You never held a license in another state

Hold an Indiana learner's permit for 180 days before you can get an Indiana driver's license.

You are under 18 in any of these cases

An adult signs a sworn statement of financial liability in person at a BMV branch.

Documents to bring to the BMV

One item from your old state: your license, a copy of your official driving record or, at 18 or older, a verification letter.
One document that proves your identity.
One document that proves your lawful status.
One document that proves your Social Security number.
Two printed documents that prove you live in Indiana, such as a utility, credit card, doctor or hospital bill issued within 60 days of your visit, a bank statement or a pre-printed pay stub.
If you live with a relative or friend and cannot give two proofs of residency, that person signs an Indiana Residency Affidavit at a BMV branch.
With these documents, the BMV issues a Real ID card, which has a star in the top right corner. The full document checklist lists each accepted document.

How to get your Indiana license, step by step

1
Find your case
Check the table above, or the under-18 cards, and note which tests you take.
2
Collect your documents
Gather each item in the list above before your visit.
3
Apply within 60 days
Go to a BMV branch, hand in your out-of-state license, pass the vision screening and take any exam your case needs. If you are under 18, bring the adult who signs for you.
4
Leave with a temporary credential
The BMV gives you a temporary license or learner's permit that is valid for 30 days while it verifies your documents.
5
Wait for the card
The permanent card comes to your mailing address.

Moving from another country

If your license comes from another country, you pass a vision screening, a knowledge exam and a driving skills exam. The skills exam may be waived under a Reciprocal Driver's License Agreement, which Indiana has with Japan and Taiwan. The guide to the Indiana foreign driver's license rules covers the details.

Key takeaways

You have 60 days after you become an Indiana resident to get an Indiana driver's license.
At 18 or older with a valid license held 1 year or more, you pass a vision screening and show documents, with no knowledge exam.
An expired license means a knowledge exam. Expired more than five years means a knowledge exam and a driving skills test.
Under 18, your tests depend on how long you held your old license: under 180 days, or 180 days to under one year.
Next step: if your case needs a knowledge exam, practice on the free Indiana operator practice test, which is in English only.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to turn in my old driver's license when I move to Indiana?

Yes. When you apply, you hand in every valid credential from another state: a driver's license, a learner's permit or an ID card. Indiana does not let a resident hold two credentials at the same time, even when one of them comes from another state.

Does a college student from another state need an Indiana license?

A student at a college or university who does not claim Indiana as home state does not count as an Indiana resident for a license or ID card. Ask the BMV at 888-692-6841 if you are not sure which case fits you.

What if I never had a driver's license before I moved?

You start with an Indiana learner's permit, and you pass the knowledge exam to get it. You hold the permit for 180 days before you can get an Indiana driver's license. If you are under 18, an adult also signs a statement of financial liability at the branch.

Can I use my temporary Indiana license as ID?

Do not count on it. The temporary license that a new resident gets at the BMV is not valid for identification, so carry another photo ID. The permanent card should arrive by mail within 14 days if your documents have no issues. If it does not, call the BMV at 888-692-6841.

Do I also have to title my car in Indiana?

Yes. You have 60 days after you move to apply for an Indiana title for each vehicle with an out-of-state title. If you miss the deadline, the BMV charges an administrative penalty. You apply at a BMV branch, and you bring the vehicle for an inspection.