Skip to content
LicensePlates Indiana

Indiana License Plate

What is an Indiana License Plate?

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues license plates and maintains all registration records for the state. Residents handle registration at any BMV branch, a BMV Connect kiosk, or online through myBMV.com.

Indiana’s current general-issue design is the Bicentennial plate, introduced in 2013. A white background carries a blue outline of the state with “200” across it, ringed by 19 stars marking Indiana’s order of admission to the union. The In God We Trust plate is a second standard option at no additional fee.

Types of License Plates in Indiana

  • Standard: assigned at registration with no plate-design surcharge. Two designs qualify: the Bicentennial plate and the In God We Trust plate. A duplicate or replacement plate costs $9.50.
  • Indiana’s Special Group Recognition plates cover universities, nonprofits, sports teams, and civic organizations. The typical annual cost adds $25 (group fee) and $15 (administrative fee) to the base registration.
  • A personalized message runs $45 per year, ordered through myBMV.com or at a branch. Up to eight characters are allowed on a standard passenger plate.
  • The BMV issues plates for Disabled Hoosier Veterans (Indiana Code 9-18.5-5), Ex-Prisoners of War (IC 9-18.5-4), Purple Heart recipients (IC 9-18.5-6), and Gold Star families, all without group or administrative fees.
  • Collector Vehicle plates are available for a $16.35 registration fee, restricted to qualifying antique or historic vehicles not used as daily transportation.

The full catalog is on the BMV license plate designs page.

What Vehicles Require License Plates in Indiana?

Every vehicle operated on an Indiana highway must be registered and must display proof of registration (Indiana Code 9-18.1-2-3). New purchases must be registered within 45 days; new residents get 60 days (IC 9-18.1-11-5, IC 9-18.1-2-6).

  • Passenger vehicles and trucks up to 11,000 pounds carry one rear plate. Base registration is $21.35 for passenger cars and $30.35 for trucks, plus a $15 Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee assessed on every vehicle.
  • $26.35 covers motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, each displaying a single rear plate.
  • Trailers at or below 3,000 pounds register for $16.35; heavier trailers scale up through multiple weight tiers, from $72 (up to 12,000 pounds) to $228 (over 22,000 pounds). One rear plate is required.
  • Trucks, tractors, and for-hire buses between 11,001 and 16,000 pounds start at $144 and climb steeply by weight class, topping out at $1,692 for vehicles over 78,000 pounds.
  • An electric vehicle supplemental fee of $242 applies at each annual registration. Hybrid owners pay $81 per the BMV fee chart.

License Plate Rules in Indiana

  • Rear display is the rule for all standard passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers under Indiana Code 9-18.1-4-4. Tractors, dump trucks, and trucks with rear-mounted forklifts must mount the plate on the front instead.
  • Plates must remain clearly legible and free of foreign materials. Tires, bumpers, accessories, frames, covers, and any other opaque objects that hide the plate number, stickers, or state name violate the same statute (IC 9-18.1-4-4(b)). The plate must be at least 12 inches above the ground and securely fastened in a horizontal, upright position.

Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Indiana Illegal?

A vehicle without a displayed plate on an Indiana highway violates IC 9-18.1-4-4, which classifies the offense as a Class C infraction. Registration and display are treated as a single obligation under the same chapter.

Displaying a plate from another vehicle or a fictitious registration number is a separate violation under IC 9-18.1-4-5, also a Class C infraction. Knowingly keeping a vehicle registered out of state when Indiana registration is required escalates to a Class B misdemeanor under IC 9-18.1-2-12.

What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Indiana?

Indiana’s plate violations fall under Article 18.1, Chapter 4 of the motor vehicle code. The simplest display ticket is a civil infraction, but the tiers above it shift into misdemeanor territory with real jail exposure.

  • A no-display violation under IC 9-18.1-4-4 is a Class C infraction, carrying a maximum judgment of $500 (IC 34-28-5-4).
  • Operating with a fictitious plate or a plate belonging to another vehicle under IC 9-18.1-4-5 is also a Class C infraction, with the same $500 ceiling.
  • Knowingly maintaining out-of-state registration to evade Indiana’s requirement is a Class B misdemeanor under IC 9-18.1-2-12, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
  • Falsely claiming eligibility for a Purple Heart plate is a Class C misdemeanor under IC 9-18.5-6, up to 60 days in jail, and a $500 fine.
  • Late registration draws a separate $15 administrative penalty from the BMV under the fee schedule in Article 18.1, apart from any court-imposed judgment.

Notice

By clicking "I Agree," you acknowledge and consent to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and you agree not to use information provided by Indiana License Plates for any purpose governed by the FCRA, including evaluating an individual's eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, or tenant screening.

This website offers information sourced from both public and private records. Indiana License Plates cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Please use the information obtained from Indiana License Plates responsibly.

When you search for license plates on Indiana License Plates, you understand that these searches must only be conducted for purposes authorized by the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (DPPA). You may not search for license plates or use any information obtained from these searches for unlawful purposes.

By clicking "I Agree," you understand that Indiana License Plates will conduct only an initial search based on the information you provide. A full record search will be conducted and available after account registration or report purchase.