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LicensePlates Indiana

Replacement License Plate in Indiana

What is a License Plate Replacement in Indiana?

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reissues license plates outside the regular renewal cycle when a license plate is lost, stolen, physically damaged, or becomes illegible. The BMV clearly distinguishes between two types of transactions: duplicates of a license plate (damaged or illegible, the same number is reissued) and replacement of a license plate (lost or stolen, a new number is assigned).

  • Replacement differs from renewal. Renewal is an annual registration cycle; replacement has its own fixed fee of $9.50 and its own documentation path, separate from any renewal fees or excise taxes (IC § 9-18.1-11-8).
  • Indiana is a one-plate state. Most vehicles require only a rear license plate, so the transaction covers one plate. Tractors, dump trucks, and trucks with rear-mounted forklifts have a front license plate (IC § 9-18.1-4-4).
  • Plate continuity depends on the type of transaction. A duplicate retains your existing number; a replacement assigns a new one. Once a plate has been flagged as stolen, the BMV blocks reissuance of that number for five years.
  • New residents surrendering an out-of-state plate undergo the new vehicle registration process, not the replacement channel.

When Do You Need to Replace Your Indiana License Plate?

A trigger determines which BMV transaction you file. Each condition has different documentation and a different outcome for the license plate on your vehicle.

  • A license plate that is lost or stolen requires a replacement transaction. The BMV issues a new license plate; you cannot retain your old number (IC § 9-18.1-11-8(b)).
  • Stolen plates require mandatory law enforcement notification. You must report the theft to an Indiana law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, and that agency must complete State Form 37135 before the BMV processes the replacement. Lost plates do not require a police report.
  • Damaged or illegible plates are subject to a duplicate, not a replacement. The same plate number is reissued, and no police report is required.
  • Indiana does not publish a statutory window (in days) requiring you to replace a damaged plate by a certain deadline. Display law requires that a plate be maintained in a condition that is “clearly legible” and free from foreign materials (IC § 9-18.1-4-4(b)(2)). Driving with an illegible plate is a Class C infraction.
  • New residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of becoming an Indiana resident; missing this deadline results in a $15 administrative penalty (IC § 9-18.1-11-5).

How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Indiana

Replacement of a license plate in Indiana is conducted through a BMV branch. Neither the online portal nor self-service kiosks handle physical plate replacements. Gather your documentation before visiting.

  • Bring your current registration certificate or your registration details from myBMV.com. You will also need a valid photo ID. If you are changing your address during the transaction, two proofs of Indiana residency are required.
  • For a stolen plate, provide a completed State Form 37135, signed by the officer who took the theft report. The BMV will not process a stolen plate replacement without this form. Lost plates do not require police paperwork.
  • If your plate is damaged (duplicate transaction), surrender the old plate at the branch. The BMV will reissue the same plate number and type.
  • The branch issues a replacement plate during the visit. Plates ordered through certain registration transactions may take up to 21 calendar days to arrive by mail, according to the BMV registration page.
  • Replacement by mail is unavailable. The BMV branch map lists over 125 locations statewide, and appointments can be scheduled online.

Can You Replace an Indiana License Plate Online?

No. Indiana does not offer online license plate replacement. The BMV requires an in-person branch visit for both duplicate plates (damaged) and replacement plates (lost or stolen).

The myBMV.com portal handles renewals, new registrations, and plate transfers for standard plate types. A duplicate registration document can be printed through myBMV at no cost. However, the portal will not create a physical plate replacement.

BMV Connect kiosks cover a narrower range: replacement of registration stickers for vehicles and trailers, duplicate registration cards, and renewal transactions. Kiosks accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express; kiosks at branches also accept cash. Plate replacement is not among the available kiosk transactions.

The only path to a plate replacement is a BMV branch. Find the nearest office through the branch location list on the BMV website.

How Much is License Plate Replacement in Indiana?

The replacement fee is a fixed $9.50, set by statute and the same for both duplicates and replacements of plates for all vehicle classes. The fee is independent of vehicle weight or plate type.

  • $9.50 fixed covers the entire replacement transaction, whether it is a passenger, motorcycle, truck, trailer, or special design plate. The statute allocates this $9.50 to five funds: $5.00 to the commission fund, $1.50 to the highway account, $1.25 to the integrated public safety fund, $1.00 to the Crossroads 2000 fund, $0.50 to the state motor vehicle technology fund, and $0.25 to the state construction fund (IC § 9-18.1-11-8(b)(1)).
  • Since Indiana requires only one rear plate, the fee covers one plate. Pricing split for one plate versus two plates does not apply.
  • No county or municipal fees apply to the replacement transaction itself. County and municipal vehicle excise taxes and wheel taxes apply only to registration and renewal, not to a separate plate replacement (according to the BMV fees and taxes page).
  • Replacement stickers have the same $9.50 fee at a branch or kiosk. The BMV waives the fee for a duplicate registration certificate printed through myBMV.com.
  • Black plates, available from August 2025, add a $45 plate fee to the $9.50 replacement fee if you change the design during the replacement transaction (according to the license plate overview). Personalized plates add another $45.

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