Learning to drive is one of the most important skills for people in the US to learn, especially in places with fewer alternative transportation options. For first-time teen and even adult drivers, it can seem overwhelming to go through the process of getting a permit, passing the driving test, and finally getting an Indiana license.
This guide aims to help you better understand in simple terms how you can get your learner’s permit and how to meet all the requirements for getting a license, including the available methods for preparing for the road test. Note that these guidelines are for a standard Operator’s License.
How to Get Your Learner’s Permit in Indiana
The first step to getting your driver’s license is getting your learner’s permit (aka instruction permit); you’ll need to have your permit for at least 180 days in order to apply for your license.
There are two types of application requirements for learner’s permits in Indiana, dependent on the age of the permit-seeker.
🚗 Under 16 Years Old
In Indiana, you can apply for and receive a learner’s permit at age 15, provided you meet certain requirements.
- You must be enrolled in and able to present a Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment from a BMV licensed Behind-the-wheel training provider (aka driver’s education).
- Provide documents from the list of approved documents to prove
- Identity
- Social Security number (if applicable)
- Lawful status
- Indiana residency
- Pass a knowledge test (study with the Indiana driver’s manual)
- Pass a vision screening
🚗 Over 16 Years Old
If you are older than 16, you can apply for a permit with the same conditions listed above, except you don’t need to be enrolled in a driver’s ed program. You must simply prove your identity and residence, and pass the vision screening and knowledge portion of the Indiana BMV permit test.
If you are under 18 years old, you must have an emergency contact who is older than 18.
In any case, learner’s permits are valid for two years from the date of issue. If your permit expires and you do not renew it within 180 days, you’ll need to reapply for a new permit.
To get a learner’s permit, you must be at least 15 years old and enrolled in a BMV licensed behind the wheel driving school. If you are at least 16, you can apply for a permit without being enrolled in a driver’s education program.
You can apply for your license at 16 and 3 months (with driver's ed) or 16 and 9 months old (without driver's ed).
What Can You Do with a Learner’s Permit?
Depending on your age, there are three main categories of restrictions on who you can practice driving with when you have your permit.
🚙 Over 18 Years Old
In all cases of driving with a permit, you, the driver, must be accompanied by an eligible passenger in the front passenger seat.
An eligible driver is someone who
- Is at least 25 years old (21 if they are your spouse)
- Possesses a valid driver’s license
For people older than 18, these are the only restrictions. You may only practice driving with an eligible passenger in the vehicle with you.
🚙 Between 16 and 18 Years Old
At this age, you must follow the above guidelines for people older than 18, with a few more caveats.
Your eligible passenger must be related to you by blood, marriage, or legal status.
Alternatively, the eligible passenger can be a licensed driver training instructor or a certified driver rehabilitation specialist who is recognized by the Indiana BMV and currently employed at a driving school or rehabilitation program. If you’re enrolled in a drivers ed program, this person will likely be your driving instructor for your classes.
If you are under the care of the Department of Child Services, your eligible passenger can be an approved chaperone from the Department of Child Services.
🚙 Under 16 Years Old
The youngest group has the most restrictions on who you can practice driving with.
Your eligible driver must meet the same requirements listed above for the 16 to 18-year-olds; however, if you drive with a licensed driver training instructor or a certified driver rehabilitation specialist, they must be instructors for the driver’s education program you’re enrolled at.
How to Get Your Driver’s License in Indiana
Obtaining your learner’s permit is only the first step to getting your full driver’s license.
Once you have the permit, you must meet several requirements before applying for a license, called an Indiana operator license.
Age & Experience Requirements for Applying for a License
Once again, there are different requirements for different age groups of license-seekers. The details can be a little confusing, so we’ll try to keep it short and sweet.
16 Years and 90 Days (3 months) Old
You can apply as young as 16 years and 90 days if you have completed a BMV licensed driver education program.
16 Years and 270 Days (9 months) Old
You can apply at 16 years and 270 days without completing an approved driver’s ed program.
If You Have a Documented Disability
You must be at least 18 years old and have completed driver rehabilitation training with a certified specialist recognized by the Indiana BMA to apply for your license
All Ages
Regardless of your age, you must have at least 50 documented hours of driving practice with your eligible passenger(s) as listed above in the permit section. At least 10 of the hours must be nighttime driving unless you have restriction G (daytime-only driving) on your permit.
Everyone applying for a license must have held a valid learner’s permit for at least 180 continuous days, and it must still be valid while you take your road test.
If you’re under 16, you can only begin driving practice with your parents once you’ve started classes in drivers ed Indiana. If you’re over 16, you can begin when you have your permit.
Indiana Driver’s License Requirements
To get your license, you must pass an Indiana driving test, called the driving skills exam.
This exam can be taken at certain BMV licensed driver training schools that participate in the BMV’s driving skills test program, providing that you attended the training program at that school. If you didn’t take driver’s ed, or your driver’s ed school didn’t provide the test program, or you failed the test program with the driver’s ed school, you’ll need to take the exam at a BMV branch.
You must also pass another vision screening.
Different Types of Driver’s Licenses
There are two types of standard operator’s licenses issued to Indiana drivers: Probationary Licenses and Regular (Adult) Licenses.
Probationary Licenses
Probationary Licenses are given to drivers under the age of 21. They are valid until 30 days after your 21st birthday, and you can renew the license and convert it to a regular license between 1 day after your 21st birthday and 30 days after your 21st birthday.
If you don’t renew it in this time period, you’ll need to pay additional fees.
With a probationary license, you must follow a comprehensive set of rules:
- In the first 180 days after getting your license, you cannot drive with any passengers in your car unless they are or you have an eligible passenger in the front passenger seat.
- The exception is that you may drive your child, stepchild, sibling, step or half-sibling, or spouse without an eligible passenger accompanying you
- In the first 180 days after getting your license, you cannot drive between 10 P.M. and 5 A.M., unless you have an eligible passenger in the front passenger seat or are driving to/from an approved location (listed below)
- After 180 days, if you are still less than 18 years old, you cannot drive during the following times, unless you have an eligible passenger in the front passenger seat or are driving to/from an approved location (listed below)
- Sunday through Thursday after 11 P.M.
- Monday through Friday before 5 A.M.
- Saturday and Sunday between 1 A.M. and 5 A.M.
- If you are in the first 180 days and/or are under age 18, you may drive without an eligible passenger during the times listed above if you are on the way to or from
- Lawful employment
- School or a school-sanctioned activity
- A religious event
- If you commit truancy, drop out, get suspended, or are expelled from school, your license will be suspended
Regular Licenses
Regular licenses (also called Adult Licenses or Unrestricted Licenses) allow you to drive without any of the restrictions mentioned above. You will receive this type of license if you are over age 21 when you apply for your license or when you renew your probationary license after your 21st birthday.
However, keep in mind that you must follow all the rules of the road!
All drivers in Indiana are forbidden from using a mobile device while driving, unless it is to call 911.
How Long Is My Licence Valid?
The validity of your driver's license depends on your age.
- Six years if you are younger than 75 years of age
- Three years if you are aged 75 through 84
- Two years if you are at least 85 years of age
Driver Education Requirements in Indiana
Every state has its own requirements when it comes to driver’s education. While Indiana’s BMV certifies eligible training programs as official driver education locations, they are not a requirement for drivers.
Is Driver’s Education Required to Get Your License?
No, driver’s education is not required in Indiana unless you are younger than 16 years and 9 months old when you apply for your license.
Being enrolled in a driver’s ed program means you can get your learner’s permit earlier (age 15 as opposed to 16) and therefore you can get your license earlier (age 16 and 3 months as opposed to 16 and 9 months).
Why Take Driver’s Ed?
If driver’s ed isn’t a requirement, why should you bother taking it?
Besides the obvious advantage of getting your permit and license earlier, there are many other inherent advantages of enrolling and completing a driver’s training course.
More Likely to Pass the Knowledge and Driving Skills Exams
When you take a certified driver education course, you will have an easier time passing the knowledge and road tests required for your permit and license. Even if you take the Indiana driver’s permit test before you begin a driving training program, you’ll still be better prepared for the skills test.
If you fail the driving skills exam, you must wait a week to retake it. If you fail three times, you must wait two months before trying again. Passing the first time is much more convenient!
Safer Driving
Drivers who learn the rules of the road in driver education are more likely to be more competent drivers early in their driving journeys. You may also be able to secure a lower rate on your car insurance!
More Confidence
One of the things that stops many people from driving is being fearful of operating a vehicle or being on the road. Learning in a classroom and then behind-the-wheel with a trained instructor can help you overcome these fears and become confident in your abilities.
What Is Driver Education Like in Indiana?
The curriculum at BMV licensed driver training schools consists of 30 hours of classroom training (the theoretical portion) and six hours of behind-the-wheel training. In order to complete the behind-the-wheel portion, you must have your learner’s permit.
You can enroll in a licensed driver training program that teaches the classroom portion in person or online, but the behind-the-wheel portion must always be in person.
Additionally, you can complete the classroom hours with one program and the behind-the-wheel hours with a different program.
Most (if not all) driving schools will provide you practice knowledge tests, so you can get a better idea of what kinds of questions will be on the test.
Your driver training must be completed within 6 months of your first class.
In order to “graduate” from your driver education, you must finish the course with an overall score of at least 80%.
This is the average cost of driver education in Indiana.
How Long is Driving School?
Driving school in Indiana is 30 hours of classroom lessons and 6 hours of behind the wheel lessons.
How to Get Your License in a Nutshell
Where to Learn Driving in Indiana
To get your Indiana driver’s license faster, you need to enroll in a BMV-approved driving school. You can find a list of these schools on the BMV site, and many of them are also approved as a AAA driving school.
If you don’t need to take a driving course to get your license, but you still want to learn to drive safely, you can look for driving teachers near me on Superprof! Here, you can find your perfect driver instructor for adult driving classes or for help logging your 50 hours of driving practice!
With a little practice and diligence, you can pass the BMV driving test and earn your Indiana drivers license in as little as 6 to 8 months!
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