Registration FAQs

We've tried to answer any registration question you might have in our car, boat, motorcycle, motorhome, and custom-built car sections.

However, here are some additional morsels of information you might find useful.

I'm going away for my summer vacation, and my registration will be due. Will I be able to get my renewal notice in the mail?

If you're temporarily living at another address and are worried that you might not receive your registration renewal form in the mail, just be sure that your post office has the correct forwarding address. Your renewal form will then be transferred to the temporary address.

If you'd like to have your new registration and sticker sent to your temporary address, just enclose a note with your renewal form requesting that it be sent to that address. Make sure to include the new address, of course.

Do I need to provide financial responsibility information when I register my pickup truck?

When registering, you'll need to provide the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) with the name of your auto insurance company, as well as your policy number.

Can I get a special registration for my nonoperable vehicle?

No. Indiana does not offer a special registration for vehicles that are nonoperable or placed in storage.

How do I replace a lost registration or tags?

Just head to a license agency, bring proper identification (such as your driver's license), and pay the $9 replacement fee. (If you need to replace only the registration and not the tags, the cost is $6.)

If your license plates (tags) have been damaged or stolen, it's pretty easy to have them replaced.
Just have a police officer complete Application for Duplicate or Replacement License Plate - State Form 37135. Then, bring the form to a license agency, pay the $9 replacement plate fee, and you'll be on your way.

How do I replace a lost title?

Go to a license agency, bring proper identification (such as your driver's license), and pay the $9 replacement fee.

I didn't get my registration in the mail. What should I do?

Call the BMV at (317) 233-6000 to see whether the order was received and processed. The BMV will provide you with instructions on what to do next.

I'm always concerned about identity theft and since 9/11 I have been keeping my Social Security number between myself, my employer, and the Social Security Administration. How come I have to share it with BMV?

Although privacy issues are a legitimate concern for everyone, you will need to provide your Social Security number to the BMV when registering. Simply put, it's a state law. On the other hand, if your employer is registering your vehicle, their Federal Employer Identification Number may be used instead.

For more information on driver privacy issues, visit our Driving Records Section.

We just moved here and registered our car. We're not sure where to display the license plate and decals.

If you are receiving a new plate, make sure to put it on the rear of the vehicle. If you're just receiving renewal stickers, the sticker that has the month on it goes on the upper-left corner of the plate, while the sticker with the year on it goes on the upper-right.

The last time I moved across the country, I had to return my license plates to the state DMV. Is Indiana the same way?

If you're moving out of Indiana, you do not need to notify the BMV, nor return your license plate. If you receive a renewal notice, you may discard it. Your registration will simply be deleted from the BMV record system a year after your last registration.

If you're interested in receiving a refund for any unused excise tax, you'll need to provide proof that your vehicle has been registered in another state, and that you are a resident of that state. Copies of this information are acceptable. Send the information to:

• Bureau of Motor Vehicles Excise Tax Refund Request

• Indiana Government Center North, Room N-440

• 100 North Senate Ave.

• Indianapolis, IN 46204

You'll then receive an excise tax refund form from the BMV to complete and send back.

What about if I sell my car?

If you sell your car, you don't need to worry about returning the old license plate or your registration.

If you're interested in receiving an excise tax credit for any of the remaining period, come to any license agency and bring proof that you've sold your vehicle. You'll be given an excise tax refund form to complete that will be sent to the BMV. After the BMV approves your request, your refund will be sent to you.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.