Renewing Your Driver's License
Indiana residents may renew their driver's licenses at any license branch up to one year before the expiration of the driver's license. When renewing a driver's license, the holder will need to pass a standard vision screening.
A driver's license expires on the driver's birthday. If the driver's birthday falls on a day on which BMV license branches are closed, the driver's license will expire on the next business day. A delinquent fee of $5 will be charged if the license is renewed after that date.
An Indiana driver's license is valid for six years when issued to drivers who are 18- to 75-years old, three years when issued to drivers who are 75- to 85-years-old, and two years when issued to drivers who are older than 85. For those under the age of 18, the driver's license is probationary and expires on the driver's 21st birthday.
You do not need to provide any additional documentation when renewing your driver's license unless you have moved or your name has changed since your last driver license renewal. If you have moved, you will need to provide a computer-generated document such as a utility bill or pay-check stub that contains your name and new address. If your name has changed, you will need to provide a court-issued order verifying the change to your name.
An Indiana driver renewing a driver's license that has been expired for less than six months is required to pass the vision screening and pay a $5 late fee. An Indiana driver renewing a driver's license that has been expired for more than six months is required to pass a vision screening and a written exam.
Renewing a driver's license when out-of-state
If you find that your valid Indiana driver's license has expired while you are out of the state, you may request a 30-day extension of your driver's license from the license's date of expiration. If your valid Indiana driver's license has been lost or stolen while you are out of the state, you may request a 30-day verification letter that will allow you to return to Indiana and obtain a duplicate license.
If you are an Indiana resident living out of the state and you need to renew your driver's license, you may request a photo-exempt driver's license. Please note that the BMV only issues photo-exempt driver's licenses to Indiana residents who are living out of the state as active military personnel, college students, on business, or working as missionaries. To obtain a photo-exempt driver's license, the following documentation is required:
- Active military personnel - a letter on military letterhead verifying your status as an active member of the military and your location, signed by your commanding officer;
- College student - a letter on school letterhead verifying your status as a college student and verifying your school's location as well as your length of stay, signed by a representative of your school;
- Business - a letter on company letterhead verifying your employment and the company's location, signed by your manager;
- Missionary - a letter on letterhead verifying your status as a missionary and your location, signed by a representative of your church or organization.
To obtain a 30-day extension of your driver's license, a 30-day verificiation letter, or a photo-exempt driver's license, you will need to complete a Request for Photo Exempt License/ID Card for Religious Reasons - State Form 45811 and mail to the address listed on the form.
If you are temporarily living outside Indiana because you are serving with the military, your license remains valid for 90 days following your discharge from service. To obtain a renewed license after you have been discharged, you need to visit a license branch and show proof of your discharge.
Renewing your driver's license if you are a foreign national
Any foreign national who needs to renew an Indiana driver's license should visit a license branch and ask to renew the driver's license through the Central Verification Process (CVP). This process allows the BMV to verify the applicant's immigration or residency status.
Any documents presented at a license branch establishing an applicant’s immigration or residency status will be forwarded to the BMV's Central Verification Division. The applicant will be issued a document stating that he or she has a temporarily-renewed driver's license which is valid for 60 days. When the Central Verification Division has verified the applicant’s documents, the permanently-renewed driver's license will be mailed to the applicant.
