Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency
IC 9-18-6
     Chapter 6. Expiration, Replacement, and Transfer of Registrations and License Plates

IC 9-18-6-1
Replacement plates; issuance
     Sec. 1. A replacement semipermanent license plate may be issued by the bureau for any of the following reasons:
        (1) The original semipermanent license plate has been in service for at least three (3) years.
        (2) The original semipermanent license plate has been lost or stolen.
        (3) The bureau determines that the reflective material required by IC 9-18-2-32 is no longer effective and the material's ineffectiveness is a safety hazard.
        (4) A person registering a replacement vehicle requests a new license plate at the time of purchasing the replacement vehicle.
        (5) A person who registered a vehicle no longer resides in the county in which the vehicle was originally registered.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-6-2 Version a
Lost, mutilated, or destroyed plates; duplicates and replacements
     Note: This version of section effective until 1-1-2012. See also following version of this section, effective 1-1-2012.
    Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (e), if a license plate is:
        (1) lost;
        (2) mutilated; or
        (3) destroyed;
the person in whose name the license plate was issued may obtain from the bureau a duplicate or a replacement license plate by filing with the bureau an application on a form provided by the bureau duly sworn to as provided in IC 9-18-2.
    (b) If a license plate is lost, the bureau may not issue a duplicate or replacement license plate until the person in whose name the plate was issued has first notified:
        (1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the loss occurred; or
        (2) the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the address listed on the registration;
that the original license plate has been lost.
    (c) A law enforcement agency to whom a loss is reported shall complete and present to the person reporting the loss a form provided by the bureau indicating that the loss has been reported.
    (d) The person must present the form described under subsection (c) to the bureau before a replacement license plate may be obtained.
    (e) If a license plate for a commercial vehicle is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the person in whose name the plate was issued shall notify:

        (1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the loss occurred; and
        (2) the bureau;
that the original license plate has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed. In order to receive a duplicate or a replacement license plate, the person in whose name the license plate was issued must complete and submit to the bureau an application and affidavit designed by the bureau.
    (f) The bureau shall charge a fee for a duplicate or replacement license plate under subsections (b) and (e) as set forth in IC 9-29-5-17.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.150-2001, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-6-2 Version b
Lost, mutilated, or destroyed plates; duplicates and replacements
     Note: This version of section effective 1-1-2012. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 1-1-2012.
    Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (e), if a license plate is:
        (1) lost;
        (2) mutilated; or
        (3) destroyed;
the person in whose name the license plate was issued may obtain from the bureau a duplicate or a replacement license plate by filing with the bureau an application on a form provided by the bureau duly sworn to as provided in IC 9-18-2.
    (b) If a license plate is lost, the bureau may not issue a duplicate or replacement license plate until the person in whose name the plate was issued has first notified:
        (1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the loss occurred; or
        (2) the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the address listed on the registration;
that the original license plate has been lost.
    (c) A law enforcement agency to whom a loss is reported shall complete and present to the person reporting the loss a form provided by the bureau indicating that the loss has been reported.
    (d) The person must present the form described under subsection (c) to the bureau before a replacement license plate may be obtained.
    (e) If a license plate for a commercial vehicle is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the person in whose name the plate was issued shall notify:
        (1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the loss occurred; and
        (2) the bureau;
that the original license plate has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed. In order to receive a duplicate or a replacement license plate, the person in whose name the license plate was issued must complete and submit to the bureau an application and affidavit designed by the bureau.

    (f) The bureau shall charge a fee for a duplicate or replacement license plate under subsections (b) and (e) as set forth in IC 9-29-5-17.
    (g) A duplicate or replacement license plate must be displayed in the same manner as the original license plate was displayed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.150-2001, SEC.6; P.L.109-2011, SEC.4.

IC 9-18-6-3 Version a
Duplicate plates; certificates; display; identifying symbols
     Note: This version of section effective until 1-1-2012. See also following repeal of this section, effective 1-1-2012.
    Sec. 3. (a) For a duplicate license plate, the bureau shall issue to the person applying for the license plate a certificate in the form of a sticker, including the registration number to be displayed on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle, until the bureau can obtain and deliver a duplicate license plate to the applicant.
    (b) A duplicate license plate must be displayed in the same manner as the original license plate was displayed.
    (c) A certificate issued under subsection (a):
        (1) must be displayed on the windshield of a vehicle that has an enclosed driver's compartment; and
        (2) in all other cases, shall be carried by the person operating the vehicle.
    (d) The bureau shall issue an identifying symbol for replacement license plates marked "replacement license plate" that must be affixed to the license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-6-3 Version b
Repealed
    (Repealed by P.L.109-2011, SEC.40.)
    Note: This repeal of section effective 1-1-2012. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 1-1-2012.

IC 9-18-6-4
Transfers of ownership
     Sec. 4. (a) If the ownership of a vehicle registered under this article is transferred, except a transfer from a manufacturer or dealer:
        (1) the registration of the vehicle expires; and
        (2) the person transferring the vehicle shall remove the license plates and certificate of registration from the vehicle.
    (b) A person who transfers to another person the ownership of a registered vehicle owned by the person, upon the filing of an application for the transfer of the registration and the payment of a fee under IC 9-29-5-23, may have another vehicle registered in the person's name either individually or jointly with another for the remainder of the registration year if the vehicle to which the registration is transferred is:

        (1) of the same type; and
        (2) in the same fee class;
as the vehicle for which the registration was originally issued.
    (c) If a vehicle to which the registration is transferred is in a higher fee class than the vehicle for which the registration was originally issued, the person applying for the transfer shall pay, in addition to the transfer fee, the difference between the fee paid for the registration of the vehicle to which the registration is transferred.
    (d) If a person who owns a vehicle wants to change the ownership of the vehicle by the addition of another person as owner, the person shall be issued a certificate of registration with the name of the other person included after the person who owns the vehicle has complied with IC 9-17.
    (e) If at least one (1) person who is a joint owner transfers the person's ownership interest in a vehicle to at least one (1) remaining joint owner, the certification of registration shall be issued to the remaining joint owner or owners if the transferring owner or owners relinquish any interest in the use of the registration.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-6-5
Transfer of plates
     Sec. 5. (a) Upon the disposition by sale or other means of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, recreational vehicle, or motor home currently registered in Indiana, the license plate from the disposed motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, recreational vehicle, or motor home may be:
        (1) transferred by the person who is the current registrant to any other vehicle of the same type acquired by the person; and
        (2) operated in Indiana for not more than thirty-one (31) days after the date the person acquires ownership of the vehicle.
    (b) The person who is the registrant must have in the person's possession a:
        (1) manufacturer's certificate of origin;
        (2) duly assigned certificate of title; or
        (3) notarized bill of sale;
indicating that the person is the owner of the vehicle to which the unexpired license plates are affixed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-6-6
Violations
     Sec. 6. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.