If you are unable to register and title your vehicle in Indiana, you may be eligible for a temporary permit.
A temporary license plate is issued with a temporary permit. The temporary license plate must be placed on either the back of the vehicle or on the left side of the rear window. The temporary permit must be kept inside the vehicle at all times, ready to present to law enforcement if required.
A fee is due to obtain a temporary permit. Refer to the Fee Chart to obtain fee amount.
The following permit types are available for purchase at any Indiana BMV branch location.
96-Hour Temporary Delivery Permit
A person that owns a vehicle may apply for a 96-hour temporary delivery permit to operate the vehicle without being required to obtain a title or registration during the 96-hour period subject to the following restrictions.
A 96-hour temporary delivery permit is valid for a period of 96 hours beginning with the time of issuance and authorizes the person or the person’s agent or employee to operate the vehicle upon a highway for the purpose of delivering, or having delivered, the vehicle to any of the following locations:
- A place of storage, including the person's residence or place of business.
- An inspection station for purposes of emissions testing under IC 13-17-5-5.1(b).
- A BMV branch or a location operated by a full service provider (as defined in IC 9-14.1-1-2) or a partial services provider (as defined in IC 9-14.1-1-3) to register the vehicle under this article.
A 96-hour temporary delivery permit may also be issued for delivery of a vehicle currently impounded. Proof of impound is required.
96-hour temporary delivery permits may not be issued to vehicles with expired registrations which need an emissions test to renew the vehicle registration. However, the permit may be issued for a vehicle that has an expired registration and has been impounded if a passed emissions test is required to renew the registration. Proof of impound is required.
Proof of ownership and proof of financial responsibility must be provided at time of application for the permit.
Proof of ownership may include any of the following:
- Certificate of title
- Registration from any state
- Bill of sale
- Certificate of origin
30-Day Temporary Registration Permit
A person that owns a vehicle may apply for a 30-day temporary registration permit to operate the vehicle without being required to obtain a title or registration during the 30-day period subject to the following restrictions.
A 30-day temporary registration permit is valid for a period of 30 days beginning with the date of issuance and authorizes the use of the vehicle on a roadway if any of the following conditions exist:
- The person has purchased or otherwise obtained the vehicle in Indiana and will be titling or registering the vehicle in another state or foreign county.
- A certificate of title or bill of sale that shows proof of purchase is required.
- The person is an Indiana resident and is intending to move to another state and the current vehicle registration or temporary permit will expire before the person moves.
- The person is an Indiana resident and the vehicle registration in another state has expired and the person has applied for an Indiana title for the vehicle, or has provided proof of the following:
- A completed Request for Title – State Form 1014; or
- Application for title from prior state of residence
- The person owns and operates the vehicle and the person:
- does not operate the vehicle as a lessor; and
- moves the empty vehicle from one lessee-carrier to another.
- The person owns a vehicle for which emissions testing is required, and the vehicle will require further mechanical repairs in order to comply with the emissions testing requirements. The following must be provided:
- Proof of a failed emissions test from the inspection station; and
- If the vehicle is newly purchased and has never been registered by the owner, a certificate of title or bill of sale that shows proof of purchase.