If you move in Indiana, you have 30 days to notify the BMV.
However, Indiana has a unique rule that confuses almost everyone: You have two different addresses on file.
- Mailing Address: Where your license plate stickers are sent. (Can be changed online).
- Residential Address: Where you actually live. (Must be changed IN PERSON).
If you only update your mailing address online, your driver’s license record is legally outdated, and you could face issues with voting or Real ID compliance.
The Critical Distinction: Residential vs. Mailing Address
Deadline: 30 Days. Cost: $9.00 (To print a new card).
How to Change Your Residential Address (Mandatory In-Person)
You generally cannot update your residential address online. You must visit a branch to prove you really live there.
- Where: Any BMV Branch.
- What to Bring:
- Current Driver’s License.
- Two (2) Proofs of Residency: (Computer-generated bill, bank statement, lease, or pay stub dated within 60 days).
- Payment: $9.00.
How to Change Your Mailing Address (Online or Kiosk Option)
If you just want your renewal notices to go to a PO Box or a different location, you can do this from home.
- Portal: Log in to myBMV.
- Kiosk: Visit a BMV Connect Kiosk (Open 24/7).
- Select: “Update Contact Info” > “Mailing Address.”
Tip: If your Residential and Mailing addresses are the same (which is true for 90% of people), you still have to go in person to update the Residential side. The system will then update your Mailing address to match automatically.
Moving Within Indiana: 30-Day Deadline and Required Documents
Deadline: 60 Days. Action: You must transfer both your License and Registration.
You cannot do this online. You must make an appointment for a “New Resident” transaction.
Moving to Indiana: New Resident 60-Day Transfer Checklist
- Identity: (Passport or Birth Certificate).
- SSN: (Social Security Card).
- Residency: Two documents proving your Indiana address (Utility bill + Lease).
- Current Title: If you brought a car, you must bring your out-of-state Title (not just the registration).
- Note: If a bank holds your title, you must request it from them before your visit. This can take 3–4 weeks.
Costs:
- Driver’s License: $17.50.
- Vehicle Title: $15.00.
- Vehicle Registration: $21.35 + County Taxes (Excise tax can be hundreds of dollars depending on the car’s value).
Moving Out of Indiana? How to Cancel Plates and Get a Tax Refund
If you are leaving Indiana permanently, you do not need to fill out a “cancellation” form.
- License: Your Indiana license is automatically cancelled when you surrender it to your new state.
- Plates: You can destroy your Indiana license plates. You do not need to mail them back.
- Refunds: Indiana provides a refund on unused vehicle excise tax if you move out of state. You must fill out State Form 55296 and mail it in to get your money back!
Frequently Asked Questions
Only your Mailing Address. The kiosk cannot scan your lease or utility bill, so it cannot update your Residential Address.
Yes. Indiana law requires your physical license to display your current residential address. The fee is $9.00.
They must be computer-generated (no handwritten receipts) and dated within 60 days.
Valid: Water bill, Credit Card statement, Pay stub, Doctor’s bill.
Invalid: Personal mail, handwritten rent receipt, sticker on an envelope.
Technically yes, but it is highly discouraged. You would need to mail photocopies of your sensitive documents to the main office in Indianapolis. It takes weeks to process. Just go to the branch—it’s safer and faster.
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