Indiana DMV Cheat Sheet

A condensed study guide for the Indiana BMV written knowledge test — test logistics, plus the Indiana-specific rules most likely to differ from what you already know. This isn't a substitute for the official Indiana driver's manual, or for practicing the real questions. Looking for the core rules and signs that apply everywhere, not just Indiana? Check the general driving theory cheat sheet instead.

50Questions

80%To Pass

$9 learner's permitFee

Test length varies: Indiana's knowledge exam has two separately-scored components: 16 road-sign questions (drawn from Chapter 6) and 34 traffic-law/safe-driving questions (drawn from Chapters 6-8). You need at least 80% correct on each component individually to pass -- scoring 40/50 overall isn't enough if either component falls short on its own.
Fee: The knowledge exam, vision screening, and driving skills exam are all free. The $9 fee is only for the learner's permit credential itself once you pass. A driver's license credential costs $17.50 if you're under 75 (dropping to $11 for ages 75-84 and $7 at 85+), and there's a $6 administrative penalty for renewing a license after it's expired.
Documents required:
- One document proving your identity (e.g. a certified U.S. birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport)
- One document proving your lawful status in the United States
- One document proving your full Social Security number
- Two documents proving your Indiana residency
- Written parent/guardian consent and an adult financial-liability co-signer if you're under 18
If you don't pass: Fail the knowledge exam and you can retry the next business day, with no published cap on total attempts. Fail the driving skills exam and you must wait 7 days between tries -- and if you fail a third skills exam while still on a learner's permit, the wait jumps to a full two months from that failure.
Online testing: Applying for a first learner's permit or driver's license always requires an in-person BMV branch visit. myBMV.com's online options are limited to renewing, replacing, or amending a credential you already hold -- and even then, only every other renewal cycle.

Indiana-Specific Rules

Minor & Provisional Licensing

To apply for an Indiana driver's license, an applicant must be at least 16 with a completed BMV-licensed driver education program, or at least 16 years and 270 days old without one -- either way, after holding a valid Indiana learner's permit for at least 180 days.
An Indiana learner's permit is valid for two years from issuance; letting it lapse more than 180 days means retaking the knowledge exam to renew it.
A first Indiana license is probationary until you turn 21, not 18 -- it stays valid until you're 21 years and 30 days old, but you can't renew it until you're 21 years and one day old.
For the first 180 days on a probationary license, most passengers require a qualifying adult (25+ licensed driver, 21+ licensed spouse, or driving instructor) up front -- except immediate family, who can ride along with no adult present at all.
The probationary curfew starts at 10 p.m.-5 a.m. for the first 180 days, then narrows for still-under-18 drivers to Sun-Thu after 11 p.m., Mon-Fri before 5 a.m., and Sat-Sun 1-5 a.m., with exceptions for work, school activities, religious events, or a qualifying adult along for the ride.
An 18-or-older license applicant must log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, at least 10 at night -- the full 50 hours applies even for an applicant with a daylight-only permit restriction.
A failed driving skills exam means a 7-day wait to retry -- but a third failed skills exam while still on a learner's permit brings a two-month wait.
A failed knowledge exam can be retaken the next business day.
A new Indiana resident has 60 days to get an Indiana license; someone never licensed anywhere else must first hold an Indiana permit 180 days, while someone already licensed elsewhere faces testing requirements scaled to how long that license has been expired.
A motorcycle learner's permit is valid 1 year (renewable at most 3 times in 5 years), bars passengers, restricts riding to daylight hours, and requires a helmet at every age.
A learner's permit holder practicing at 18+ (or under 18 outside driver's ed) needs a licensed supervisor at least 25 and related by blood/marriage/legal status, or a licensed spouse 21+, up front.
An under-18 applicant needs an adult financial-liability co-signer in a fixed legal order (custodial parent, noncustodial parent, guardian, then any willing adult) -- withdrawing that liability cancels the minor's permit or license.

DUI Laws & Penalties

Failing a chemical BAC test brings an immediate 180-day suspension even before conviction; refusing the test brings a full year, and refusing with a prior OWI conviction brings two years.
Two major-offense judgments (like OWI) within 10 years brings a 10-year Habitual Traffic Violator suspension -- or a lifetime suspension if both specifically involve OWI/0.08%+ BAC resulting in death.
Three major-offense judgments (OWI, reckless driving, drag racing, a felony vehicle offense, leaving the scene, and more) within 10 years also brings a 10-year Habitual Traffic Violator suspension.
10 or more traffic violations within 10 years, with at least one a major offense, brings a 5-year Habitual Traffic Violator suspension.
Indiana's minimum liability insurance is 25/50/25 -- $25,000 for one person's injury or death, $50,000 for two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage.
A no-insurance suspension carries a reinstatement fee of $250 (1st), $500 (2nd), or $1,000 (3rd+) -- avoidable by having an insurer maintain a continuous SR22 filing for 180 days instead.
Speeding points scale up with how far over the limit you were: 2 points (1-15 mph over), 4 points (16-25 mph over), 6 points (26+ mph over) -- all active on your record for two years.
Any driver can earn a one-time four-point credit per 3-year period from a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program course; a court- or BMV-ordered DSP must be finished within 90 days of notice or driving privileges stay suspended until it is.

Emergency Vehicles, School Buses & Work Zones

Indiana's Move Over law requires changing lanes away from a stopped emergency vehicle, or slowing to 10 mph under the posted limit if you truly can't -- failing to comply is a Class A infraction.
The same move-over/slow-down duty covers amber-light vehicles (tow trucks, highway maintenance, utility, waste haulers, survey/construction) and disabled vehicles with hazards on, but failing to comply with these is only a Class B infraction.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A misdemeanor by default, a Level 6 felony if it injures someone, and a Level 5 felony if it kills someone.
A school bus is capped at 40 mph off the interstate/state highway system, and 60 mph (or the posted limit) on it.
Once a railroad crossing's gates start lowering, you have about 20 seconds to clear it; a driver stuck on the tracks should evacuate and move at a 45-degree angle toward the direction the train is coming from.
Work-zone speed limits are always set at least 10 mph below the area's normal maximum.

Speed, Right-of-Way & Legal Rules

Rural interstates cap passenger vehicles at 70 mph and trucks over 26,000 lbs at 65 mph; rural state divided highways are capped at 60 mph.
In urban areas (50,000+ population), the defaults are 55 mph on an interstate/non-divided state highway/county road, 30 mph in most residential areas, and 15 mph in alleys.
When passing, you must return to your lane no less than 100 feet before an oncoming vehicle, and passing is barred within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad crossing, bridge, viaduct, or tunnel.
"Aggressive driving" under Indiana law means committing at least 3 of 9 listed risky actions (following too closely, unsafe lane changes, unnecessary horn use, failing to yield, repeatedly flashing headlights, and more) in one continuous episode of driving.

Parking Rules & Technique

When positioning to parallel park, maintain at least two feet of clearance from the vehicle parked ahead of the space before reversing in.
The diagonally striped area next to an accessible parking space is off-limits at all times, even with a valid disability placard, since it's reserved for deploying a wheelchair ramp.

Pedestrians, Bicyclists & Children

Passing a bicyclist requires at least three feet of clearance, and only when it's safe with no danger from oncoming traffic.
Bicyclists may ride no more than two abreast, except on a lane reserved exclusively for bicycles.
Any passenger younger than 8 must be properly secured in a child restraint system such as a car seat or booster seat.
A rider under 18 on an off-road vehicle (ORV) must wear a DOT-compliant helmet, and the ORV's owner may not knowingly let them ride without one.

Trucks, Motorcycles & Slow-Moving Vehicles

On interstates with 2 lanes each direction, trucks are restricted to the right lane; with 3+ lanes each direction, they're restricted to the right two lanes.
Without a special oversize/overweight permit, a vehicle is capped at 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, and 80,000 lbs.
If two large trucks move through a multi-lane roundabout at the same time, the truck in the right lane must yield to the truck in the left lane.
A Motor Driven Cycle (50cc or smaller) operator must be at least 15, may not exceed 35 mph, may not carry a passenger, and if under 18 must wear a helmet and eye protection; MDCs may not be ridden on an interstate or sidewalk.

Want the core rules and road signs that apply everywhere, not just Indiana?General cheat sheet →

Rules and fees change — always confirm current details with Indiana BMV before your exam. Cheat sheet v1.0, last checked 2026-07-31.