What to Bring to Your IN Permit Test
Last updated 2026-07-31
The core documents and fee
Bring one document proving your identity, one proving your lawful status in the U.S., one showing your full Social Security number, and two documents proving Indiana residency. If you're under 18, you'll also need a parent or guardian present to sign a financial-liability statement.
The learner's permit itself costs $9 once you pass -- the knowledge exam, vision screening, and driving skills exam are all free. There's no separate fee just to sit for the written test.
Arrive early -- the computer-based exam has a real cutoff
Indiana's knowledge exam is computer-based at the branch, and the manual is explicit that you must arrive at least 30 minutes before the branch closes to take it that day -- show up any later and you'll be asked to come back.
This is easy to overlook if you're used to states where a written test can be started right up until closing time; build in real buffer, especially at a branch with unpredictable wait times.
The exam has two parts, each separately scored
The exam splits into 16 road-sign questions and 34 traffic-law and safe-driving questions -- 50 total -- and you need at least 80% correct on each part individually, not just 80% combined.
That means a strong traffic-rules score can't make up for a weak sign-recognition score, or vice versa; study both halves of the manual (Chapter 6 for signs, Chapters 6-8 for rules) rather than assuming general knowledge will carry you through.
The vision screening happens the same visit
You'll also need to pass a standard vision screening at the branch as part of the same appointment -- this applies even if you're renewing an existing permit or license, unless you're specifically eligible for online renewal.
If you normally wear glasses or contacts while driving, tell the BMV staff and wear them for the screening; passing with a restriction (like Restriction B for corrective lenses) still gets you a valid permit, just with that condition printed on it.
If you're under 16, bring your driver-ed enrollment proof
An applicant younger than 16 needs to show a Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment from a BMV-licensed driver training school, dated no earlier than three weeks before the class starts -- an online-only theory-course completion certificate doesn't satisfy this requirement on its own.
This is specifically about proving current enrollment in the behind-the-wheel portion of a licensed program, not just having watched an online driver's-ed video course.
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More Indiana Guides
- How Long Is an Indiana Permit Valid?
- Indiana's GDL Rules Explained
- What Happens If You Fail Your IN Exam
- Do You Need Driver's Ed in Indiana?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Indiana BMV before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Indiana cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Indiana practice test.