How to get your license back after a DUI in Indiana
Getting a license back after a DUI is an agency process, not a court one: the steps below are the ones the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) lists, in its order, each quoted from the agency's own page. Requirements differ by offense, blood-alcohol level, refusal, and prior record; the state's wording controls.
Steps the state lists
- 1
Serve the court-ordered OWI suspension (and any probable-cause suspension)
The BMV states a motorist who fails a chemical test may be suspended for up to 180 days and one who refuses for up to two years, and that a court may suspend driving privileges following an OWI conviction, with longer periods for repeat offenders. IC 9-30-16-1(e) credits time with an ignition interlock installed as part of the suspension.
What the source says
“In addition to a probable cause suspension, a court may suspend a person’s driving privileges following a conviction for operating while intoxicated. The suspension periods may be longer for repeat offenders.”
- 2
Step one: review the driver record and resolve court requirements with the court
The BMV states the Reinstatement Requirements section of the driver record shows what is needed, and that for a court-ordered suspension the driver must contact the suspending court because the BMV accepts only documentation from the court to close the suspension.
What the source says
“If you have a court-ordered suspension, you must contact the court in which you were suspended to determine how to satisfy their requirements. The BMV will only accept documentation from the court in order to close a suspension”
- 3
Step two: have the insurer submit proof of financial responsibility (SR22) electronically
The BMV states only the insurance provider can submit proof of financial responsibility, directly to the BMV. Its Proof of Financial Responsibility page states that after certain court-related offenses Indiana law may require SR22 insurance to regain privileges; IC 9-30-6-12(c) keeps privileges suspended for three years after an OWI suspension ends until proof of future financial responsibility is provided.
What the source says
“Your insurance provider must electronically submit proof of financial responsibility directly to the BMV. Only your insurance provider can submit proof of insurance for you. The BMV does not accept insurance policy documents from drivers.”
- 4
Pay the reinstatement fee(s) shown on the Official Driver Record
The BMV states the exact dollar amount for each suspension is in the Suspension Information section of the ODR and that fees due, with an access code, appear in the Reinstatement Requirements section; fees can be paid via myBMV, phone, mail, or a BMV Connect kiosk. The BMV also states that providing SR22 for 180 consecutive days can prevent unpaid reinstatement fees from blocking driving privileges.
What the source says
“The exact dollar amount for each suspension is within the Suspension Information section of your ODR. Reinstatement fees that are due will be indicated within the Reinstatement Requirements section, along with your reinstatement fee access code.”
- 5
Step three: check the ODR status and replace the license if it was taken
The BMV states the driver should monitor license status by reviewing the ODR in a myBMV account, and that a license taken by law enforcement as part of the suspension must be replaced at a branch or through myBMV.
What the source says
“If your driver’s license was taken by law enforcement as a part of your suspension, then you will need to visit a BMV branch or order a replacement driver’s license by logging into your myBMV account.”
Official reinstatement page: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Conditions that travel with reinstatement
| Reinstatement fee | Shown on the individual's BMV driver record; no fixed statutory OWI amount |
|---|---|
| SR-22 / financial-responsibility filing | Yes · 3 years — Indiana SR-22 requirements |
| Ignition interlock | Indiana interlock rule |
| Required program | Court-ordered assessment of alcohol and drug abuse and, if appropriate, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program (IC 9-30-5-15) — repeat offenders |
| Driving during the suspension | Specialized driving privileges (IC 9-30-16) |
| Re-examination | Knowledge test: required in some cases · road test: not addressed by the agency |
Required program: Court-ordered assessment of alcohol and drug abuse and, if appropriate, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program (IC 9-30-5-15) — repeat offenders
IC 9-30-5-15 requires the court, in addition to any criminal penalty, to order a person with one previous OWI conviction (subsection (a)) or at least two previous convictions (subsection (b)) to receive an assessment of the person's degree of alcohol and drug abuse and, if appropriate, to successfully complete an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, including an alcohol deterrent program if the person suffers from alcohol abuse. No BMV-administered education course is listed on the BMV's reinstatement or OWI pages, and no statutory education requirement for a first offense was found in IC 9-30-5; courts may also use alcohol and drug services programs under IC 9-30-9 / IC 12-23-14.
“(2) order the person to receive an assessment of the person's degree of alcohol and drug abuse and, if appropriate, to successfully complete an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program ... if the person has one (1) previous conviction of operating while intoxicated.”
Driving during the suspension: Specialized driving privileges (IC 9-30-16)
IC 9-30-16-3 allows a court that ordered or imposed a suspension to stay the suspension and grant specialized driving privileges for a period and on terms the court determines; the petition is filed in each court that ordered a suspension, verified, and served on the BMV and prosecuting attorney. The holder must maintain proof of future financial responsibility insurance during the privileges, carry the order, and carry a state ID or license; privileges may not be granted to a person who previously had them and has more than one conviction for violating them. Under IC 9-30-16-1(a)(2) a refusal suspension is ineligible (a court may instead grant privileges under IC 9-30-6-8(d)). Under IC 9-30-5-16(a) the court may condition the privileges on driving only a vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device, and IC 9-30-8-5 directs the BMV to include that condition on the license. The BMV describes the court as able to 'issue an order for specialized driving privileges' and to 'require the installation of an ignition interlock device'.
“If a court orders a suspension of driving privileges under this chapter, or imposes a suspension of driving privileges under IC 9-30-6-9(c), the court may stay the suspension and grant a specialized driving privilege as set forth in this section.”
Full page: waiting period, conditions and hearing deadline for the Specialized Driving Privileges
When the interlock can be removed
Indiana's interlock term is set by the sentencing court, not by a compliance formula. IC 9-30-8-1 provides that when a court orders a certified ignition interlock device, the court sets the time the installation must remain in effect, not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment the court could have imposed. IC 9-30-8-6(b) makes the person responsible for the cost of installation, leasing, maintenance and removal, and requires the vendor to report violations (start attempts at .04 or higher without a passing retest within ten minutes, missed tests, missed service appointments, violations of court restrictions) to the ordering court within two weeks. IC 9-30-8-7(b)(4) directs the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to adopt rules on requirements for removing an ignition interlock device (205 IAC 4). Time with the device installed as a condition of specialized driving privileges or under IC 9-30-6-8(d) is credited toward the suspension (IC 9-30-16-1(e)). No violation-free window or early-removal provision appears in IC 9-30-8 or on the BMV pages.
Compliance period: none stated (term set by the court under IC 9-30-8-1)
“the court shall set the time that the installation must remain in effect. However, the term may not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment the court could have imposed. The person shall pay the cost of installation unless the sentencing court determines that the person is indigent.”
Will you have to retake the test? Re-examination in Indiana
Some states hand the license back once the conditions are met; others treat a revoked or long-withdrawn license as expired and issue a new one only after the knowledge test, the road test or a vision screening is passed again. The rules below are the licensing agency's own, one per test.
| Knowledge (written) test | Required in some cases The BMV's reinstatement steps are the court or administrative requirements shown on the driver record, proof of financial responsibility (SR22) where required and the reinstatement fees; no test is listed. A knowledge exam comes back at renewal when the license has been expired for more than 180 days, or when six or more points have been added to the record since the previous renewal. What the source says“A knowledge exam is not required when you renew a driver’s license, unless you have accumulated six or more points on your driver record since your previous renewal or your license has been expired for more than 180 days.” |
|---|---|
| Road (driving) test | Not addressed by the agency Neither the reinstatement page nor the driver's license page states a driving test for a reinstated or renewed license. The driving test page lists, among the documents accepted at a driving test, a driver's license or ID card expired over five years with proof of driving record. What the source says“A valid Indiana learner's permit, out-of-country license, or a driver's license or ID card expired over 5 years with proof of driving record” |
| Vision screening | Required in some cases A vision screening is part of every driver's license application and renewal at a BMV branch; the reinstatement page does not mention it. What the source says“All applicants are required to take a vision screening, which measures your visual acuity.” |
What triggers a re-test
Reinstatement turns on the requirements listed on the driver record — court documentation, SR22 coverage and the reinstatement fees — not on a test. The knowledge exam is triggered by a license expired more than 180 days (or six or more points since the last renewal) when the license is renewed.
“The Reinstatement Requirements section on your Driver Record shows the requirements to regain your driving privileges.”- Where to take it
- in.gov — knowledge exam without an appointment at a BMV branch, starting at least 30 minutes before closing; driving test by appointment at a branch or through a participating driver training provider
- Official driver manual
- Indiana Driver's Manual
Questions about re-testing in Indiana
- Does an Indiana OWI suspension mean retaking the written or driving test?
- The BMV's reinstatement page lists the requirements on the driver record — court documentation, SR22 coverage and the reinstatement fees — and no test. The BMV states that a knowledge exam is required at renewal only when the license has been expired for more than 180 days or six or more points have been added since the previous renewal; no BMV page states a driving test for a reinstated license.
- Is there a vision screening?
- The BMV states that all applicants for a driver's license take a vision screening, which measures visual acuity; documentation from an eye-care provider can be submitted on State Form 56520 instead.
Reinstatement knowledge check: Indiana
Ten questions on the rules this site cites for the state — the figures the licensing agency and the statute state, with a link to where each one is stated. The order changes every time.
This is not the agency's knowledge test and does not predict it; it checks the rules cited on this site.
Questions about reinstatement in Indiana
- What are the Indiana BMV's steps to reinstate driving privileges after an OWI suspension?
- The BMV's Reinstating Your Driving Privileges page lists: Step One, review the driver record's Reinstatement Requirements and, for a court-ordered suspension, satisfy the court's requirements (the BMV accepts only court documentation); Step Two, have the insurer electronically submit proof of financial responsibility (SR22); pay any reinstatement fees shown on the Official Driver Record; and Step Three, monitor the ODR and replace a license taken by law enforcement.
- What are Indiana specialized driving privileges?
- Under IC 9-30-16-3, a court that ordered a suspension may stay it and grant specialized driving privileges for a period and on terms the court sets, on a verified petition served on the BMV and prosecutor. The holder must maintain proof of future financial responsibility and carry the order. IC 9-30-5-16 lets the court require a certified ignition interlock device as a condition; refusal suspensions are ineligible under IC 9-30-16-1(a)(2).
- How long does an Indiana ignition interlock stay installed, and who authorizes removal?
- IC 9-30-8-1 provides that the court sets how long the installation must remain in effect, not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment it could have imposed. IC 9-30-8-6(b) makes the person pay for installation, maintenance and removal, and IC 9-30-8-7 directs the Criminal Justice Institute to adopt rules on removal requirements. No compliance-based removal window appears in the statute.
Sources
- Indiana BMV — Reinstating Your Driving Privileges (Steps One–Three, reinstatement fees)
- Indiana BMV — Common Traffic Violations (Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated)
- Indiana BMV — Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR22)
- Indiana Code Title 9 (2025) — IC 9-30-5-15, 9-30-5-16, 9-30-6-12, 9-30-8, 9-30-16 (Indiana General Assembly static title file)
- Indiana Criminal Justice Institute — Highway Safety Interlock Rule 2017 (205 IAC 4, LSA Document #17-223) (PDF)