Suspended license in Indiana: points, other causes, and how to reinstate

How the points system works

Most states assign points to moving violations and suspend the license when the total inside a set window crosses a threshold. The threshold, the window and how long each violation keeps counting are all set by the state.

Indiana law assesses a point value (zero to ten) for each conviction of a moving violation, related to the seriousness of the offense; points stay active on the driver record for two years from the conviction date. Under 140 IAC 1-4.5-4, a person accumulating 20 or more active points within a 24-month period receives a suspension corresponding to the number of points, from one month at 20 points to twelve months at 42 or more.

Points period stated by the agency: 2 years. Points become inactive 24 months after the disposition date of the violation, but the violation remains part of the record; the BMV states points stay active on the driver record for two years from the conviction date.

“(1) Fourteen (14) to eighteen (18) points will result in a warning notice from the bureau to the affected person.”

“Points assessed for any violation shall become inactive twenty-four (24) months after the disposition date of the violation.”

Check points or the driving record: in.gov

Traffic school and point reduction

Any Indiana driver may complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program and receive a four-point credit on the Official Driver Record, applied once every three years. The BMV requires a DSP of drivers convicted of two or more traffic offenses within 12 months (any two if under 21); failure to complete it within 90 days of the notice suspends driving privileges until completion. A court may also order a DSP. Courses are a minimum of four hours, in classroom, DVD or online formats; the maximum cost for a BMV-approved course is $55. Completion does not remove the conviction from the record.

“The BMV will apply a 4 point credit to an Indiana Official Driver Record for successful completion of a BMV-approved DSP. The credit may only be applied once every three years.”

Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one

These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.

Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension

Reinstatement fee: Shown on the driver record. The BMV states the exact dollar amount for each suspension is within the Suspension Information section of the Official Driver Record and the fees due appear in the Reinstatement Requirements section with an access code. The statutory insurance-suspension fees under IC 9-25-6-15 are $250 (first), $500 (second) and $1,000 (third or subsequent); in many cases maintaining an SR22 for 180 consecutive days terminates an insurance suspension so that unpaid reinstatement fees no longer block valid privileges.

“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.”

1. Understand the situation on the driver record

   The Viewable Driver Record (free online) or the $4 certified Official Driver Record shows the Reinstatement Requirements and Suspensions Information sections; a court-ordered suspension can be closed only with documentation from the court, so the court is contacted first.

   “The Reinstatement Requirements section on your Driver Record shows the requirements to regain your driving privileges.”

2. Provide proof of financial responsibility if required

   The insurance provider submits proof electronically; the BMV does not accept policy documents from drivers. For an insurance suspension without a Certificate of Compliance, an SR22 maintained for 180 consecutive days terminates the suspension.

   “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.”

3. Pay the reinstatement fee(s)

   Fees may be paid through a myBMV account, by calling 888-692-6841 with the access code on the notice, by mail with the reinstatement coupon, or at a BMV Connect kiosk.

   “You can pay your reinstatement fees by: Logging into your myBMV account, Calling 888-692-6841 using the access code found on your notice, Via mail using the reinstatement coupon in the Reinstatement notice, or Visiting one of our self-service BMV Connect kiosks .”

4. Complete any required course

   For a DSP-based suspension, complete a BMV-certified Driver's Safety Program; the BMV allows 7 to 10 business days to process completion results and up to 14 days to apply documentation to the account.

   “Once the BMV receives your documentation, it can take up to 14 days to be processed and applied to the account.”

Official page: in.gov

After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Indiana.

Driving during a non-DUI suspension

Available · Specialized Driving Privileges (SDP). Under IC 9-30-16-4 an individual whose privileges were suspended by the BMV administratively may petition a circuit or superior court in the county of residence for specialized driving privileges; under IC 9-30-16-3 a court that ordered a suspension may stay it and grant the privilege for a period the court determines. Persons who have never been Indiana residents and certain refusal-based suspensions are ineligible.

“An individual whose driving privileges have been suspended by the bureau by an administrative action and not by a court order may petition a court for specialized driving privileges as described in section 3(b) through 3(d) of this chapter.”

For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Indiana.